Jazz at the Pawnshop is one of the most famous audiophile recordings in music. These sessions recorded at the jazz club Stampen 'Pawnshop' in Stockholm in December 1976 by Gert Palmcrantz have an extraordinary presence and a genuine live feeling. Mastered by René Laflamme and cut by Bernie Grundman from the Original Analog Tapes.

• Limited Edition
• AAA Audiophile 200g Vinyl
• Double LP 33rpm
• Mastered by René Laflamme
• Mastered with 2xHD on Nagra Equipment
• Cut All Analog at Bernie Grundman Mastering
• Plated by Master Craft
• Pressed at Le Vinylist in Quebec

Jazz At The Pawnshop, recorded at Stampen Jazz Club in Stockholm on December 14-15, 1976, has been regarded as “The Best Jazz Recording of the Century!“ The recording’s musical artistry and sonic excellence have few peers.

In the liner notes, album producer Jacob Boethius says "When recording engineer Gert Palmcrantz was loading his car with equipment outside Europa Film Studios in Stockholm, Sweden on December 6th, 1976, it was only to make one of many recordings. No one really knew then that this was to become a cult recording among audiophiles and one of the most famous and respected jazz recordings ever made. The mere fact that a single jazz recording has been released in so many formats over a very long period of time (30 years) tells us that this recording must really be unique.

"The two recording nights at the Pawnshop jazz club were exceptional indeed. The crowd lifted the musicians to the peak of their abilities, and I sat together with two Nagra recorders and engineer Gert Palmcrantz in the small bar kitchen and listened to the result of a microphone set up of a lifetime, surrounded by five musicians playing in some kind of trance. Total sales of the recording now exceed 500,000 copies, a tremendously good sales figure for classic jazz. And the records still sell at the rate of 3,000 — 4,000 copies per year today, some 40+ years after release."

The peerless recordings that construct the audiophile favorite Jazz At The Pawnshop were made in Stockholm, Sweden on December 6-7, 1976 by engineer Gert Palmcrantz while producer/record company owner Jacob Boëthius kept a watchful eye over the proceedings. One microphone pair spaced 20 cm apart was responsible for the main pick-up, with a couple of microphones placed to register the "live" atmosphere of the Pawnshop jazz club and a few discrete support mics – all recorded on to a pair of two-track Nagra tape recorders by Palmcratz in the restaurant kitchen!

All who have listened to these timeless recordings can vouch for their realism and uncanny "you are there"-feeling – you simply enter a new, musical world. But the superb technology of the recording is only part of it – the musicianship and skill of Sweden's finest jazz musicians is just as important. These experienced gentlemen were at the height of their powers these winter evenings more than 45 years ago.

The group was lead by alto saxophone player Arne Domnérus, who was once described by Charlie Parker as "a very good player, almost as good as me." Pianist Bengt Hallberg had impressed Stan Getz when moving through the strangest of keys without any effort, and the rhythm section of bass player Georg Riedel and drummer Egil Johansen was the finest in Sweden at the time.

In the high end audio world, audiophile sound engineer René Laflamme has carved out a reputation for definition of excellence. Manufacturers of audiophile equipment such as Nagra Audio, renowned D to A converter manufacturer dCS Ltd and high-end turntable manufacturers, Kronos Audio seek his expertise in representation and assistance in design. Audiophile quality microphone designer and 8 time winner of 'Best sound in show' at high-end audio equipment conventions, Laflamme uses his knowledge and unfailing instinct to match various audio components to create the best all-encompassing sound experience. The exclusive 2xHD system is the fruit of Laflamme's total experience and imagination.

Musicians:

Lars Erstrand, vibes
Arne Domnerus, alto sax, clarinet
Bengt Hallberg, piano
Georg Riedel, bass
Egil Johansen, drums


Track Listing:

01. Limehouse Blues
02. I’m Confessin’
03. Struttin’ with Some Barbecue
04. Jeep’s Blues
05. Stuffy
06. Lady Be Good
07. Here Is That Rainy Day
08. Barbados
09. How High the Moon
10. Take Five
11. Everything Happens to Me

Click here to listen to samples on YouTube.com ♫