Hi-Res Downloads

88.2kHz/24-bit FLAC*, Pirouet PIT3074 (supplied by www.highresaudio.com)

Young Dutch saxophonist Ben van Gelder’s 2012 debut album Frame Of Reference, published by his own BvG Music enterprise and released on vinyl as well as CD, is followed up by a fresh outing recorded in New York’s prestigious Sear Point Studios. Less contemplative than his auspicious debut and featuring pretty much the same line up of Craig Weinrib (drums), Peter Schlamb (vibraphone) and Rick Rosato (bass on all but two tracks), but with pianist Aaron Parks replaced by Sam Harris, van Gelder’s quintet once again exhibits a medley of styles, shifting from angular unisons to freewheelin’ blowing. It’s hard to believe they’re all in their 20s such is the maturity of their playing, van Gelder’s inventive compositions certainly belying his age. It’s a pity the sound isn’t more open and airy, the textures at times masked by the slightly cramped soundings. JB

Sound Quality: 75%

Hi-Fi News Lab Report

Unlike Bill Carrothers' Castaways this Pirouet album was not recorded at Pirouet’s studios. The spectral shaping of this 88.2kHz file, with its 22kHz mirroring, could look like erroneously upsampled 44.1kHz content. The jury is out... PM