2019 NativeDSD Album of the Year Award – Pop & Rock
I Want You by Vanessa Fernandez is her third DSD release at Native DSD Music. This album from the team at Groove Note sees Vanessa return to the ’70s R&B classics and modern soul catalog that she delivered so very well on her debut album Use Me but with the addition of some Pop hits as well from the likes of Radiohead and Rag & Bone Man. I Want You includes songs made famous by Curtis Mayfield, Marvin Gaye, Michael Jackson, Gloria Gaynor, Amy Winehouse, and Hall & Oates.
The album was recorded at United Recording Studios (former known as Oceanway Studios) in Hollywood and was mixed at Sphere Studios in Burbank and Capital Recording Studios in Hollywood. All recording, tracking, and mixing was done 100% analog. Michael C. Ross recorded the album in United Recording Studio B over four days on a 24 track Studer Recorder using 2-inch analog tape running at 30 ips. The final 30 ips 1/4 inch stereo master tape was used by Bernie Grundman to create the Stereo DSD 64 master.
NativeDSD exclusively offers this recording in Stereo DSD 128, DSD 256, and DSD 512. These special editions of I Want You were created in the DSD Domain by Tom Caulfield at NativeDSD Mastering Studios using the Signalyst HQ Player 4 Pro mastering software.
Tim Pierce handled all the arrangements as on the first two Vanessa Fernandez albums (Use Me and When The Levee Breaks). Musicians on I Want You include former Michael Jackson bassist Alex Al, current Jimmy Kimmel Show Band keyboardist Jeff Babko, top L.A.-based horn player Ricky Woodard as well as returning musicians from her album When The Levee Breaks (Tribute to Music of Led Zeppelin) – also available at NativeDSD Music.
Vanessa and the band deliver some truly exceptional performances on this album with fabulous sonics. Some say it is her best album yet. It is a must-own release in DSD.
Vanessa Fernandez – Vocals
Tim Pierce – Guitars & Arrangements
Alex Al – Bass
Victor Indrizzo – Drums
Jeff Babko – Keyboards
Luis Conte – Percussion
Charlie Bisharat – Violin
Ricky Woodard – Tenor Saxophone & Alto Saxophone
Tracklist
Please note that the below previews are loaded as 44.1 kHz / 16 bit.Total time: 00:59:50
Additional information
| Label | |
|---|---|
| SKU | GRV1200 |
| Qualities | |
| Channels | |
| Artists | |
| Composers | Amy Winehouse, Arthur Ross, Brian Jackson, Bunny Sigler, Colin Greenwood, Curtis Mayfield, Daryl Hall, Dino Fekaris, Ed O'Brien, Freddie Perren, Gil Scott-Heron, Jamie Hartman, Jonny Greenwood, Leon Ware, Mark Ronson, Michael Jackson, Philip Selway, Rory Graham, Thom Yorke, Vanessa Fernandez |
| Genres | |
| Analog Recording Equipment | Ampex ATR 24 Track, 2 inch Analog Tape running at 30 ips |
| Cables | Kubala Sosna |
| Executive Producer | Ying Tan |
| Mastering Engineer | Bernie Grundman at Bernie Grundman Mastering, David Glasser at Airshow Mastering – Analog to DSD 64 Transfer, DSD 128, DSD 256 and DSD 512 Download Files Created by Tom Caulfield at the NativeDSD Mastering Lab, Marshfield, MA |
| Mastering Room | Bernie Grundman Mastering, Hollywood, Airshow Studios, Boulder, Colorado, NativeDSD Mastering Lab, Marshfield, MA |
| Microphones | Vocal Microphone: Neumann U67 |
| Mixing Room | Sphere Studios in Burbank and Capital Recording Studios in Hollywood |
| Notes | We are pleased to announce the availability of Groove Note releases in DSD 128, DSD 256, and DSD 512 in addition to the original DSD 64 releases. These higher bit rate DSD 128, DSD 256, and DSD 512 releases are all pure DSD created. They are not up samplings, for there are no PCM or DXD conversions involved in their production. They are re-modulations of the original DSD 64 encoding modulation that produced the DSD 64 releases. The sonic advantage to these new Stereo DSD 128, DSD 256, and DSD 512 releases, as with all higher DSD bit rate releases, is the wider frequency passband prior to the onset of modulation noise. This results in the listener’s DAC using gentler and more phase linear filters for playback of the music. |
| Original Recording Format | |
| Producer | Ying Tan & Michael C. Ross |
| Recording Engineer | Michael C. Ross, Wes Seidman, Cyrus Shahmir, Nick Rives |
| Recording Location | United Recording Studios, Hollywood on June 14-17, 2018 |
| Recording Type & Bit Rate | Analog |
| Release Date | June 7, 2019 |
Press reviews
NativeDSD – 2019 Album of the Year – Pop/Rock
Groove Note Records has quickly become a listener favorite at NativeDSD with their outstanding Jazz, Vocal, Blues, Soul and Pop recordings. In 2019, Groove Note released I Want You by Vanessa Fernandez. This is an Analog recording transferred to Stereo DSD (up to DSD 512) with an all-star band of studio musicians that includes a “dream band” with guitarist and arranger Tim Pierce, former Michael Jackson bassist Alex Al, current Jimmy Kimmel Show Band keyboardist Jeff Babko, top L.A.-based horn player Ricky Woodard as well as returning musicians from her album When The Levee Breaks (Music of Led Zeppelin)
Music on the album covers a fine selection of Soul and Pop classics originally performed by Curtis Mayfield, Marvin Gaye, Michael Jackson, Gloria Gaynor, Amy Winehouse, and Hall & Oates. As with her two earlier albums – Use Me and When The Levee Breaks – each track features the supreme musicianship of the band plus Fernandez’ stellar vocal performances. It is a real musical tour de force with sound quality to match from producer Ying Tan and co-producer and recording engineer Michael C. Ross.
It’s also worth noting that when we assembled this year’s 2019 Album of the Year Awards, the first album to be selected for an award by both of our judges – Senior Reviewer Bill Dodd and Technical Advisor Brian Moura – was this one. Need we say more?
NativeDSD Listener
The DSD512 download of I Want You by Vanessa Fernandez from Native DSD is one of the best sounding recordings that I’ve ever heard.
Positive Feedback – 2019 Writer’s Choice Award Winner
I Want You by Vanessa Fernandez (Groove Note GRV1200)
Singer: Vanessa Fernandez
Label: Groove Note
Producers: Ying Tan & Michael C. Ross
Mastering Engineers: Bernie Grundman, Dave Glasser, Tom Caulfield (DSD 128, 256, 512)
In 2014, singer/songwriter Vanessa Fernandez made her debut on Ying Tan’s Groove Note label with an album of Soul Classics given an acoustic flavor titled Use Me which included Bill Withers’ hit song of the same name. It is an Analog Recording with top studio musicians that became an instant audiophile and music lover’s favorite. The album was followed up by a second release by Fernandez – When The Levee Breaks, an acoustic tribute to the Music of Led Zeppelin, which also nabbed the attention of many high-end music fans.
This year, we were treated to I Want You, the third release on Groove Note from Vanessa Fernandez. It features “I Want You” the title track made famous by Marvin Gaye, along with a host of Soul and Pop hits originally performed by artists including Curtis Mayfield, Marvin Gaye, Michael Jackson, Gloria Gaynor, Amy Winehouse, and Hall & Oates. While the songs are familiar, each is given new life and a new spin through the vocals of Vanessa Fernandez and the arrangements by Studio Guitarist and Arranger Tim Pierce.
Along with Fernandez and Pierce, the album features an all-star band that includes former Michael Jackson bassist Alex Al, current Jimmy Kimmel Show Band keyboardist Jeff Babko, top L.A.-based horn player Ricky Woodard as well as returning musicians from her earlier albums. The result is an hour of Soul and Pop music, recorded in Analog with truly standout performances and fabulous sonics.
I Want You is available in DSD Downloads up to Stereo DSD 512 (from NativeDSD Music). One can debate whether this is her best album (Ying Tan says it is and I can’t disagree), but it is a must-own release that is one of my Writer’s Choice Award Winners for 2019.
2 reviews for I Want You
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This is the second album I have by this artist, the first being Use Me. I’d seen rave reviews about the artist and recording, and the reason I got this one was because I didn’t ‘get it’ from that album. I couldn’t gel with it because I found it mechanical and uninspired. So, I took a gamble at spending £20 on a high res version of this.
Unfortunately, it’s not for me. I find it sounds like a recording of technically excellent musicians playing all the right notes without any flair or passion. Moreover, Fernandez, to me sounds like a very competent session singer. There is nothing in her voice or style, however, that touches my soul; and yet, to read the reviews one would expect something special. And the high-res format brings nothing to the table either.
I have thousands of excellent recordings of countless artists in many formats, played on a decent kit, which nearly all reach me in ways that excite or move me. And I have countless recordings that simply sound better than this. Including ones recorded by solo artists in their bedrooms. What am I missing with Vanessa Fernandez?
Ivan Fraser (verified owner) –
Sorry to hear it is not for you Ivan. Thanks for sharing your thoughts on this release. It may help others make a purchase decision.
Jonas Sacks (verified owner) –
Excellent! 5 Stars.
CF Castiglioni (verified owner) –