Joe Farnsworth Disc is Eighty-Eights First Hybrid SACD [HFR]

Eighty-Eight’s, the well known jazz label based in Japan headed up by Yasohachi Itoh has released it’s first Hybrid SACD disc. The new SACD is It’s Prime Time by jazz drummer Joe Farnsworth (Eighty-Eights VRCL 18813). It is also a single inventory release (with no separate CD Audio edition). It will carry the prefix (VRCL) and price of Eighty-Eight’s regular CD series (2,835 yen) vs. the prior SACD pricing of the label’s SACD series (3,360 yen).

In the past, the Eighty-Eight’s jazz label has released all of their albums in separate SACD, CD and LP editions. With the exception of two Surround Sound SACD releases – Marlena Shaw Live In Tokyo (Eighty-Eights VRGL 8807) and The Lonnie Plaxico Group Live at Jazz Standard (Eighty-Eights VRGL 8812) – all of the SACD releases from Eighty Eight’s have been Stereo SACDs.

Until now, all of the Eighty Eight’s SACD releases have been on Single Layer SACD discs which is probably not surprising since the label’s SACDs have been manufactured by Sony Japan. You will recall that the Sony Japan plant didn’t offer Hybrid SACD replication until the arrival of the Rolling Stones SACD series. Since then, the plant has begun pressing Hybrid SACDs for other Japanese based labels as well.

Eighty Eight’s describes the new album by noting that “One of today’s finest young jazz drummers, Joe Farnsworth has been supporting venerable leaders, creating tight and steady rhythm for the group. Now it is time for him to forge the groove for himself. Many of his long recording / performing colleagues has joined the studio to share the very moment. He is not inclined to showing off his techniques, and finds the beauty of art in being the part of rhythmic section. Strong backing, tight and steady beats, incorporating various kinds of sticking and subtle changes in dynamics. Style is traditional, yet his idea travels. If you have a taste for straight-ahead jazz, this is the album you should never miss.”

Album Performers
Joe Farnsworth – Drums
Eric Alexander – Tenor Sax
Ron Carter – Bass
John Farnsworth – Tenor Sax
Curtis Fuller – Trombone
Benny Golson – Tenor Sax
David Hazeltine – Piano
Harold Mabern – Piano
Jim Rotondi – Trumpet & Flugelhorn

Album Tracks
1. Sweet Poppa
2. Old Folks
3. Prime Time
4. Stable Mates
5. Five Spot After Dark
6. And So, I Love Again
7. The Third Plane
8. Hello, Young Lovers
9. Jose’s Lament

Availability
The new Surround Sound SACD by Joe Farnsworth is now available in record stores that carry SACDs in Japan as well as from the HMV Japan web site. It is also available as a pre-order from Acoustic Sounds and should be available from web sites in the U.S. that carry Eighty Eight’s SACDs in the near future.