Wardell Gray - A Sinner Kissed an Angel (1949; 2011) [Hi-Res]

WARDELL GRAY A Sinner Kissed an Angel
Recorded between 1949 and 1953
XR remastering by Andrew Rose at Pristine Audio, November-December 2011
Cover artwork based on a photograph of Wardell Gray

Wardell Grey - one of the forgotten greats of Jazz

New 32-bit XR-remastered transfers with utterly transformed sound quality


This album came about as one of those happy accidents - a Sunday afternoon leafing through a collection of old LPs donated to Pristine unearthed two volumes on the Esquire label, entitled "Wardell Gray Memorial", which together make up the selection of studio and live recordings presented here.

My initial aim was to rework the rather poor sound quality of the original recordings for my own pleasure, but the results far exceeded my expectations - hence the present issue. Gone is the primitive, almost telephonic sound of the originals - in its place a fuller, much brighter sound that really allows the performers to 'sing'.

Judicious use of Ambient Stereo and a convolution reverb which recreates the acoustic of the Birdland jazz club in New York also help contibute to a fabulously lively and spontaneous sound that really brings this long-forgotten saxophonist's great music back to life.

Andrew Rose

Tracklist:
01. Wardell Gray - Twisted (3:07)
02. Wardell Gray - Easy Living (4:25)
03. Wardell Gray - Southside (3:22)
04. Wardell Gray - Sweet Lorraine (4:09)
05. Wardell Gray - Blue Gray (2:47)
06. Wardell Gray - Grayhound (3:04)
07. Wardell Gray - A Sinner Kissed an Angel (3:11)
08. Wardell Gray - Treadin' (3:51)
09. Wardell Gray - Move (9:46)
10. Wardell Gray - Scrapple from the Apple (9:03)
11. Wardell Gray - April Skies (3:01)
12. Wardell Gray - Bright Boy (2:46)
13. Wardell Gray - Jackie (2:31)
14. Wardell Gray - Farmer's Market (2:47)
15. Wardell Gray - Sweet and Lovely (3:15)
16. Wardell Gray - Lover Man (2:22)
17. Wardell Gray - So Long Broadway (3:09)
18. Wardell Gray - Paul's Cause (2:54)
19. Wardell Gray - The Man I Love (3:07)
20. Wardell Gray - Lavonne (2:52)