An Interview with "Nat King Cole Live at The Blue Note Chicago" producer, James Sàez

The Iconic Artist Group releases for Record Store Day April 20th an unheard collection of live Nat “King” Cole recordings. "Live at the Blue Note Chicago" features recordings that the club’s owner - Frank Holzfeind - made of Cole, who was one of many acts that passed through his club that he recorded for posterity's sake. Kevin Gray at Cohearent Audio cut lacquers for the two disc set pressed at RTI on 180-gram vinyl and packaged in a marvelously made Stoughton gatefold jacket. The release can also be acquired on 2CD and digital formats.
Holzfiend took a “set it and forget it” approach to recording these performances, as he was more interested in simply capturing the moment rather than producing a high-quality sonic masterpiece. The recordings of Cole - a week’s worth - were made dual mono and sonics varied. To sort through the recordings - and to restore them to sound their absolute best - Iconic chose James Sàez to produce the project.
In this interview, conducted by Tracking Angle contributing writer Evan Toth you’ll hear James share plenty of interesting details about transforming those casual recordings into something worthy of the beautifully detailed physical package that surrounds it.
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[@Sec998]

Thanks for your hard work preserving this piece of music history. I've listened to it three times though and to my non audiophile ear, it sounds very good for the age of the original material.

[@Orchestra101]

Great work! Thanks for sharing and interviewing. It’s not easy to produce a historical product.. Congratulations!! ll buy one 👍🏼

[@user-pt7mm1so8g]

I have somewhere close to 150 mono recorded multi disc albums ranging for Dorsey with Sinatra, to Glenn Miller, to Urbie Green and so many others. But this recording is my first mono Nat King Cole album. Its the best mono recording I have for sure. The performance is what really separates this album from the rest. So real, live, and with such great controlled energy.

[@charlesnr]

Webcor, popular home recorder and record changers in Chicago. Also popular Revere home tape recorders also made in Chicago.