The second set of the Steeplechase releases are out now in Japan. I ordered this one from CdsvinylJapan.com, a new vendor to me. Their ads found me somehow, not the other way around. This is an English language website and very easy to navigate and use. They offer 3 levels of shipping. I chose the cheapest E-Packet, just to see the time it takes. DHL and EMS are known quantities.
I had been hoping that CDJapan would pick these up, but that has not happened as yet. And I'm thinking it is not going to happen in the future either.

Steven, please post again when you receive the SACD, so we'll have some idea of the delivery time, and let us know what you think of the disc.

I just listened to "Strollin'" on Side Two of the Inner City LP release of "The Apartment". Dexter was playing very fluently and confidently at that time, and the recorded sound is quite good.

Mark, nothing yet on the disc. The last check of tracking showed it was still waiting in Tokyo for dispatch. So E-Pak is the slow way, as expected.

Disc arrived Friday December 16, about 2 weeks after posted in Japan. The E-packet is registered airmail with tracking. It's just that the tracking only works in Japan, not in Australia. Don't ask me why as I have no idea. I had to go to the local PO to pick up the parcel and the clerk was surprised when she scanned the bar code and nothing happened. So E-packet is a cost effective shipping method.
As to the disc..........sound quality is typical of Japanese jazz sacd re-issues. In other words, better than cd and not as good as Analogue Productions.

Next week there are 3 more releases in the SteepleChase 50th Anniversary series, for a total of 10.

Thanks for the update, Steven. The series is being remastered to 24/96, and unless the hi-res files are licensed to download vendors, the SACDs will be the only way to hear those albums in high resolution.

The mid-1970s Steeplechase studio recordings that I've heard (on Inner City LPs, and some recent CD reissues), didn't sound as good as the Blue Note, Verve or Impulse sessions that Analogue Productions have released. The Steeplechase sessions weren’t engineered at state of the recording art.

What's interesting is that there's still a sufficient market for jazz on SACD to warrant remastering and pressing titles that were not previously released in high resolution.

Here is a new update on things with Cds Vinyl Store.
My first order with that vendor was for this disc and came in reasonable fashion.
So I made another order for 2 more of the SteepleChase offerings in late December.
This one has gone a bit different, and it has taken longer as well.
It was noted as Unfullfilled in my account for one month.
I eventually wrote to enquire about this, once last week and again today.
My enquiries were not answered.
However I just received a dispatch notice and tracking number, so all is well.
So, in about a week I should have the long awaited discs.
I will update when I get them.

PS. I wrote a different message earlier today. However I was able to edit the original message, which is all better.

I have now received the order from the CDs Vinyl store. Japan Air Post seems to take about 10 days from posting to delivery in Australia. That is all good. It's just that I have no idea why it took a full month from ordering to shipping the discs, when they showed as "In Stock" the whole time.
Still, the lower cost compared to Ebay sellers and Tower's site is attractive.