Massimo Farao Trio – My Funny Valentine (2017, SACD-ISO)
Massimo Farao Trio – My Funny Valentine (2017, SACD-ISO) stands out because of its a Venus piano-trio reading of the classic My Funny Valentine repertoire. Rather than chasing spectacular detail for its own sake, the recording gives the listener a useful window into piano decay and bass/drum interplay. It can therefore serve as both music and a practical reference when evaluating a revealing stereo system.
TRACK LIST
- LabelVenus
- CountryJapan
- Release date2017
- GenreJazz
- FormatSACD-ISO 2ch& Flac 16bit/44.1kHz
Sound Quality
The recording rewards attention to texture rather than sheer brightness. Piano decay and bass/drum interplay Good playback should preserve the natural weight of the lower register, the expressive information in the midband and the fine edge of transients. When those elements remain coherent, the music gains a convincing sense of physical presence instead of sounding like a collection of isolated hi-fi effects.
Audiophile Listening Experience
For system evaluation, the useful question is not whether the recording sounds impressive immediately, but whether it stays convincing across its changing textures. Begin with My Funny Valentine and listen for the recording’s natural perspective before moving to the most intimate ballad for a stronger test of dynamics and separation. Imaging, tonal balance and transient behaviour should remain consistent. When the system is well matched, the music becomes easier to follow because the recording space and instrumental relationships feel stable.
Reference Tracks
Reference Tracks: Useful starting points are My Funny Valentine; the most intimate ballad; the strongest swing performance. They expose piano decay and bass/drum interplay in different ways, from intimate passages to more energetic sections. On a transparent system, the contrast should be obvious without any part of the spectrum becoming detached from the musical whole.
Audiophile Verdict
The lasting appeal of Massimo Farao Trio – My Funny Valentine (2017, SACD-ISO) is its ability to make system evaluation feel like music rather than measurement. Its strengths in piano decay and bass/drum interplay give audiophiles several useful listening targets, while the performances provide enough character to keep the disc enjoyable beyond a single equipment comparison.
For repeated comparisons, keep the playback chain and listening position fixed. The most meaningful clues are usually small: a bass note becoming easier to follow, a vocal moving slightly forward, a cymbal decaying more naturally, or the room around a performance becoming easier to perceive.
