Hi-Res Downloads

Paul Motian
Conception Vessel (96kHz/24-bit, WAV)
www.ecmrecords.com; ECM 1028

Percussionist Motian’s debut as a leader, released in 1973 after years with Keith Jarrett and before that Bill Evans, is what we see retrospectively as a bit of a ‘supersession’. Guests included Jarrett on piano and flute and Sam Brown on guitar on two tracks each, plus spots for Leroy Jenkins on violin and Becky Friend on flute on ‘Inspiration From A Vietnamese Lullaby’, with the legendary Charlie Haden providing bass on three numbers. But this is Motian’s maiden solo voyage, so drums and unusual percussion instruments are the stars, his unaccompanied delivery on ‘Ch’i Energy’ recalling The Sheffield Drum Record and even elements of Kodo. But that is to be expected of a drummer and the album proves to be a bass- oriented study from the opening of ‘Georgian Bay’. The sound is absolutely spectacular, especially if your system can resolve the deepest octaves. KK

Sound Quality: 90%

Lab Report

ECM’s choice of 96kHz sampling fully captures this 1973 analogue recording, the original tape offering a ~20kHz bandwidth. Digital peaks range from –1dBFs to –4dBFs and dynamic range is well above average. PM

Minnesota Orchestra, Eiji Oue
Respighi: Belkis, Queen Of Sheba (44.1-176.4kHz/24-bit, WAV/FLAC; DSD64-512)
www.referencerecordings.com; Reference Recordings RR-95

Not the most recent of releases, but one well worth revisiting if you want to experience fabulously recorded orchestral performances. Nominated for a Grammy on its release in 2001, this is another remarkable Keith O. Johnson recording – a corker, in fact, taking the showpiece style of Respighi’s composition and giving it the full- on ‘sonic fireworks’ treatment. ‘The Pines Of Rome’ will be the most familiar piece of the three in this set, but even here it gains from the addition of extra brass and organ for an even more dazzling sound. Meanwhile, the two lesser-recorded works, the ‘Belkis, Queen Of Sheba’ suite – reworked by the composer from his (very) long ballet – and the quirky ‘Dance Of The Gnomes’, both justify their inclusion with the rich tonal colours on offer and the sheer detail and dynamics of the recording. AE

Sound Quality: 90%

Lab Report

Recorded in 2001 at a CD/DSD-friendly 176.4kHz, peaks are between –0.2dB and –1.7dB. The DSD64 downsample [black] has very ‘safe’ –4.5dB peaks but both DSD and LPCM files enjoy a truly massive dynamic range band. PM

Oded Tzur
My Prophet (88.2kHz/24-bit, WAV)
www.ecmrecords.com; ECM 2821

Our first jazz quartet this month – see Doug Wamble [adjacent] – but Tzur’s lineup differs slightly, his main role as leader being tenor sax instead of guitar, and it’s vocals- free. He’s backed here by Nitai Hershkovits (piano), Petros Klampanis (double bass) and Cyrano Almeida (drums), in a set of varying moods that reminds me of early- to-mid-1960s ensembles, such as heard on Coltrane’s A Love Supreme. How much of this is the spiritual nature of both albums is hard to quantify, but the atmosphere Tzur creates isn’t dissimilar. Tzur generously allows his accompanists their moments, a high point being the 11-minute title track, with exquisitely quiet passages showcasing Hershkovits’ piano. On a sonic note, the bass and drums are beautifully captured, but the album falls just short of the warmth of the best jazz LPs of the golden age. But, hey, that’s digital streaming for you. KK

Sound Quality: 89%

Lab Report

Recorded in the same studio as the Tord Gustavsen Trio’s Seeing [ECM 2820; HFN Apr ’25], peaks are a little higher at –0.5dB but dynamic range is less wide. The same flyback spuriae at 19kHz and 38kHz is also present here [black]. PM

Mike Casey
Valencia (48kHz/24-bit, WAV)
www.mikecaseyjazz.com; self-released, n/a cat. no.

Saxophonist Casey spent much of 2018/9 in Valencia, studying for his Master’s degree in Contemporary Performance at Berklee’s Spanish outpost, this album being recorded in the campus’s Jazztone Studio, working with fellow students as sidesmen. Unsurprisingly the music is loosely influenced by Spain and Spanish-speaking countries, so we have ‘Universal Gratitude’, featuring harpist Eve Matin (brought up in Peru), and percussionist Xerach Peñate Santana, while the standout track ‘Ghazal’ draws on the Moorish influence on the music of Spain. But this is undoubtedly a showcase for Casey’s gutsy and punchy sax-playing, standing out despite his band being expanded to five from his usual trio. It’s matched with an open, vibrant sound set to become familiar to frequent flyers – throughout this year it’s being featured on Virgin Atlantic’s in-flight audio system! AE

Sound Quality: 80%

Lab Report

Most tracks peak ‘organically’ at ~–1dBFs (they are not normalised) while dynamic range is average for contemporary releases. The 24kHz bandwidth is fine for piano but the sax and percussion would have benefitted from a 96kHz file. PM

Doug Wamble
Blues In The Present Tense (96kHz/24-bit, WAV)
dougwamble.bandcamp.com; Righteous Bear Music

Bit of a disappointment, this album – in fact, a perfect storm of frustration, but I hasten to add on a personal level. You might love it. While I have reconciled my issues with the misleading nature of jazz recordings with ‘blues’ in the title – who am I to argue with Miles Davis? – this is further rendered a let-down by slightly murky sound and in-your-face politics. Some of us outgrew protest albums, oh, 60 years ago but this is simply irritating. If, on the other hand, I just described your idea of a perfect set, this ensemble of Wamble on guitar and vocals, Eric Revis playing bass, Prometheus Jenkins with saxophone and Jeff ‘Tain’ Watts handling drums actually swings in the manner of small, ‘cool’ jazz groups with vocalists – think George Benson, Al Jarreau, etc. Just stay away from the lyric sheet if the idea of a song called ‘MAGA Brain’ might bother you. KK

Sound Quality: 75%

Lab Report

Details are scarce, but this looks like a 96kHz capture of an analogue recording, the HF roll-off also reflective of a percussion feed that’s not clipped or compressed downstream. That said, dynamic range is still below average. PM