Where technology meets art

Jazz Sampler #2

This is IPI’s second sampler tape. This tape stresses audio quality so the listener can sample some of IPI’s better audio recordings. A broad range is covered here giving a full picture of some of IPI’s jazz releases and their attendant sound. This provides the listener with a variety of stellar recordings all on one tape. Not to be missed.

Sampler #2 consists of:

1. George Fludas Organ Quartet — Featuring veteran Chicago jazz drummer George Fludas’ wonderful quartet, it showcases organ, guitar and tenor sax. The organ was recorded with vintage Neumann KM 254’s microphones, normally reserved for classical strings, giving the organ a truly natural and tonally accurate sound.

2. Dee Alexander, Magic — Dee is the real deal, from earthy ballads to upscale swing, few can match her honest and singular skills. Accompanied brilliantly by Jeremy Kahn on piano. A gem.

3. John Wojociechowski, The Thrill Is Gone — Maybe IPI’s best sounding group recording with wonderful sound and space. This is as good a sound as you’ll hear on a group recording.

4. Jeremy Kahn, Duets — Recorded with only one stereo custom tube mic, this is the ultimate pared-down recording, showcasing as natural a sound as IPI has done.

5. Mark Colby, Quartet — Recorded in IPI’s favorite commercial studio (no longer there) this recording has near perfect neutral studio sound. Not as lively or open as the John Wojo sample, but dead neutral for a studio. The music is heavenly.

6. Bill Carrothers, Yellow Rose — This solo piano outing is recorded as I would a classical musician in a gorgeous church, with just two stellar mics and directly to a two-track master recorder. The result is stunning sound with the best ambience of any church I have heard. And adding to the realism, one of Chicago’s biggest thunderstorms breaks out during the recording.