Hi-Res Downloads

96kHz/24-bit FLAC, Pirouet PIT3090 (supplied by www.highresaudio.com)

Ignore the shiver-inducing overtones of the title of this album by Dutch bass clarinettist Roelefs and you’re in for a treat. In fact, ignore the ‘oh really?’ reaction to the mention of bass clarinet. Having witnessed a killer set on that instrument by Courtney Pine not so long ago, I was up for hearing what Reolefs could do – and here, along with Matt Penman on bass and Ted Poor on drums, he delivers a set packed with instrumental colours, fine musicianship and plenty to keep a high-quality system busy, too. From the almost percussive lower registers of the instrument all the way up to its soaring solo potential, Roelefs keeps the attention, whether with the traditional jazz feel of tracks such as ‘Broadway’ and ‘Pseudo Bebop’ or the very short but very chilling title track, almost literally setting the teeth on edge. It’s an intriguing and innovative set. AE

Sound quality: 85%

Hi-Fi News Lab Report

Recorded at Kyberg Studio, Oberhaching, and polished at CS-Mastering in Munich, this 96kHz offering is ‘digital’ throughout and benefits from a very low noise floor but there’s evidence of overload on the percussion feed downstream. PM