Getz / Gilberto single-layer, green-label SHM SACD review plus current and upcoming releases
by Teresa Goodwin

Getz / Gilberto Stan Getz & Joao Gilberto featuring Antonio Carlos Jobim, Single-layer, green-label Stereo SHM SACD - UCGU-9001. Recorded March 18 & 19, 1963 in New York City. Program notes in Japanese and English. Cover, back and spine in English only. Verve U.S. production in 2002 DSD master / Universal Music (Japan)

Japan-original reissue features the high-fidelity SHM-SACD format which is fully compatible with standard SACD players, but it does not play on standard CD players.

Three unique technologies contribute to the over all sonic improvement over the original SACD issue:

• SHM-SACD (Super High Material SACD) is the ultimate Super Audio CD that utilizes the materials and technologies that were developed for the SHM-CD to further enhance the audio-resolution.

• Green-label SACD - help audio quality by lightening the burden on the servo mechanism for the player’s tracking head and to introduce fewer errors for the player’s error correction to handle.

• Single-layer SACD - Mark Levinson claims single-layer SACDs are sonically superior to hybrid-SACDs based on in-house tests he performed. Other listeners have also noticed a fuller, richer sound with single-layer SACDs.

1. The Girl from Ipanema

2. Doralice

3. Pra machucar meu coração

4. Desafinado

5. Corcovado

6. Só danço samba

7. O grande amor

Stan Getz - tenor saxophone, João Gilberto - guitar, vocals, Antonio Carlos Jobim - piano, Sebastião Neto - bass, Milton Banana - drums, Astrud Gilberto - vocals in "The girl from Ipanema" and "Corcovado"

My friend John Renzetti kindly lent me the Getz / Gilberto SHM-SACD so I could hear and review it. In my opinion this takes SACD to a new level, the original SACD release was not very good, to my ears the SHM SACD sounds even better than the Speakers Corner 180 Gram LP or the older Mobile Fidelity Anadisc 200 Gram LP. And it is every bit as good as the Verve / Ampex 4 Track 7½ IPS prerecorded reel to reel tape.

The SHM-SACD has lots of ambiance, a velvety smooth midrange, warmer bass and is more analog sounding than the original SACD version. In addition it has a larger soundstage, is considerably more relaxed and sounds very much like an excellent analog reel to reel tape. I can clearly hear the reed in the best reproduction yet of a real saxophone, and the beautiful vocals are silky smooth.

The original SACD issue was also single-layer and from the same Verve U.S. production 2002 DSD master, so the only differences are the Super High Material and the green-label. The gigantic increase in sound quality can only be explained by the either the Super High Material or the green-label or more likely a combination of the two.

If you love LPs you should love the packaging of these SACDs. They come in a mini LP-like quad-fold cardboard package very much like beautiful thick gatefold album covers of yesteryear. The SACD is in a plastic inner sleeve inside a cardboard sleeve with the SACD and SHM logos embossed in raised lettering. The case is 1/2 inch taller than a standard CD/SACD case.

This is the definitive version of The Girl from Ipanema, all the songs are in Brazilian Portuguese however not to fear as the music is universal. This is also my favorite Latin inspired Jazz album. So if you have the long green to afford this SACD, I highly recommend it. I just wish that Universal Europe or USA would pick up this series as in the past their pricing was more down-to-earth affordable,

Current SHM-SACD titles

Suggested Retail Prices: ¥ 4,500 except for Britten's War Requiem which is ¥ 5,000 and the Sampler which is ¥ 1,500

The Rolling Stones: Let It Bleed. UIGY-9021 - Released in 1969. ABKCO 2002 DSD master

Derek And The Dominos: Layla. UIGY-9023 - Producer Tom Dowd. Published in 1970. POLYDOR U.S. production in 2004 DSD master

Eric Clapton: 461 Ocean Boulevard. UIGY-9024 - Producer Tom Dowd. Published in 1974. Based on the latest 2010 national - DSD original analog master tapes

The Moody Blues: Every Good Boy Deserves Favour. UIGY-9025 - Published in 1971. Based on the latest 2010 national original analog tape - DSD master

Steely Dan: Aja. UIGY-9026 - Published in 1977. Based on the latest 2010 national original analog tape - DSD master

Police: Synchronicity. UIGY-9027 - Published in 1983. A & M 2003 DSD master

The Velvet Underground and Nico. UIGY-9028 - Published in 1967. Based on the latest 2010 national original analog tape - DSD master

Allman Brothers Band: Fillmore East Live. UIGY-9029 Published in 1971. Based on the latest 2010 national - DSD original analog master tapes

Marvin Gaye: What's Going On. UIGY-9030. Published in 1971. Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab USA, 2008 DSD master production

Stan Getz & Joao Gilberto: Getz / Gilberto. UCGU-9001 Verve U.S. production in 2002 DSD master

John Coltrane & Johnny Hartman. UCGU-9002. Verve U.S. production in 2004 DSD master

John Coltrane: Love supreme. UCGU-9003. Verve U.S. production in 2002 DSD master

Ella Fitzgerald & Louis Armstrong: Ella and Louis. UCGU-9004. Verve U.S. production in 2002 DSD master

Sarah Vaughan with Clifford Brown. UCGU-9005. Verve U.S. production in 2003 DSD master

Brahms: Ein Deutsches Requiem, Gundula Janowitz (soprano) Eberhard Wachter (baritone), Herbert von Karajan, Berliner Philharmoniker, Wiener Singverein. UCGG-9001 Emil Berliner Studios Production Germany 2004 DSD master

Saint-Saens: Symphony No. 3 "Organ", Danse Macabre, Bacchanale from "Samson et Dalila", Le Deluge Prelude. Gaston Litaize (Organ). Daniel Barenboim, Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Paris Orchestra. UCGG-9002. Emil Berliner Studios Production Germany 2004 DSD master

Bartok: Concerto for Orchestra, Dance Suite, The Miraculous Mandarin, Sir Georg Solti, London Symphony Orchestra. UCGD-9001. DECCA UK production in 2004 DSD master

Liszt: Sonata in B minor, Bénédiction de Dieu dans la solitude, Zwei konzertetüden, Vallée d'Obermann. Claudio Arrau (Piano). UCGD-9002. DECCA UK production in 2004 DSD master

Bach: Orchestral Suites Nos. 1 & 2. Karl Richter, Munich Bach Orchestra. UCGA-9001. Emil Berliner Studios Production Germany 2004 DSD master

Brahms: Symphony No. 2, Ravel: Alborada del gracioso, Sheherazade. Susan Graham (soprano). Seiji Ozawa, Saito Kinen Orchestra. UCGD-9009. Recorded live in Matsumoto last September.

Britten: War Requiem. Christine Goerke (soprano) Anthony Dean Griffey (tenor) James Westman (baritone). Seiji Ozawa, Saito Kinen Orchestra, SKF Matsumoto Choir, Tokyo Opera Singers, Ritsuyukai Choir, SKF Matsumoto Children's Chorus. UCGD-9010 ¥ 5,000 - Includes 5.1ch surround sound.

The Who: Who's Next. UIGY-9022 - Published in 1971. 2010 based on the latest original analog tape - DSD International Master

Blind Faith. UIGY-9031. Based on the latest 2010 national original analog tape - DSD Master

Dire Straits. UIGY-9032. Based on the latest 2010 national - DSD original analog tape master

10cc: Original Soundtrack. UIGY-9033 - Published in 1975. Based on the latest 2010 national original analog tape - DSD Master

Black Sabbath: Paranoid. UIGY-9034 - Published in 1970. Based on the latest 2010 national - DSD original analog master tapes

KISS: Destroyer. UIGY-9035. Based on the latest 2010 national - DSD original analog tape master (expected)

Bill Evans Trio: Portrait in Jazz. UCGO-9001. Concord 2003 DSD master

Relaxin' With The Miles Davis Quintet. UCGO-9002. Concord 2004 DSD master

The Incredible Jazz Guitar Of Wes Montgomery. UCGO-9003. Concord United States, 2003 DSD master production

Mozart: Requiem. Edith Mathis (soprano) Julia Hamari (alto) Wieslaw Ochman (tenor) Karl Ridderbusch (bass). Karl Böhm, Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra, Vienna State Opera Chorus. UCGG-9003. Emil Berliner Studios Production Germany 2004 DSD master

Richard Strauss: Also Sprach Zarathustra, Till Eulenspiegel's Merry Pranks, Dance of the Seven Veils from "Salome", Don Juan. Willi Boskovsky (violin). Herbert von Karajan, Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra. UCGD-9003. DECCA UK production in 2004 DSD master

Berlioz: Symphonie Fantastique. Sir Colin Davis, Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra. UCGD-9004. DECCA UK production in 2004 DSD master

Upcoming SHM-SACD releases for 10/27/2010

SA-CD SHM Sampler - Peak-experience a world without clouds. UIGY-9036 (2 discs - SHM-SACD and a hybrid SACD for comparison with the same program on both discs) ¥ 1,500

Mercy Mercy Me (Marvin Gaye) I'm Not In Love (10cc) Sometime World (Wishbone Ash) Stormy Monday (Allman Brothers Band) Corcovado (Stan Getz & Joao Gilberto) No one thought this (Ella Fitzgerald & Louis Armstrong) Oreo ( Miles Davis) My Foolish Heart (Bill Evans) Brahms: German Requiem ~ First song: who have a problem, is happy (Herbert von Karajan conducting the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra, Vienna Musikverein Choir) Berlioz: Symphonie Fantastique - March of the guillotine (Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra Colin Davis, conductor) Stravinsky: The Rite of Spring - a sacrifice of praise (Los Angeles Philharmonic conductor Esa-Pekka Salonen)

The Rolling Stones: Beggars Banquet

Steely Dan: Gaucho

Rainbow: Long Live Rock'N'Roll

Asia

Cream: Wheels Of Fire

John Mayall & The Bluesbreakers with Eric Clapton

Humble Pie: Smokin'

The Police: Outlandos D'amour

Wishbone Ash: Argus

Caravan: In The Land Of Grey And Pink

Bill Evans: Waltz For Debby

Sonny Rollins: Saxophone Colossus

Art Pepper Meets The Rhythm Section

Stravinsky: Le Sacre Du Printemps / Mussorgsky: Night on Bald Mountain / Bartok: Suite from The Miraculous Mandarin

Esa-Pekka Salonen, Los Angeles Philharmonic

J.S.Bach: Violin Concertos

Hilary Hahn (violin) Jeffrey Kahane, Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra

Beethoven: Symphony No. 9

Seiji Ozawa, Saito Kinen Orchestra