Craft Announces Re-Launch of Original Jazz Classics (OJC Series)!

first two cut by Kevin Gray at Cohearent Audio using the original master tapes

Craft Recordings relaunches Original Jazz Classics – the acclaimed reissue series that faithfully presented more than 850 memorable jazz albums over three decades. The soon to be relaunched reissue series will be focused on audiophile-quality vinyl and HD audio releases.

Upcoming reissues include titles from Bill Evans, John Coltrane, Dave Brubeck, Mal Waldron and Yusef Lateef, with further details to be announced soon via Craft Recordings.

First launched in 1982 under Fantasy Records, the imprint served as a home for the label’s impressive jazz catalog – which had grown to include thousands of celebrated titles from Prestige, Galaxy, Milestone, Riverside, Debut, Contemporary, Jazzland, and Pablo. Fantasy also had its own place in jazz history, beginning in 1949 with its very first signing, Dave Brubeck. The Bay Area label was also home to the likes of Cal Tjader, Gerry Mulligan, and Vince Guaraldi.

Original Jazz Classics will relaunch with two of its foundational releases: the seminal Workin' With the Miles Davis Quintet on April 28, followed byThelonious Monk with John Coltrane on May 26. Both albums have been cut from the original master tapes (AAA) by Kevin Gray at Cohearent Audio. Each LP is pressed on 180-gram vinyl at RTI and housed in a replica of its original tip-on jacket. Additionally, Workin’ and Thelonious Monk with John Coltrane will be reissued digitally in 192/24 HD audio. Both titles are available for pre-order today here.

OJC re-launch by Craft

Comments

2023-03-01 07:01:32 PM

Anthony J Russo wrote:

Nice lets hope they price them like Blue Note Tone poet . Win win for the record collector . Also will the be getting the OBC,ORC and the OCC catalog . Cheers Concord group .

Reply
- 2023-03-01 08:53:10 PM
  
  Jeffrey Puckett wrote:
  
  The price is $39, which is too much for titles like these with multiple reissues already. You can get original OJC pressings for $40 or less, sometimes way less, and the tapes were 45 years younger with excellent mastering.
  
  Reply
  - 2023-03-02 01:29:49 AM
    
    Anthony J Russo wrote:
    
    Jeff I have a lot of the OJC from the 80’s and 90’s .Yes the tapes were way younger.Lets see what comes out.
    
    Reply
  - 2023-03-02 01:44:21 PM
    
    oldlistener2222 wrote:
    
    Ditto. Neither rare or expensive. Reissues of reissues, whatever next :D
    
    Reply
  - 2023-03-02 08:31:54 PM
    
    bwb wrote:
    
    I don't agree that $39 for a clean, quiet, flat, heavy pressing is too much, but I do agree there are good options with the earlier pressings. However, a used, earlier pressing is a crap shoot as far as condition, so probably go with one of these over a used copy at $40.. As someone who has many of them I will be looking to fill some holes if they release the ones I want.
    
    From my understanding, the first 300 or so in the original releases were cut from tape while many of the latter ones are from digital copies.
    
    Reply
    - 2023-03-02 11:39:38 PM
      
      Anthony J Russo wrote:
      
      OJC in the 80’s and 90’s were good. Oldlistener is correct reissue of a reissue . 40 buck per lp when you can get the 80 ‘s OJC for wY less.
      
      Reply
      - 2023-03-03 12:58:51 AM
        
        bwb wrote:
        
        you must have better sources than I do. I have yet to consistently find pristine copies of these titles for way less than $40.. and some are rather hard to come by.. Show me a mint copy of Bill Evans "Explorations" you can get for $40... I'll buy it.. . My point is many of these titles are not just out there waiting to be picked up for way less than $40. Having a source for sealed 180 gram versions in nice jackets is nice to have... assuming they sound good
        
        Reply
        
        2023-03-03 11:15:12 PM
        
        Anthony J Russo wrote:
        
        I live in NYC so the stuff you find in the new arrival bins are amazing at times
        
        Reply
2023-03-03 10:18:04 AM

friccolodics wrote:

This is really great news! I bought about 100-150 OJCs when they were running out of print in the 90ies for about 8$ / record. They consistently sounded good, especially the Sonny Rollins and Thelonious Monk ones i got. 40$ is a bit much but i will test some to see if Kevin Gray worked magic....

Reply