Milt Jackson Invitation on 180g 33RPM LP from Mobile Fidelity: Strictly Limited to 2,000 Numbered Copies and Out of Print

1/4" / 15 IPS analog master to analog console to lathe

Legendary vibraphonist Milt “Bags” Jackson needed only three sessions to record the gem that is 1963’s Invitation, an album on which the longtime Modern Jazz Quartet member paired the enviable cast of trumpeter Kenny Dorham, tenor saxophonist Jimmy Heath, pianist Tommy Flanagan, bassist Ron Carter, and drummer Connie Kay. No, you don’t need to be a jazz aficionado to recognize those musicians. Household names all, they and Jackson deliver in spades, performing a satisfyingly diverse set that spans Hollywood film scores, Broadway showtunes, and jazz standards.

While Jackson’s place in history is secure—he’s indisputably one of the three finest vibes players ever and arguably the best—his own records have never received the attention of those on which he’s been a sideman. No longer. Meticulously drawn from the original master tapes and half-speed mastered, Mobile Fidelity's 180g 33RPM LP of Invitation join the ranks of the best-sounding jazz records in existence.

Whether on the gently swaying title track, Thelonious Monk’s contemplative “Ruby, My Dear,” or swinging “The Sealer,” you are transported to a universe of mellow moods and playful optimism. You not only hear but feel Jackson’s vibes, which twinkle like stars. Superb instrumental separation, proper balances, and detailed textures produce lifelike images of the bass strings and horns. The music just floats.

"This reissue removed layers of dirt and grime from the original’s sound leaving cleanliness, transparency and beauty. Connie Kay’s drums, particularly his shimmering cymbal and snappy snare work, have rarely been captured as cleanly as they are here. Ditto Jackson’s vibes."
--Michael Fremer, MusicAngle.com, January 2010