Danke for the kind attention to the packaging! Always appreciated!

I have the original as well and debated getting the reissue. Boy am I glad I did. It blew me away. KJ is truly a great artist. Very moving.

Yes, ECM editions are really something special and always sounds great. 👍

Thank you for this comparison...i have the original box set like you and i am with that definetely!... I love the old ECM logo

Looking forward to receiving my copy!

The audience is in awe, mainly because of his playing, also because Keith Jarrett is NOTORIOUS for calling out people making noise, coughing etc. a great album, right up there with the Koln Concert;)

Oh Michael. Come on, I didn’t want to….but now I have to…:-) thanks…great video, awesome Boxset.

It is great to have these high quality ECM reissues for a new generation of listeners today. But what I appreciate even more is that ECM is now releasing many of their new titles on vinyl as well again.

I have the original and the vinyl is unbelievably quiet, which is vital for these recordings.

Great comparison 45. You do a great service for the VC. Not everyone can describe music accurately. But you’re turning a lot of people into some brilliant musicians. Danke.

ECM stepped up and made it better in many ways and they are to be congratulated. As always great, entertaining review ! Thank you, Michael !

Thanks and great review. I've seen the boxset in the record shop I usually go, and your review makes me want to buy it next time! Greetings from Paris.

I ordered the box set for €50 at Amazon. Now prices are up to €88.

Thank you, this is another informative, nice post on an ECM juwel. I own the original and expect the Luminessence reissue in the next few days. I am curious!

Great to see a reissue of high quality,who better to do it than ECM themselves. AAA can’t ask for more I do love the classic 70s ECM label over the new one. Looks a great package . Thx for sharing Michael

This the first time I actually have an LP you've featured! I have a first pressing of this which is missing the liner notes. I compared this directly to the CD (undated, but probably 2000s) and it blew the CD away. I can strongly recommend the first pressing, it is ideal for jazz fans who want an example of the original vinyl being better than the digital version, for whatever reason. Especially as, at least down here in Australia, first pressings of this album seem to be very common indeed. If this reissue sounds even better then I am duly impressed.

This music is transcending. I will be picking this up for sure.

Because many people complain in previous comments, I think it should be said (again, as I commented before in this) that with ECM issues and reissues there isn't to much to compare on how they sound. The recordings are the same. ECM is not that kind of (cheap) commercial label that reissues remastered new versions of their back catalog just for the sake of money. With the reissues they offer to new listeners the possibility to access the same original recordings with the same hi quality mastering. As Michael showed it here, maybe in a but different packaging. But the recordings are the same. For those who want to test this, they can just measure the dynamic range of the recording on older and newer issues. Numbers tell the truth. 🙂

Thanks, I was curious how the new one compares.

I do have the OG of this one…

Many thanks for the promo info. Got me interested in looking beyond the Cologne concert. Since this was mostly talk on the packaging and cosmetics, and no references made as to the difference between the reissue and the OG, I take it that they were not significant enough. So I rather look out for a NM OG and save money for something else, e.g. the forthcoming Original Source Series releases of DG.

Great reissue 👍sounds better than the original. Have to send my first copy back because of vinyl issues on side 2 & 6. The second one arrived today and looks and sounds perfect so far while i‘m listening 😊👍

Curious as to why you don’t review VMP titles anymore? You used to be such a fan…. And they’ve had so many fantastic AAA titles as of late, many cut by Ryan Smith.

I got my reissue yesterday and sent it back today. Maybe it was just my copy, but the first disc was so off-centered that it was out of tune, especially when the needle was close to the spindle. I hope to get a replacement soon.

I have two ECM Luminessence titles so far, and I have to say that the sound quality of these releases are outstanding. The vinyl in particular is dead silent straight out the box. No cleaning is necessary. This might be heresey, but I think, as of now it might even be better than the Blue Note reissues - The Blue Notes (Tone Poets/Classic Vinyl) sound excellent as well, but they usually need to be cleaned and I have a few with some permanent clicks and pops. It will be some time before I have enough of the ECMs to make a better comparison. I hope the series continues.

Thanks Michael. ECM has always made good sounding releases (to my experience too). BUT did you actually find the new releases on par with the org. - or a bit better or "worse" (talking sound quality here)? I'm not sure I understood this from your review - Sincerely Claus

So which one do you like better? The Original or the Reissue?

For all the ECM stuff are they worth buying if you only have modest gear to play them on, or do the subtle detail get lost ?

Did you compare the sound to the original? I heard you say it was 10 out of 10 but how does it compare to the original?

Color me confused. This is billed as a shootout ("Showdown" as you've written), but as far as I can see not one second was spent on the subject - that is, comparing the sound and pressing quality between the original and reissue editions. We all know this is (more or less) an improvised work. And if you care for KJ's work yes this is a performance held in very high esteem. One historical thing to note: his concerts were extraordinarily quiet in terms of audience banter etc. bc he was notoriously grouchy to the point of alienating his audience should someone dare to cough or sneeze. So your comment that the music at theVillage Vanguard was secondary to one's next cocktail is a bit offensive. Why do I bring this up? Every single record store in NYC (or even Goodwill) goes thru piles of this edition (both German and US versions). And they're usually 8-10$, look nearly unplayed and the outer wraps are day-old clean. I think you need to make a better case for why to pick this Luminescence edition at more than100$ versus choosing from a sea of unplayed original pressings. The differences in the packaging (typeface, color of fabric wrap and foil stamping) and paper stock of the booklet are merely anecdotal. It's about the music and I'm afraid your review has a HUGE blindspot that makes it worthy of a re-do.

Stranges choice. There are plenty of originals for cheap around, regularly. Aso it's not top-tier KJ anyway, IMHO.

This is really comparison in packaging, because you didn't mention anything soundwise about the original. Really dissapointing.