Once in a while, we get a jem of a surround release. Lately, it seems these moments are few and far in between.

Bless Telarc and Concord for the hi-res surround version of Ray Charles and The Count Basie Orchestra's "Ray Sings, Basie Swings" (http://www.cduniverse.com/productinfo.asp?pid=7494245&BAB=E&frm=lk_allspin), to be released September 25.

More often than not, non-linear digital audio tools get a bad rap. Here is a release that makes brilliant use of all the best that technology can give us. As you may know from the CD release from last Fall, "Ray Sings, Basie Swings" combines archival tracks from Ray Charles' live performances from the mid-1970s and brilliant new recordings of arrangements and performances by the Count Basie Orchestra. I have an advance copy of the hi-res surround release from Telarc and it is truly stunning. Very aggressive discrete 5.1 surround, and the integration of Charles and the big band orchestra is breathtaking. Audio is 96/24 transcoded to DSD on a hybrid SACD. Sounds fabulous. Great mix and mastering by Michael Bishop.

Drop by your nearest online surround music shop and pick this one up - highly recommended!

SWEET!! Good find. I have been wanting this on SACD for a while now. Hope they did a great job of mastering it. Thanks for the link! I have the Red book of this, and it sounds great. Cant wait to hear "Georgia On my Mind" In SACD surround.

It is fantastic. Michael Bishop mixed and mastered the hi-res surround option. Lots of dynamic range - the way it *should* be done. Kudos to Telarc/Concord.

I take back what I said about PCM-to-DSD transcoding. Here's more technical info on the SACD surround version of Ray Sings:

"Working with the project's original 96kHz/24-bit PCM multi-track source masters, Bishop employed the finest digital-to-analog converters available to bring the individual tracks into a custom analog mixing console at Suma Studios. A combination of custom and vintage analog processors were used for treatment of vocal and instrument tracks in the analog mix rather than the customary PCM software 'plug-ins' often used in digital mixing. The Basie Orchestra, featured soloists and the Raelettes were physically brought out into the 5.1 environment. That process involved creating a virtual three-dimensional acoustic space for them without losing the clarity and tactile quality of the performances. These surround 'spaces' were recorded completely in an analog and DSD domain while the surround mixes were being done.

"The final 5.1 surround mixes were recorded directly to a Sonoma DSD workstation through EMM Labs DSD converters. The SACD master was produced on a SADiE DSD workstation which retained the integrity of the single-bit DSD surround mixes..."

And for the hi-res stereo option on the SACD:

"'We were fortunate that a 96kHz/24-bit PCM stereo master from the source 96kHz PCM stereo mixes had been prepared by Doug Sax for use as a...vinyl LP cutting master,' Bishop explains. 'This master was transferred to DSD to be used as the stereo DSD SACD master and fully retains the dynamics and resolution of the original 96kHz stereo mixes. The hybrid CD program on the SACD was produced from the original Concord CD's 44.1kHz/16-bit master and is identical to that original release.'"

Yes this is a very nice and an interesting compilation. They did a good job with a very low noise floor. The SACD is well mixed with good use of the surrounds but not over done. I agree with Flex that it has very good dynamic range. This is one I will enjoy for a long time.:)

Yes this is a very nice and an interesting compilation. They did a good job with a very low noise floor. The SACD is well mixed with good use of the surrounds but not over done. I agree with Flex that it has very good dynamic range. This is one I will enjoy for a long time.:)

+1. I got my copy last week. Sounds so good, that my 15 year old kid actually sat down and listened to some of it with me...AND SHE was impressed.

I am finding that SACD reveals alot more about the decisions of the original engineer and the people responsible for the remastering than previous mediums. And that the age of a recording has little impact on the sound quality (see also Muddy Waters,and many older classical recordings). Just listen to how bad the Genesis box set sounds. If anything it sometimes feels like the older the recording the better it will sound (excepting the small independent labels).

I saw this at Fry's Electronics yesterday in Phoenix and almost bought it. Instead I bought "Brian Wilson, Live at the Roxy Theatre" on DVD-A. The reason I did not buy it is because I already have "Ray Charles, Genius Loves Company" in SACD. Wanted something a little different. I really like the Brian Wilson dvd (wife doesn't care for him, though, although she hasn't heard this one, yet).

Frank

I saw this at Fry's Electronics yesterday in Phoenix and almost bought it. Instead I bought "Brian Wilson, Live at the Roxy Theatre" on DVD-A. The reason I did not buy it is because I already have "Ray Charles, Genius Loves Company" in SACD. Wanted something a little different. Charles/Basie is different from the other disc and vastly superior.

Charles/Basie is different from the other disc and vastly superior.

Here here. I was really disappointed with "Genius loves company" SACD, dont get me wrong it sounds good, but not as good as it should. The Charles/Basie SACD puts the other one to shame.

Here here. I was really disappointed with "Genius loves company" SACD, dont get me wrong it sounds good, but not as good as it should. The Charles/Basie SACD puts the other one to shame.I was agreeing with you. ;)

I was agreeing with you. ;)

And I was agreeing with you..:D

I aslo agree that it is a much better version. Much cleaner recording with better depth in the sound stage!

I found it real hard to distinguish betwwen original recording & newer.Except of course his background singers who's voices were wavering.I like this release alot better than his Genious SA-CD also.

I'm a little late to the party as I just ordered this SACD direct from TELARC. It arrived a couple of days ago and I am simply blown away by the breathtaking sound of this recording. Even if you're just mildly interested in Ray Charles, you will find the combination of his voice and the "swing" band style of the Basie orchestra to be a musical experience you will savor many times over. Recordings like this remind me why I bought SACD in the first place. Bravo to everyone involved in this project.

Marcus