SONNY ROLLINS: SAXOPHONE COLOSSUS (LP STEREO ONE - STEP IN EDIZIONE LIMITATA A 1650 COPIE NUMERATE)

Performer: Sonny Rollins, tenor saxophone; Tommy Flanagan, piano; Doug Watkins, double bass; Max Roach, drums
Artist: Sonny Rollins
Number of discs: 1
Barcode: 8050616581518
Label: Hemiolia Records
Format: LP
Genre: Jazz
Year: 2026
Reference: HEMLP-2026-01
Available from: 2026-06-15

The Vinyl Debut (AAA): “Saxophone Colossus” and a Bold Audiophile Choice

The vinyl catalogue will make its debut in Vienna with Sonny Rollins’ iconic “Saxophone Colossus” (Prestige, 1956), whose presentation will pave the way for a second major release at the end of June: Dave Brubeck’s “Time Out”.

For all series and releases in this new editorial line, pressed on pure 180-gram virgin vinyl, ONE-STEP Pressing technology is adopted as a standard. By eliminating the intermediate stages of traditional galvanic processing (Father-Mother) and reducing background noise to the lowest physically achievable level, this process eliminates generational losses between the cutting lacquer and the final stamper, preserving the integrity of the complete sonic information contained in the original tape as much as possible.

This result is the outcome of a journey lasting more than two years, involving tests, listening sessions and fine-tuning, which led to the creation of a truly international team of professionals, with each specialist making a decisive contribution to the production chain. In order to guarantee the highest possible consistency, uniformity and acoustic stability from the first to the last of the 1,650 copies in the complete pressing run, Hemiolia has established a strict and specific permanent production protocol:

Three sets of identical lacquers: To ensure complete consistency among the stampers required to produce the entire limited edition of 1,650 copies, three identical sets of lacquers are produced for each side, cut consecutively on the same day and taken from the same batch of carefully selected virgin lacquers.

The strict limit of 550 pressings: Each set of lacquers is used to press 550 copies, reaching the total limit of 1,650 copies for the limited edition. Although industrial standards allow considerably higher pressing runs per stamper, Hemiolia has established a mandatory stamper replacement after just 550 copies, preserving the grooves from mechanical stress or any deterioration in pressing quality within each individual production batch.

Manual dual sequential numbering: As certification of this rigorous process and the collectible value of the release, all copies in the limited series are strictly hand-numbered. Each copy carries two sequential numbers: one identifies the original lacquer of provenance (Lacquer 1, 2 or 3), while the other identifies the unique serial number of the individual copy within the pressing run.

A synergistic, borderless production process bringing together leading European specialists at every stage of the analog chain:

Mastering (Italy): Pietro Benini using an Otari MTR-15 tape recorder, a 96-channel D&R Merlin analog console and reference outboard equipment (Maselec, Tube-Tech, Drawmer, Studer).

Lacquer Cutting (Germany): Andreas Bauer (AB Mastering) using a Neumann VMS-80 cutting lathe, Neumann SP-79 console and Studer A80 MKII playback machine (¼" preview playback machine).

Galvanics (UK): One-Step metal stampers engineered and manufactured by Stamper Discs.

Pressing (Denmark): RPM Records using Canadian Warmtone presses manufactured by Viryl Technologies.

The Hemiolia Signature: Beyond the Limits of Mono

The true technical and artistic challenge presented to specialist critics with this edition lies in the approach taken to the master of Saxophone Colossus. Although based on the original mono tape (first-generation Production Master, flat, ¼"), this historic title is given new life through an exceptional acoustic engineering process carried out by Pietro Benini. At the heart of this carefully developed stereo remastering process is a precise, rigorous and entirely analog use of phase rotation, incorporated into an uncompromising dynamic and tonal optimization chain.

We are fully aware that, among the most demanding critics and purist listeners, attempts to open up a natively mono source into stereo are often viewed with legitimate skepticism, if not openly opposed. To be completely honest, we ourselves questioned this opportunity extensively and critically, choosing to follow this path only after countless tests and hours of careful, rigorous listening.

Hemiolia’s philosophy in this operation is based on absolute respect for the source and a non-invasive approach. There is, of course, no digital manipulation, artificial intervention or alteration of the original timbres recorded in 1956. Through this delicate, global analog intervention, the aim was not to impose a forced transformation, but rather to achieve a natural acoustic evolution. The carefully calibrated phase rotations, masterfully orchestrated together with Benini’s refined expressive balancing, result in a greater sense of spatial separation between the instruments and an extraordinary feeling of air and openness within the virtual soundstage.

The quartet now breathes within a dimension that gains considerably in listening pleasure, realism and fluidity, restoring the physical presence and acoustic intimacy of Rudy Van Gelder’s historic session in Hackensack. It is an unconventional approach in which, as always in high-end audio, the final verdict is left to listening: hearing is believing.

The Value of Exegesis: The Listening Guide by Enrico Merlin

Each release in this new catalogue is conceived not only as a sonic reference, but as a complete editorial work. For this reason, we entrusted the writing of the liner notes and extended structural analyses to a figure of international standing: jazz historian and music critic Enrico Merlin.

Considering historical and philological insight an essential complement to the listening experience, Merlin has created a true mini listening guide. This exclusive critical and structural essay has been meticulously developed to accompany enthusiasts during their listening sessions, revealing the compositional structures, historical context and performance secrets contained within each masterpiece.