BACKTRACKING FORWARD: 180 GRAMS OF JAZZ
posted in: Music News
No additives, preservatives or fillers”just 100% vinyl; 180 grams of pure, unadulterated wax. Pressing audiophile records is the antithesis of going green since any recycled material in a platter can result in inferior sound quality and surface noise. Despite a trend of conservationism, the more vinyl used when making a disc results in a cleaner sounding album so when shopping for new records or considering pressing an album for a release, purity of the material and weight of the disc are two important factors to consider.
Jazz record collectors are some of the most notorious audiophiles in the world, falling slightly behind classical music aficionados. In the 1950’s and into the 1960’s, many jazz labels, most notably Blue Note Records, were pressing their albums on vinyl that weighed in the ballpark of 180-200 grams. Major labels were practicing this standard throughout the early to mid 1950’s when the commercially available LP was only a few years old. As time progressed and cost cutting methods were introduced, vinyl records dropped in weight to an industry standard of 130 grams. In the 1970’s, RCA created a new disc weighing in at a mere 90 grams”a short-lived mistake. Today’s standard is between 130 and 140 grams, but as consumer demand increases for these audiophile editions, it’s worthwhile to understand what 180 grams actually represents.
So what’s all the fuss? First and foremost, an album’s sound is directly influenced by how well it’s recorded and mastered as well as the quality of the stylus being used to play the record. The added weight and depth of the 180 gram pressing allows for deeper microgrooves to be set into the platter. When combining that with a smaller stylus on a cartridge, more detail is picked up and relayed to the amplifier. The average stylus on a turntable applies 50,000 pounds of force per square inch on the record so a smaller groove combined with a cheap generic needle produces a slightly inferior sound. Basically, the finer the stylus and the deeper the groove means less wear and tear on a disc”one of the reasons why analog is still heralded as the cleanest sound.
In today’s vinyl resurgence, bands have the option of pressing their record on varying degrees of vinyl weight according to their budget. While a well-mastered album will sound brilliant on 120 or 180 grams, bumping up to the audiophile weight will be noticed by customers buying your album. On average, the increase in vinyl mass when manufacturing only costs about one dollar extra per disc. And if you are a jazz musician, the upgrade in quality results in those quiet passages with crisp instrumentals and soft and sultry vocals to retain their brilliance even after years of a disc being played. Original Lexington Blue Note recordings from the mid 1950’s weigh in at over 200 grams, providing a sound superior to contemporary jazz albums being released. While not every musician has the help of legendary engineer Rudy Van Gelder at the controls, the attention to quality paid off for that label.
Listening to Antonio Farao’s exquisite instrumentals conjures up a prime example of an artist whose already superb jazz recordings would transfer beautifully over to the analog format. This talented pianist has collaborated with an amazing repertoire of legendary jazz musicians and built up a hefty discography. But, it’s Antonio’s prowess for striking a balance between jazz and electronica that makes him stand out. On the song Quiet, Antonio’s soft piano takes the foreground as smooth beats drop in throughout this relaxed number. He becomes a bit more daring and experimental on Line, where he layers the track with a driving drum and bass background peppered with a simple horn arrangement, offering a striking precedent of this musician’s ability to build epic instrumentals. In Kenny’s Mood, on the other hand, Antonio performs with a troupe of talented players as he crafts a chaotic, yet pleasing, composition on the keys without the aid of electronic supplements.
Here’s a playlist showcasing Antonio’s incredible talent: