Translation of the German review:

The album Jazz At The Pawnshop - Late Night supplements the first version (Jazz At The Pawnshop) with seven previously unreleased tracks, with the exception of the song Jeep's Blues, which is present on both albums: the two-minute longer version “Take 2” was used on Late Night. Many audio and tape fans say that Jazz At The Pawnshop is the best jazz recording of all time. There were two great ways for me to verify this statement: At the HIGH END 2024 in Munich, I took the opportunity to listen to the Jazz At The Pawnshop - Late Night tape on the Nagra reference high-end system in the best possible seating position. It quickly became clear that this tape edition should not be missing from my collection. Then it was just a matter of looking forward to listening to it at home. Here I had the opportunity to compare this tape with the best jazz albums I have reviewed so far. Even before the end of the first run-through of the two tapes, it was as clear as day that I had made the right decision. This masterpiece offers an extraordinary music and sound experience. 

On the 2xHD homepage you can read about Jazz At The Pawnshop - Late Night: “At the end of the evening, before packing their instruments to go home, jazz musicians often will play a set for themselves. These tapes hold the recording of such a moment, as the famous Jazz at the Pawnshop group play with longer solos, leaving themselves more liberty to spontaneously explore the many jazz possibilities of the songs, and having fun. These discovered recordings were mastered by 2xHD's René Laflamme and released under the appropriate title.”

The quintet delivers a gripping and stirring performance with captivating aplomb: on saxophone and clarinet Arne Domnérus, on bass Georg Riedel, on drums Egil Johansen, on piano Bengt Hallberg and Lars Erstrand on vibraphone. The selection of the seven pieces is very well done, they are very pleasantly arranged. Stylistically, jazz elements, as they were played at the end of the 1970s, are mixed with borrowings from bebop, blues and Latin, often played uptempo.

The musicians show the full range of their skills right from the opener Frenesi. The long song allows for extended solos and the band members can let their music flow, very nice! This very good introduction to a great listening experience is followed by the traditional title Gubben och Kallingen. It starts with an exciting, almost experimental intro, which the band develops into a musical picture with a veritable firework of jazz patterns. In this impetuous piece, the five jazz musicians pull out all the stops. On the well-known track Exactly Like You, the quintet has succeeded in creating a very precisely knitted arrangement. The clarinet and vibraphone solos are brilliant and are presented to the audience with incredible precision. The jazz classic Strutti'n With Some Barbeque showcases the group's virtuosity at a breathtaking tempo. There is a beautiful alternating solo between drums and saxophone. Jeep's Blues shows what you can do as a jazz band when you change genre. The piece is slow and allows the instrumentalists to explore the melodic and rhythmic aspects right into the last corners. Everyone gets their solo, including the bass, whose clean work is perfectly showcased. Equally remarkable is the minimalist detail work on the drum solo. Time for High Life, quietly introduced via a tambourine. The vibraphone is reminiscent of tin pans, which evoke a South American feeling. A magical drum solo and many musical delicacies turn this song into a musical celebration. The album returns to up-tempo jazz with Mood Indigo at the end.

The music comes from the tape, tough and audible, with dynamics and drive. The quiet passages on this analog masterpiece retain their charm and allow the presence of the instruments to be accentuated during louder passages. Sound engineer Gert Palmcrantz is responsible for the excellent miking and recording. Details can be found in the detailed booklet. The recording dates from 1977 and retains its exceptional status thanks to the excellent remastering by René Laflamme. I can agree with the audio and tape fans that Jazz At The Pawnshop, in this case the current edition Late Night, is in the top league of jazz recordings.

The equipment is perfect: two precision-made reels with RTM SM900 studio tape are stored in a sturdy cardboard box. There is an eight-page booklet and a certificate of authenticity in the hinged lid. I can find no criticism of this master tape copy.

My recommendation: buy this sensationally good master tape copy, enjoy its reference status and certainly have a lot of fun! For tape lovers who already own the Jazz At The Pawnshop edition, Late Night is a perfect addition!

Translated with DeepL.com (free version)