2018 NativeDSD Album Of The Year – Jazz Ensemble
This is a Pure DSD 256 Stereo & 5 Channel recording from Just Listen Records; the in-house label of NativeDSD. No equalization, mixing, compression or editing is used on this album. All DSD bit rates were created in the DSD Domain using Signalyst HQ Player 4 Pro mastering tools. Recording engineer Jared Sacks, produced by Jonas Sacks
Angelo Verploegen says “Over the last decade or so I find myself leaving the tempting and obvious juvenile trumpeting bravura more behind me and returning to my musical starting point: the flugelhorn. Although the instrument is a trumpet with a ’softer’ sound, and all too often treated like that by many trumpeters, the flugelhorn stands firmly by itself with all its own characteristics and specifications.
Literally being brought up with the flugelhorn, I feel at ease with the way the horn requires its own approach of phrasing and articulation. This enables me to reach the level of lyricism and intimacy I’m looking for in my playing.
So when Just Listen Records invited me to do a recording for the label at their specific terms (play live, in balance, no mixing, no editing, just capturing the live music as it is with the best possible equipment at the best suitable venue) it was obvious for me to return once more to my first love – the flugelhorn.
Having done numerous (sometimes over-organized) recording sessions with mostly originally composed and arranged repertoire I now felt the need for a lusher approach. More like a gathering of old friends, sharing each other’s life stories and experiences. That led me automatically to my old-time soulmate’s guitar player Ed Verhoeff and bassist Eric van der Westen. 17 years ago, we started off as Verploegen, Verhoeff & van der Westen, performing a lot and recording our critically acclaimed debut album The Night And The Daydreamer. Later, we changed the name into Amsterdam Jazz Trio for a Japan tour and released another album For The Time Being. And then, what often happens after several years of extensive work, we went our own ways… To be reunited for this unique recording project!
As for the repertoire, I simply picked ‘standard’ tunes I grew fond of over the years, looking for a certain degree of variety in melody, harmony, formal structure, keeping the drum-less trio sound in mind, allowing it to flourish, creating a casual, lush and intimate atmosphere.”
Hope you enjoy!
Angelo Verploegen – Flugelhorn
Ed Verhoeff – Guitar
Eric Van Der Western – Double Bass
Tracklist
Please note that the below previews are loaded as 44.1 kHz / 16 bit.Total time: 00:45:05
Additional information
| Label | |
|---|---|
| SKU | JL009 |
| Qualities | |
| Channels | |
| Artists | |
| Composers | Berlin, Ellington, Hammerstein, McLean, Rava, Rodgers, Shorter, Strayhorn, Williams |
| Genres | |
| Cables | van den Hul |
| Co-producer | Cyriel Pluimakers |
| Digital Converters | Merging Horus |
| Editing Software | Merging Pyramix |
| Mastering Engineer | Jared Sacks |
| Mastering Room | Grimm LS1 Speakers |
| Microphones | Bruel & Kjaer, Schoeps, AKG |
| Mixing Board | Rens Heijnis custom made |
| Original Recording Format | |
| Producer | Jared Sacks, Jonas Sacks, Angelo Verploegen |
| Recording Engineer | Jared Sacks |
| Recording location | MCO Hilversum |
| Recording Software | Merging Pyramix |
| Recording Type & Bit Rate | DSD256 |
| Speakers | Audiolab Holland |
| Release Date | October 12, 2018 |
Press reviews
Positive Feedback
The music here is relaxed, sweet jazz with Angelo Verploegen and his colleagues playing various standards they know well. Verploegen’s flugelhorn, “the softer brother to the trumpet” per the liner notes, leads and blends gently with Verhoeff’s guitar and van der Westen’s double bass. The three performers sound like good friends gathering together and inviting us along to join them.
NativeDSD Senior Reviewer
Did you know that many of the great Jazz trumpet recordings by Chet Baker and Miles Davis (among others) were not with a trumpet at all! The instrument used in some recordings was the Flugelhorn. To the uninitiated, the Flugelhorn and Trumpet don’t look all that different from each other. But once you see the differences and more importantly hear the differences… The Flugelhorn is mellower and warmer. By the way, the Cornet is also similar, but is more or less between the two in sound. See what you can learn when someone brings out a really great new album?
Anyway, I just got done listening (for about the 20th time!) to Angelo Verploegen’s new album, “The Sweetest Sound”, in which the trumpet player returns to his first love, the Flugelhorn. And he brings along “old-time soulmates”, guitarist Ed Verhoeff and bass player Eric van der Westen. You can tell these guys know how to play together. The jazz is light and accessible, but the music keeps drawing you in. These are more or less “standards” that you will find instantly familiar, but made young again by this trio. Verploegen’s Flugelling (I made that up) is rich, and stands with the best. Verhoeff’s guitar is very mindful of the virtuoso jazz guitarist, George Van Eps. And van der Westen’s bass is right there
Speaking of right there, the Just Listen Crew has captured these with no edits, no retakes, no compression. The sound is so good, it’s scary. Good stuff.
2 reviews for The Sweetest Sound (Pure DSD)
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I have the DSD 256 version and this is currently my favorite DSD Album.
Great detail resolution and soundstage. It is my second album from Just Listen Records. The first was The Duke Book: The Music of Duke Ellington and Billy Strayhorn (Pure DSD). That album also has great DSD 256 sound.
Florian Waechter (verified owner) –
These musicians with their beautiful, intimate and very particular repertoire, are able to capture the listener and transport him into a musical territory of great emotional well-being. The songs are sweet and delicate and all really satisfying. This is music that the more you listen, the more is makes you feel good.
A fascinating recording.
Gianfranco Bonansea (verified owner) –