Hi-Res Downloads

96kHz/24-bit, FLAC; Impulse! B0024830-02 (supplied by www.highresaudio.com)

Well, this looks like perhaps the safest jazz set in the book: a trio, playing standards such as ‘I’ll Remember April’, ‘A Sleepin’ Bee’ and ‘On The Sunny Side Of The Street’. However, overlook it at your peril, for both the musicianship on offer here, and the quality of the recording, set it apart: Charlap’s piano playing is consistently light, tight and entirely in control, while still remaining remarkably expressive and able to bring something new. And the bass of Peter Washington and the drumming of Kenny Washington (no, they’re not…) fusing perfectly with the ‘lead instrument’ to create a tight, focused sound that’s at once easy on the ear and constantly intriguing. Listen to this album a second, third or fourth time and you’ll still be picking up little nuances you may have missed first time round, simply because you were enjoying the music so much. AE

Sound Quality: 80%

Hi-Fi News Lab Report

Details of this recording are sketchy at best, although the noise floor is a good +20dB higher than expected of a digital offering. It’s free of digital overload but there’s evidence of distortion from mic amps or downstream limiters. PM