Comments on: The Van Gelder Stamp

By: Rudolf

Rudolf — Sun, 12 Feb 2012 19:56:52 +0000

Maarten: the stampers were sent to Denmark and the sleeves were copied. The whole production, the pressing of the records and the printing of sleeves, was Danish.
There is no info available which Metronome/Prestige have indeed been produced, the catalogue numbers remaining the same as the US counterpart and this unlike Esquire, Barclay and Music albums.
P.S. Ik houd een lijst bij van alle bekende Metronome/Prestige uitgaven. Wil je zo vriendelijk zijn mij door te geven welke Metronomes jij hebt? Bij voorbaat dank.

By: Mike F

Mike F — Sun, 12 Feb 2012 00:47:55 +0000

Thanks for your reply Rudolf. Always informative

By: maartenkools

maartenkools — Sat, 11 Feb 2012 23:35:04 +0000

Rudolf: does that mean that the metronome lp’s where pressed in the US, or the stampers went to denmark?? I also have some metronome lp’s and the deadwax is exactly the same as their american counterparts…

By: Rudolf

Rudolf — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 12:43:38 +0000

Mike F: sellers of Esquire albums do everything to boost their sales. The argument of Esquires (and European pressings in general) being better than the US originals is heard over and over again. Although the pressings are excellent, for me they are not better than their original American counterparts. IMHO they are equal. What makes most Esquires (not all) interesting is the original sleeve design. Some Esquires weigh over 200 grammes. I noticed that the fidelity of those heavy ones is below the American originals.
By the way, I must correct you: apart from Esquire and Prestige NY and NJ pressings of “Saxophone Colossus”, I also own a Metronome pressing. All have the same RVG stamp and Prestige catalogue numbers in the dead wax. In the fifties Prestige was also issued in France by Barclay and in Italy by the Music label, with original sleeve art work.

By: Rudolf

Rudolf — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 12:29:21 +0000

it seems that Marc Myers of JazzWax is going to publish en extended interview with Rudy van Gelder.See his JazzWax blogfrom the 13th on.

By: Mattyman

Mattyman — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 10:39:11 +0000

Most welcome, folks. You’ll be amazed to see how much superb jazz material actually is available online! 😉

By: bill

bill — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 22:17:51 +0000

The Smithsonian link is great. Thank you.

By: maartenkools

maartenkools — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 20:45:07 +0000

NICE ONE MATTYMAN!

By: Mattyman

Mattyman — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 12:24:57 +0000

I'm surprised that nobody links to the extensive (46 pages in PDF) interview that the National Museum of American History had with Rudy van Gelder in September last year. The full PDF file can be downloaded directly off their website; click HERE. They also have extensive interviews (even in audio - MP3 files, also downloadable) with Kenny Burrell, Dave Brubeck, Jimmy Heath, Cedar Walton, Ramsey Lewis, Phil Woods, Nancy Wilson, Randy Weston and many, many others including Jason Marsalis, who I once met in the flesh. It's a real treat, guys. Click HERE for all that other interview goodness ;-)

By: Mike F

Mike F — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 21:16:20 +0000

Rudolf, you are the only man I know with both an Esquire and Prestige origninal of “Saxophone Colossus”. I’ve heard that Esquires sound better, and are pressed better than the Prestiges numerous times(most recently seen in Roverd-90 recent auction). Is this true?
I have a stereo “Way Out West”. I dig it as a quality early stereo but I still want a Mono version.