Patricia Barber’s outstanding 1994 release Cafe Blue has won more than 15 awards from major international music institutions. Deemed an “underground classic” by jazz Bible Downbeat magazine, the album contains sparkling, indelible improvisations derived as much from Barber’s interest in classical music as from jazz. This is where the internationally renowned singer-pianist comes into her own, interpreting songs from outside the traditional jazz repertoire and debuting a handful of original compositions that reveal her innovative, thoroughly distinctive style.

Audiophiles, of course, needn’t any introduction to Cafe Blue. Beloved for its transparent, you-are-there sound since its initial release, prized analog editions currently fetch upwards of $150 on the aftermarket. Mobile Fidelity’s long-out-of-print 45RPM 3LP edition and Premonition’s own 180g copies feature a dynamic clarity, vocal truth, and instrumental body that very few records possess. But not even those versions can compete with this newly minted 180g 2LP set that should belong on the shelf of every music lover.

Fully remixed and remastered, cut from the original tapes by legendary engineer Doug Sax, and meticulously pressed at QRP, Cafe Blue now boasts a seemingly limitless frequency range, transient responsiveness, and tonal realism.

From the dead-quiet surfaces to Barber’s steamy, smoky vocals and crisp finger snaps, from Michael Arnapol’s acoustic upright bass to guitarist John McLean’s tasteful fills, everything is in the right place. Want to turn your listening room into an intimate club populated by one of the most scintillating, creative jazz artists playing today? This is your ticket.

Not that the reference-quality sonics overshadow the phenomenal performances. On “Nardis,” Barber and her trio transform the song until it becomes a piece that’s both sensitive and wildly exotic. Barber’s own “What A Shame” and the self-effacing “Too Rich For My Blood” delve into deep emotional waters, the arrangements sophisticated, cool, elegant, and provocative.

A masterwork on every level, Cafe Blue has never been better. Forget having to shell out up to four times as much for a used copy and secure this new pressing by ordering this 2LP set today!