Laura Fygi - The Best Is Yet To Come -flac- -2011-
Why specify -2011- in the keyword? Because The Best Is Yet To Come was originally released in 2011 on the T2 Entertainment label (distributed by Universal). This was a transitional period in digital music.
In 2011, streaming was still in its infancy (Spotify launched in the US only in July 2011). The predominant digital format was still the 256kbps or 320kbps MP3, often purchased from iTunes or Amazon. CD sales were declining, but audiophile communities on forums like What Hi-Fi? and Head-Fi were evangelizing FLAC. High-resolution downloads were becoming available from sites like HDTracks and Qobuz, though they were niche.
The 2011 FLAC release of this album is significant because it represents a “sweet spot” in mastering. It is not the overly loud, dynamically compressed remaster of a later reissue. It retains the original dynamic range, which, according to analysis on the Dynamic Range Database (DR Database), scores favorably (typically DR10-DR12), meaning ample room between the quietest and loudest passages. Later “loudness war” remasters, even in FLAC, often squash this vitality.
Musical Performance: 7.5/10 – Consistently pleasant and well-sung, but rarely breathtaking.
Recording Quality (Original): 8/10 – Good to very good, though early tracks show age.
FLAC Transfer/Mastering (2011): 9/10 – Faithful, dynamic, and transparent. A reference-quality digital edition.
Overall Value: 8/10 – For a compilation, it’s an excellent introduction to Fygi’s catalog and a sonic treat in FLAC. Laura Fygi - The Best Is Yet To Come -FLAC- -2011-
The Best Is Yet To Come will not convert skeptics, but for fans of sophisticated, easy-swinging vocal jazz, this FLAC release is a warm, high-resolution portrait of an understated artist at her most representative. The title promises optimism, and the music delivers comfort—especially when heard in pristine, lossless fidelity late on a quiet evening.
Recommended for purchase in FLAC format only if you have the playback equipment to appreciate it. Otherwise, the CD or high-bitrate MP3 will serve you nearly as well.
Laura Fygi - The Best Is Yet To Come (FLAC, 2011) Why specify -2011- in the keyword
To fully appreciate why collectors search for Laura Fygi - The Best Is Yet To Come -FLAC- -2011-, consider this direct comparison:
| Aspect | CD (16/44.1 WAV) | 320kbps MP3 | FLAC (16/44.1 or 24/96) | |--------|------------------|-------------|--------------------------| | File size (approx.) | 500 MB | 100 MB | 400-800 MB | | Bitrate | 1,411 kbps | 320 kbps | Variable, up to ~1,200 kbps | | Preservation of studio nuances | Full | Partial (high frequencies filtered) | Full | | Ideal for… | Ripping to FLAC | Portable players, streaming | Archiving, hi-fi listening | | Fygi’s vocals on “Bésame Mucho” | Warm, detailed | Slightly sibilant or muffled | Velvet with palpable breath |
The FLAC version, when played through a DAC like a Chord or Topping, reveals that the 2011 master was engineered with care. The reverb on Fygi’s voice—particularly on “The Windmills of Your Mind”—is not a wash of noise but a distinct acoustic space. The sequencing is thoughtful: up-tempo Latin numbers are
The album draws from several of her key releases, including Turn Out the Lamplight (1995), Live (1996), The Latin Touch (2000), and At Ronnie Scott’s (2007). The result is a 14-track journey that avoids the “random hits” trap.
Highlights include:
The sequencing is thoughtful: up-tempo Latin numbers are interspersed with quiet ballads and live cuts (including a charmingly intimate “The Lady Wants to Know” from Ronnie Scott’s). No track overstays its welcome, and the album breathes like a well-paced cabaret set.
| # | Title | Length | Composer(s) | Notes | |---|---:|---:|---|---| | 1 | The Best Is Yet To Come | 3:45 | Cy Coleman/N. Holofcener | Title track; smooth jazz arrangement | | 2 | Moon River | 4:10 | H. Mancini/J. Mercer | Intimate vocal phrasing | (Replace with exact track names/times from album master.)