Customer Reviews

Jazz at the Pawnshop

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

The Pawnshopis a jazz club in Stockholm (Stampen...Swedish for Pawnshop). With this CD you really can feel like you're there -- you can hear the beer flowing from the taps along with the sound of the tips bell ringing in the background. (These sounds really bring the venue into the recording...they're not distracting)

The recording engineer, Gert Palmcrantz, is a genius. Anyone wanting to get into recording engineering should buy this album...it's that good.

I've been lucky enough to visit Stockholm and Stampen (the Pawnshop) a few times and it's an absolutely great place that has a variety of music acts.

I don't know jack about Jazz, but their rendition of Take Five is the best I've heard.

The original 2-CD Box Set comes with a total of 12 cuts. Let me give the full track listings below:

Disc 1 (CDT 7778)

1. Limehouse Blues (9:40)
2. I'm Confessin' (8:06)
3. High Life (7:13)
4. Struttin' with Some Barbecue (6:39)
5. Jeep's Blue (6:49)
6. Stuffy (7:04)

Disc 2 (CDT 7779)

1. Lady Be Good (9:18)
2. Here is That Rainy Day (5:24)
3. Barbados (8:10)
4. How High the Moon (6:15)
5. Take Five (6:54)
6. Everything Happens to Me (5:15)

This double-CD set comes in a double-CD jewel case. A 2-page insert note (track listing in English; note in Swedish ONLY)
Manufactured and distributed by AudioSource (proprius CDP 7778/7779).

Pressed by JVC Japan. This Box Set has long been gone out of print and is sought after by serious collectors. The recording is known for it intimacy - just like you're there in person at the "Pawnshop".

(The Vol. 1 from Amazon only has 9 cuts).

This has always been one of my favorites ever since the days of the LP. The reviewer below correctly notes that the original version had 12 tracks on it compared to the single CD version's 9 as noted in the description Amazon.com has provided. The single CD version was released primarily to save both the customer and the importer at the time (AudioSource) the cost of a 2 disk set. Sadly, the later reissue eliminated "Lady Be Good" a song that has always been my favorite from the set.

First Impression Music of Seattle has licensed this recording from Proprius, and has restored all 12 of the tracks to two disks. It is a hybrid set of disks with both standard CD and SACD capability. It's OK if you don't know or care about SACD, just remember that it will play just fine in your present equipment, but will sound even better if you ever decide to move up to a DVD player for your movies that is also SACD compatible (Sony makes several popularly priced models). You can find First Impression Music by doing a google search on their name. ...

This is the type of recording that can make your clock radio sound like a high-end multi-thousand dollar piece of equipment...it's that good! There is NO better jazz recording, nor will there ever be. Get all three sessions of the rare and genius pawn shop recordings. If you close your eyes, I promise you that you will be transported to Stampen pawn shop, be able to squint your eyes due to the smoke-filled venue, and taste the beer. You may also notice that the loose change in your pocket is missing...Get this record, it is the last record you will ever own. Forget the top 500 Rolling Stone list. This is magic. Do you think I'm recommending it? SIX STARS.

The sound guy (during this live session) did his home work. You hear everything. It's like being inside a jazz bar. While listening to the improv jazz licks, you expect a waitress come by for a drink order. What more can you ask for! If you like vibes in your jazz, you get live vibes.

Arne Domnerus (and Quintet): Jazz at the Pawnshop. Proprius 7778-9 (Sweden) 1976
The reissue is available, and my friend has a copy, but I have not auditioned it at length. Live Jazz is very enjoyable, and I miss not going to The Basement for a long time. I am very disappointed with the recordings of live Jazz played at audiophile society monthly meetings, and whenever I like to hear recordings of Jazz, played in a relatively small acoustic space, as it is meant to be, I return to this recording, which deserves it place as one of my jazz references. It was recorded live at the "Stampen" club in Stockholm, which I presumed, is translated into English as "Pawnshop".
What stands out to me is the immediacy of the recording, and the vibraphone solos, with natural decay following the ends of notes. All instrumental timbres are natural, and this is borne out by the recent upgrade from the Lyra Helikon to the Skala (review is coming).
Musically, my favourites are a fast version of Brubeck's "Take Five", the calypso "High Life", and "How High the Moon", as used on "Good Night and Good Luck".
A recommended recording on both LP and CD.

This is an amazing recording - best listened to through a quality set of cans or on good speakers. The blend of unparalled live ambient sound and some very fine music makes it no surprise that this recording is spoken of with reverence by jazz collectors around the world. Ignore the one condescending, sniffish review below. The gentleman may have found the music uninteresting, but he's in a distinct minority. When Dizzy Gillespie and Charlie Parker heard Arne Domnerus play at the Paris Jazz Festival in 1949, Parker was so taken by Domnerus' alto sound that he hired him for his European tour the following year. Arne and pianist Bengt Hallberg also played with Clifford Brown and Quincy Jones. Domnerus also recorded with Clark Terry, Jimmy Rowles and other heavy hitters. It's true that this recording is not Giant Steps or Blue Train - unmatched jazz recordings that define the zenith of their period - and maybe all time. It's not intended to be. But this is a live jam session that will literally transport you back 32 years, sit you down at a table right up in front at this Stockholm jazz nightclub and infect you with the pure joy and magic that the chemistry among these fine musicians produced. The planets aligned for the gig and this baby swings! If you like the sound, check out Downtown Meeting, recorded with Clark Terry, George Mraz and Oliver Jackson in New York (1978) or another favorite, Arne Domnerus with Jimmy Rowles - a two CD set that isn't to be missed. Finally, check AMG for more information about this late Scandinavian legend and his complete discography. Try Amazon first, but EBay is a good back-up.

Audiophiles note: Clean, clear, live.
Astounding performances, imaging puts you
seated in Stampen. Proof it's A-list?
I walked down the wedding aisle to one cut.
Veteran jazz players asked me for it.
<Thank Brad Meyer for the referral>

Audiophiles consider this the best recorded jazz album ever, and based on what I've heard, I agree. I own both the original LP set and the digital CD set. But I rarely listen to either.

The reason is that despite the great, live sound, complete with ultra-real room ambience and convincing background noises, the performances are not very interesting.

Disc one contains "traditional" jazz, played with some competence but corny and dated. Disc two is more modern, but doesn't seem to be the forte of this group. Aside from the rather gimmicky cut of "Take Five," on which everyone tries too hard but does generate some excitement, the playing is cliched and dull. There is little melodic invention, and less lyricism. The sax is harsh and unappealing.

I'm sure this was a very nice bunch of people who enjoyed playing together. But I only wish such wonderful recording had been lavished instead on Miles, Trane, and so many other greats who were over-miked and echo-chambered to death by misguided engineers on commercial labels.

As some reviewers have said, the sound of this set is "just like being there." But who would want to?

I agree with one of the reviews here.
Technically this album is awesome. It can really showcase a good system. The engineering aspect is perfect. You can really feel like you're in the jazz club. The sound of chatter and silverware clacking is distinct from the music. The instruments breath so much naturalness.

Unfortunately I don't listen to this anymore. If you ignore the perfect engineering of this CD you'll notice that the performance is actually not that good. Seems like a lot of times the band members were just "jamming". I'm sure they had a fun time playing that night but the music is not that good actually.