
From a teen filling in for Art Blakey to shaping jazz history across decades, Miles Davisโ eight standout tracksโfrom โBluingโ to 2019โs โThis Is Itโโtrace a career of bold reinvention and enduring influence.

In a turbulent era where the winds of change blew against the rigid walls of racial prejudice, a virtuoso arose, commandeering the airwaves with a voice so smooth it could soothe even the tempests of societal unrest. Nat King Cole, the masterful pianist and velvety-voiced crooner, boldly carved a path through the tumultuous landscapes of…

From cotton fields in Arkansas to New Yorkโs electrifying jazz clubs, Sister Rosetta Tharpe defied genres and gender roles, blending gospel with rock โnโ roll and pioneering a soundโand a legacyโthat would change music forever.

Prices listed in CA$. Another room that served up incredible sound was that of retailer Bliss Acoustics, whose demo included a J.Sikora Reference turntable ($64,500) fitted with a KV Max 9โณ tonearm ($16,450) and Nagra Reference cartridge ($24,500), a Nagra Classic preamplifer ($24,000), a Nagra Classic phono stage ($26,000), a Gryphon Essence stereo amplifier ($32,480),…

Prices listed in US$ except where otherwise noted. I heard more fantastic sound in the Audio by Mark Jones room, which displayed a pair of Apogee speaker-inspired planar-type Clarisys Audio Studio Plus speakers ($66,000/pair) allied to a stack of twin-chassis products that included a CH Precision 300Wpc M10 stereo power amplifier ($104,000), an L10 preamplifier…

Prices listed in US$. Iโm going to get this out of the way: Every time I visit a On a Higher Note exhibit room, I turn into a sap. I get wishy-washy. I canโt help it. Thereโs something about the systems that proprietor Philip OโHanlon is able to put together that allows those systems to…

In the musical crucible of New York City, on a day woven into the fabric of rock folklore, Bob Dylan, a lyrical architect of the times, entered Studio A of Columbia Recording Studios with a message reverberating with the echoes of change. October 24, 1963, marked the day โ a day where the crisp autumn…

Prices listed in CA$. Many exhibitors at this yearโs Toronto Audiofest were showcasing panel-style loudspeakers, including electronics manufacturer Atoll Electronique, who was presenting the North American launch of the companyโs SDA300 Signature Streaming, DAC Amplifier ($6,999, and hence the SDA in the model name), paired with a pair of Final Audio Model 7 Hybrid electrostatic…

In the transformative year of 1969, amidst the backdrop of Woodstock and intense Vietnam War protests, the Paul McCartney death rumor seeped into pop culture, becoming one of rockโs most tenacious legends. This Beatles conspiracy theory contended that the beloved bassist, Paul McCartney, had met a tragic end in a 1966 car accident. Instead of…

With subtle design upgrades and the same powerful performance, Pro-Jectโs VC-S MK II builds on its predecessor to remain the best-value wet record cleaner on the marketโquieter, sleeker, and just as ruthlessly effective.

Amidst the kaleidoscope of the 1980s, with its intoxicating beats and larger-than-life music videos, a single photograph emerged that, in its simplicity, said more about a partnership than a thousand words could. It wasnโt set against the backdrop of an opulent stage or amidst the frenzy of adoring fans. Instead, it captured two of musicโs…