The Blues And The Abstract Truth [SHM-CD] [Limited Release]

Anyone who likes Be Bop knows that this is one of the all time jazz classics. Stolen Moments may be Freddie Hubbard's greatest performance and to not have this title in your collection is a loss. I decided to compare the North American Impulse Original version by Verve, produced in 2007 against a very expensive Shm version by Universal Japan of 2008. The cover implies the same mastering. I have an Audio Research high end sound system with Focal Utopia speakers. I am sorry to tell you but the $10 Canadian version beats the Japanese cousin by quite a bit. The Japanese version has cleaned too much of the dimenison and fidelity out of the album. The cheaper version has a better sound stage, Hubbard trumpet, Nelson's sax provides cooler sounds. There appears nothing that the SHM does better. I understand that the SHM will last for more decades. Think twice before picking up "The Blues and the Abstract Truth Shm" but run to the store to buy its cousin which is selling as "originals" now for one third the price and I would rate 5