Patricia Barber: Modern Cool [Blu-ray]

The MFSL SACD of Modern Cool, which I own, has enjoyed a long reputation as an audiophile classic. But I've actually never been a huge fan of it. To my ears, it has a very big, showy, demo disc kind of sound that might be great for impressing friends with your system, but it doesn't sound like the real thing at all, and I go frequently to hear live jazz in NYC clubs. In particular, I've never heard the bass so totally dominate the sound of a jazz group the way it does on the MFSL disc and, in general, the images of Barber's voice and other instruments are too big and unnatural. To be clear: I'm not saying that the MFSL sounds bad, because it doesn't, but if you like your jazz recordings to sound natural and live, it will prove to be disappointing.I wasn't aware that a Pure Audio Blu-ray of Modern Cool had been out there for a while, but I bought it immediately once I discovered the disc, hoping that it would be an improvement over the MFSL because I'm such a fan of the music on Modern Cool. I'm happy to say this purchase was worth every cent because the blu-ray addresses my main issues with the MFSL. Barber's voice is much more focused and natural sounding, as if she's performing live in my living room, as opposed to this huge image of her voice that occupied 2/3 of the space between my speakers. Similarly, the images of instruments are more focused and natural, as the Blu-Ray trades the showy, demo quality of the MSFL for a sound that's more like the real thing across the board. Lastly, the bass has been significantly tamed, and while I still find it a bit on the dominant side, it now sounds much more properly integrated with Barber's voice and the rest of the instruments.FWIW, Stereophile also preferred the sound of the blu-ray over the MFSL, and mostly for the same reasons I've noted above. So if you're as much of a fan of Modern Cool as I am, this is the version you simply must own. In case you're wondering about my playback system: for the MFSL SACD, it's an Oppo BDP-95 feeding the pure DSD signal via analog XLR to the passive pre-amp section of a Theta Gen VIII processor, then out via XLR to a Spectron Musician III Amp and Gallo Reference 3.5 speakers. All cables and interconnects are Cardas Golden Reference. For the blu-ray, it's much the same, except the Oppo is feeding a lossless, 24/192 PCM stereo signal into the Theta Gen VIII for decoding, then out via balanced XLR to the amp and speakers.Thank you for taking the time to read my review and I hope you find it helpful in making a buying decision.

First -- Amazon's description of the 5.1 recording as 24 bit 192Hz is a mistake. The 5.1 is actually 24/96 dts-HD Master Audio. Only the 2 channel track(s) are 24 bit 196Hz PCM. The October 2012 issue of STEREOPHILE confirms this fact. This same issue of STEREOPHILE also compares this Blu-ray remaster of MODERN COOL to the SACD version on Mobile Fidelity Sound Labs' gold CD. STEREOPHILE's review is worth reading. It also reviews the new 2 LP pressing of Ms. Barber's NIGHTCLUB done by RTI (Camarillo, CA).Second -- The resolution of the 2 channel version of MODERN COOL on this Blu ray disc is the best that I have ever heard. Deeper and clearer bass extension. More realistic and airy vocals. In all, much more present. Buy this BD today.

I have this album on cd and enjoy it a lot, but I wanted to hear how it sounded on higher resolution Blu-ray. Man, it is impressive! The sound is more believable and clear, and the percussion really snaps. There are two mixes available, high res stereo or high res surround sound. The surround mix is subtle but pleasant, but most of my listening has been two channel. If you enjoy her music and have the set up to play this from your Blu-ray player, grab it! You will enjoy it and you will support the high resolution format of Blu-day Music.

Not what I expected. I personally would not purchase again. Just did not enjoy the music or the beat. But that is just my opinion. I know others did like the DVD.

I'm sorry, I know this album was a 2013 Grammy WInner - for Surround Sound. And, that's the great achievement with this disc. Really, it's the most 'live' sounding surround disc I own. Very impressive sound.But the music... I can see how the Diana Krall crowd would enjoy the breathy, middle-aged, drunk stripper vocals, but it's not for me (and I love Diana Krall and I am a middle aged man). Track five really sounds like a drunk stripper singing The Doors' Light My Fire - not kidding, she really covers that track and it's that bad.Sorry, I don't review many music titles, but I was sucked into buying this for the surround experience; I love Jazz; I love Jazz vocals; this is just wrong.Want to hear great female Jazz vocals? Try Betty Carter's "Finest Hour".

Well, I hate to complain, but I bought this because it was touted as being a 5.1 surround, 24 bit 192k blue ray (like some of the amazing 2L recordings). This is being a slow to develop format even though it is the highest res and most amazing format in all of recorded music to date. But when I first put it on I found that the surround is actually 24 bit 96k and only the stereo is 24 bit, 192k. I did not know this artist but I ordered it because I wanted to support the format and have some recordings at this resolution in 5.1 surround.When I started listening I was planning to return the disk since it was not as advertised but I have to say that it kept me listening and by the time I finished the album Patricia Barber and company had won me over. There is a lot to commend in the recording quality and in the music, songs and performances. I am sure I will listen to much of this album many more times and play it for my audiophile friends so . . . it's a keeper. Recommended if you like the genre (which I have dubbed, "modern beatnik jazz") 8-)

This is the best-sounding album I have ever heard! I have purchased quite a few DVD-Audio, SACD, and audiophile CDs over the years, but this one takes the prize. The performances are stellar, too. Don't even think about passing this one by.It's particularly fun and revealing to alternate between Stereo and 5.1 mid-song. Gives you a whole new level of appreciation for what multichannel surround music can do for you. My musician friend calls it "visceral mode" when I switch it from Stereo to 5.1.

First, the sound quality is fantastic, second PB is a great artist. Even if you aren't a PB fan buy this DVD for the sound quality experience.

Grabación en la máxima calidad de sonido. Calidad artística y varias opciones de sonido. Mi más efusiva recomendación de compra.

I have this album in all formats, as I have all of Patricia Barber's work, and it is, by quite a margin the best my system sounded so far.

Les enregistrements de Patricia Barber ont en commun une rare qualité. Ce Bluray Audio ne déroge pas, il enfonce le clou. Les sensations sont quasi surréalistes. Les critères habituels de précision, de dynamique, de timbres ne suffisent plus. Ce support surtout en DTS HD Master délivre du 24/96Khz, il transmet une incroyable présence des musiciens, une fidélité absolue des instruments, timbres, toucher de notes, respiration. Les sonorités sont absolument parfaites, un trompettiste reconnaîtra sans problème la marque de la trompette de Dave Douglas, idem pour la guitare ou la batterie. A défaut d'écoute en multi-canal, la stéréo moins expressive n'en demeure pas moins un modèle avec un encodage LPCM 24/192.C'est bien un pur plaisir de retrouver les accents de Modern Cool, un album fondateur du style Barber. Outre les compositions de l'artiste, on goûte avec délectation les reprises de Light my fire; You&the night&the Music; Let it rain. Amateur de Jazz et de Patricia Barber ne passez pas à côté de ce BD-Audio si peut diffusé.

Leider gibt es ja nur sehr wenige blu-rays die super klingen. Diese blu-ray Audio gehört mit dazu!Es wäre schön, wenn die Redakteure der Fachzeitschriften entweder eine bessere Anlage hätten oder ein besseres Gehör, denn was manchmal mit 5 Sternen im Klang bewertet wird... höchstens 3 Sterne.Über Geschmack lässt sich streiten - auch bei dieser blu-ray - aber der Klang ist 5 Sterne!Herzliche audiophile Grüße

I decided to give this blu-ray version a try after reading an independent review which made it sound like my type of music, but WOW!!What that review did not say was that this is a blu-ray audio disc - aimed at people with good ears and good hi-fi kit.The only 'video' is the menu page for choosing the track to play and the audio format to use.That audio is something really special, especially if you have good kit and are one of the twelve percent of the population whose high frequency hearing extends beyond the meagre range provided by CDs or even the higher quality Dolby and DTS HD sounds.As well as loving the music for its own sake, the 24 bit / 192 Mhz stereo recording is the first disc other than SACD which I have bought which surpasses the sound from my ancient Linn turntable.This is a prime example of how digital can and in my books should sound.