COPPER

A PS Audio Publication

Issue 234 • Free Online Magazine

Issue 234 Opening Salvo

Table of Contents – Issue 234

RIP Dolly Parton (80). She wasn’t just a country music legend. She was an icon, a role model, and one of the most popular artists of all time with more than 100 million records sold. “I Will Always Love You” alone would have assured her place in music history even before Whitney Houston made it an international smash. The same can be said for “Jolene,” or “Coat of Many Colors,” or many others – Parton wrote more than 3,000 songs. We will always remember you.

In this issue: We interview the one and only Roy Hall of Music Hall fame. David Chesky has a new album, Rags for Solo Piano & a Dog. Octave Records’ latest, Vantage Point features guitarist Jason Greenlaw, exploring jazz territory and beyond. The Vinyl Beat takes a look at inexpensive but handy record playing accessories. Harris Fogel has more from T.H.E. Show SoCal 2026. Wayne Robins reviews the Rolling Stones’ latest, Foreign Tongues. Our latest installment on playing in a rock band has advice on stepping up your game. Germany’s FIDELITY magazine has a report from the Vienna HIGH END 2026 show.

Lucina Yue takes the konghou, an ancient Chinese instrument, into sublime musical territory with Transcendent Phoenix. B. Jan has a story about following your bliss. Rich Isaacs tells us about some favorite musical moments. Joe Caplan has a powerful conversation with singer/songwriter/multi-instrumentalist John David Schrader. Paul McGowan shines a light on box and panel speakers in The Audiophile’s Guide. Ray Chesltowski talks with Journey bassist Ross Valory about All of the Above, his sojourn into very different musical territory. PS Audio gets rave reviews of the Aspen FR10 speakers and PMG Signature Preamplifier. We close the issue with a long player, a concert by the sea, and by letting things slide.

******

Contributors to This Issue:
Carsten Barnbeck, Joe Caplan, Ray Chelstowski, Frank Doris, Harris Fogel, Rich Isaacs, Steve Kindig, Paul McGowan, B. Jan Montana, Rudy Radelic, Wayne Robins, Peter Xeni

Logo Design:
Susan Schwartz-Christian, from a concept by Bob D’Amico

Editor:
Frank Doris

Publisher:
Paul McGowan

Post-publication Nitpicker:
Rich Isaacs

Advertising Sales:
No one. We are free from advertising and subscribing to Copper is free.

Copper’s Comments Policy:

Copper’s comments sections are moderated. While we encourage thoughtful and spirited discussion, please be civil.

The publisher reserves the right to delete comments according to our discretion. This includes: political commentary; posts that are abusive, insulting, demeaning or defamatory; posts that are in violation of someone’s privacy; comments that violate the use of copyrighted information; posts that contain personal information; and comments that contain links to suspect websites (phishing sites or those that contain viruses and so on). Spam will be blocked or deleted.

Copper is a place to be enthusiastic about music, audio and other topics. It is most especially not a forum for political discussion, trolling, or rude behavior. Thanks for your consideration.

 – FD

More from Issue 234

A Life in High-End Audio: The Roy Hall Interview, Part One
A Life in High-End Audio: The Roy Hall Interview, Part One
Frank Doris
Jason Greenlaw Offers His Personal Perspective on Jazz Guitar in Vantage Point
Jason Greenlaw Offers His Personal Perspective on Jazz Guitar in Vantage Point
Frank Doris
Transcendent Phoenix: Lucina Yue Brings the Ancient Konghou Into Modern Times
Frank Doris
We Must All Follow Our Bliss
We Must All Follow Our Bliss
B. Jan Montana
How to Play in a Rock Band, 27: Leveling Up
How to Play in a Rock Band, 27: Leveling Up
Frank Doris
Ross Valory: Traveling Into New Musical Territory With All of the Above
Ross Valory: Traveling Into New Musical Territory With All of the Above
Ray Chelstowski
View All Articles in Issue 234

Search Copper Magazine

#234 A Life in High-End Audio: The Roy Hall Interview, Part One by Frank Doris Sep 07, 2026 #234 Jason Greenlaw Offers His Personal Perspective on Jazz Guitar in Vantage Point by Frank Doris Sep 07, 2026 #234 Transcendent Phoenix: Lucina Yue Brings the Ancient Konghou Into Modern Times by Frank Doris Sep 07, 2026 #234 We Must All Follow Our Bliss by B. Jan Montana Sep 07, 2026 #234 How to Play in a Rock Band, 27: Leveling Up by Frank Doris Sep 07, 2026 #234 Ross Valory: Traveling Into New Musical Territory With All of the Above by Ray Chelstowski Sep 07, 2026 #234 Singer/Songwriter John David Schrader: On the Need to Create by Joe Caplan Sep 07, 2026 #234 The People Who Make Audio Happen: More From T.H.E. Show SoCal 2026 by Harris Fogel Sep 07, 2026 #234 The Vinyl Beat Digs Into the Gadget Box by Rudy Radelic Sep 07, 2026 #234 The Rolling Stones: Foreign Tongues Spoken Loud by Wayne Robins Sep 07, 2026 #234 Musical Moments by Rich Isaacs Sep 07, 2026 #234 Rags for Solo Piano and a Dog: David Chesky's Ragtime Music for the Modern Age by Frankly Speaking Sep 07, 2026 #234 HIGH END 2026, Vienna: Here to Stay by Carsten Barnbeck Sep 07, 2026 #234 From The Audiophile’s Guide: The Two Main Types of Loudpeakers – Box and Panel by Paul McGowan Sep 07, 2026 #234 Letting it Slide by Frank Doris Sep 07, 2026 #234 PS Audio in the News by PS Audio Staff Sep 07, 2026 #234 Long Playing by Peter Xeni Sep 07, 2026 #234 La Mer by B. Jan Montana Sep 07, 2026 #233 A Report From The Total Hi-Fi Experience Show SoCal 2026 by B. Jan Montana Aug 03, 2026 #233 Bluegrass Meets Country, Folk, Jazz and More in All That We Carried by The Squid City Slingers by Frank Doris Aug 03, 2026 #233 Corey Glover and One Tribe Nation: A Variegated Musical Collective by Ray Chelstowski Aug 03, 2026 #233 Excursions with Clive: The Late Clive Davis, A Personal History by Wayne Robins Aug 03, 2026 #233 AI, Art, and Music: A Conversation With Synthography Art by Joe Caplan Aug 03, 2026 #233 New American Symphonies: A Rediscovered Gem and a Vital Contemporary Work by Frank Doris Aug 03, 2026 #233 The Vinyl Beat: Genesis, the Dave Clark Five, Antonio Carlos Jobim and More by Rudy Radelic Aug 03, 2026 #233 How to Play in a Rock Band, 26: When It's Time to Record Your Music by Frank Doris Aug 03, 2026 #233 More From T.H.E. Show 2026, and the People Who Made it Happen by Harris Fogel Aug 03, 2026 #233 Underappreciated Artists, Part Three: Icehouse by Rich Isaacs Aug 03, 2026 #233 The Surprisingly Rich and Varied Music of Somalia by Steve Kindig Aug 03, 2026 #233 A Remarkable Discographic Legacy: The LP Recordings of the Basel Symphony Orchestra by Stephan Haberthür Aug 03, 2026 #233 From The Audiophile’s Guide: The Importance of Loudspeakers by Paul McGowan Aug 03, 2026 #233 From Swimming Pool to New Listening Room: A Conversation with Norman Varney of AV RoomService by Gilles Laferrière Aug 03, 2026 #233 PS Audio in the News by PS Audio Staff Aug 03, 2026 #233 Audio Jewelry by Peter Xeni Aug 03, 2026 #233 Enrich Your Life by Frank Doris Aug 03, 2026 #233 The Searcher by James Schrimpf Aug 03, 2026 #232 What came first: Art or Music? A Conversation With Artist Jose Acosta by Joe Caplan Jul 06, 2026 #232 Blow By Blow: The Jeff Beck Story: An Insightful Book About a Guitar Icon by Ray Chelstowski Jul 06, 2026 #232 Creed Over Camaraderie? by B. Jan Montana Jul 06, 2026 #232 Chronicles of a Sound Pilgrim at the 2026 Montreal Audiofest by Hugues Morin Jul 06, 2026 #232 The Vinyl Beat: Summer Grooves by Rudy Radelic Jul 06, 2026 #232 Hibbing Hillbilly Dylan's Acoustic Rock by Wayne Robins Jul 06, 2026 #232 Quad Quads and Plasmatronics Tweeters: An Extraordinary System Comes to Life by Frank Doris Jul 06, 2026 #232 In Praise of Live Music, Once Again by Ted Shafran Jul 06, 2026 #232 Allnic Audio’s L-9000 Preamplifier: Design and Engineering Innovation by Howard Kneller Jul 06, 2026 #232 “Best Of” Lists and Rage Bait: Enough Already by Frank Doris Jul 06, 2026 #232 Quick Takes: Bud Shank, Paulo Almeida, Jakob Dreyer, Tim Eriksen and Peter Irvine by Frank Doris Jul 06, 2026

Table of Contents – Issue 234

RIP Dolly Parton (80). She wasn’t just a country music legend. She was an icon, a role model, and one of the most popular artists of all time with more than 100 million records sold. “I Will Always Love You” alone would have assured her place in music history even before Whitney Houston made it an international smash. The same can be said for “Jolene,” or “Coat of Many Colors,” or many others – Parton wrote more than 3,000 songs. We will always remember you.

In this issue: We interview the one and only Roy Hall of Music Hall fame. David Chesky has a new album, Rags for Solo Piano & a Dog. Octave Records’ latest, Vantage Point features guitarist Jason Greenlaw, exploring jazz territory and beyond. The Vinyl Beat takes a look at inexpensive but handy record playing accessories. Harris Fogel has more from T.H.E. Show SoCal 2026. Wayne Robins reviews the Rolling Stones’ latest, Foreign Tongues. Our latest installment on playing in a rock band has advice on stepping up your game. Germany’s FIDELITY magazine has a report from the Vienna HIGH END 2026 show.

Lucina Yue takes the konghou, an ancient Chinese instrument, into sublime musical territory with Transcendent Phoenix. B. Jan has a story about following your bliss. Rich Isaacs tells us about some favorite musical moments. Joe Caplan has a powerful conversation with singer/songwriter/multi-instrumentalist John David Schrader. Paul McGowan shines a light on box and panel speakers in The Audiophile’s Guide. Ray Chesltowski talks with Journey bassist Ross Valory about All of the Above, his sojourn into very different musical territory. PS Audio gets rave reviews of the Aspen FR10 speakers and PMG Signature Preamplifier. We close the issue with a long player, a concert by the sea, and by letting things slide.

******

Contributors to This Issue:
Carsten Barnbeck, Joe Caplan, Ray Chelstowski, Frank Doris, Harris Fogel, Rich Isaacs, Steve Kindig, Paul McGowan, B. Jan Montana, Rudy Radelic, Wayne Robins, Peter Xeni

Logo Design:
Susan Schwartz-Christian, from a concept by Bob D’Amico

Editor:
Frank Doris

Publisher:
Paul McGowan

Post-publication Nitpicker:
Rich Isaacs

Advertising Sales:
No one. We are free from advertising and subscribing to Copper is free.

Copper’s Comments Policy:

Copper’s comments sections are moderated. While we encourage thoughtful and spirited discussion, please be civil.

The publisher reserves the right to delete comments according to our discretion. This includes: political commentary; posts that are abusive, insulting, demeaning or defamatory; posts that are in violation of someone’s privacy; comments that violate the use of copyrighted information; posts that contain personal information; and comments that contain links to suspect websites (phishing sites or those that contain viruses and so on). Spam will be blocked or deleted.

Copper is a place to be enthusiastic about music, audio and other topics. It is most especially not a forum for political discussion, trolling, or rude behavior. Thanks for your consideration.

 – FD

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