Bill Berry – Shortcake / Numbered Limited Edition (180g 2LP)

Label: Pure Audiophile – PA004 – 180 gram Virgin Vinyl – 187337

Pure Analogue Audiophile Half Speed Mastering by Stan Ricker 

Numbered Limited Edition – Pressed  at RTI  

Bill Berry played trumpet and cornet in the Duke Ellington Orchestra. He’ll always be remembered by audiophiles for his performance on the sensational For Duke direct-to-disc recording. Shortcake is a favorite of jazz fans, and for good reason. It features a lineup of giants, including Berry on cornet, Marshal Royal on sax and clarinet, Lew Tabackin on sax and flute, Bill Watrous on trombone, Mundell Lowe on guitar, Alan Broadbent on piano, Dave Frishberg on piano, Monty Budwig on bass and Frankie Capp on drums. This release includes three bonus tracks, two of them from the great Tribute To Duke LP.

“There is no attempt to mimic a natural environment or to distribute the instruments proportionally. The illustration is based on intimate portraits of the individual instruments, they are harmoniously interwoven dynamically particularly compelling and persuasive transparent … on 180g vinyl and expertly cut out of the big experts for LP mastering, Stan Ricker. Well done,” music = 8/11, sound = 8/11

-Michael Fremer, www.musicangle.com

This album, one of Bill Berry’s few to fully showcase his cornet playing, is really two in one. On five selections he is featured in a quintet also including pianist Dave Frishberg, guitarist Mundell Lowe, bassist Monty Budwig and drummer Frankie Capp; “Avalon” and “I Didn’t Know About You” are highlights. The remaining five selections (Berry’s ballad “Betty” and two romps) use a different rhythm section (pianist Alan Broadbent, bassist Chuck Berghofer and drummer Nick Ceroli) and add the exciting horns of trombonist Bill Watrous, altoist Marshal Royal and Lew Tabackin on tenor and flute. An excellent outing, well worth picking up by mainstream jazz fans.

This two-LP set was half-speed mastered by Stan Ricker and plated and pressed at RTI on HQ 180-gram vinyl.

ID: Pure Audiophile Records, Ltd. – PA-004