Trumpet virtuoso Mervine and his quartet offer a varied set of Brazilian- and European-influenced jazz, in pure DSD 256 high-resolution audio –
Boulder, Colorado, March 2, 2023 – Octave Records is thrilled to release its first live album, jazz trumpeter Gabriel Mervine’s Live at Nocturne. Recorded in pure DSD 256 high-resolution audio, Live at Nocturne captures the you-are-there excitement, spontaneity and interplay of Gabriel’s quartet as they perform a set of Brazilian- and European-flavored jazz. The album showcases Gabriel’s virtuoso trumpet playing and the distinctive stylings of accordionist/vocalist Alicia Jo Straka, along with Patrick McDevitt on acoustic bass and drummer Braxton Kahn.
“This was a first endeavor for both Octave Records and myself,” said Gabriel, a world-class musician who has worked with Natalie Cole, Christian McBride, Terence Blanchard, the Temptations, the Who, and many others. “I picked music that was fun for the band to play, fun to learn, and fun for the audience to listen to. We kind of jumped in, set up the gear and went for it.”
Live at Nocturne was recorded in pure DSD 256 to capture the true sound of the quartet as it would be heard at a live performance, with extraordinary realism, resolution and dynamic range. An AKG C24 vintage tube condenser mic was used as the main stereo microphone, placed in front of the group. All the sound from Gabriel’s horn was captured on this mic. Geffel M930 mics were employed for Alicia’s accordion and vocals, and a stereo pair of DPA 4006a omnidirectional overheads were used on the drums. The mics went into a Manley Force tube preamplifier and Merging Technologies Pyramix 14 recording system. The album was recorded and mixed by Paul McGowan in Octave Records’ state-of-the-art DSD facility, and mastered by Gus Skinas.
Live at Nocturne features Octave’s premium gold disc formulation, and the disc is playable on any SACD, CD, DVD, or Blu-ray player. It also has a high-resolution DSD layer that is accessible by using any SACD player or a PS Audio SACD transport. In addition, the master DSD and PCM files are available for purchase and download, including DSD 256, DSD 128, DSD 64, and DSDDirect Mastered 352.8 kHz/24-bit, 176.2 kHz/24-bit, 96 kHz/24-bit, and 44.1 kHz/16-bit PCM. (SRP: $19 – $39, depending on format.)
The album gets into a head-bopping groove with “Carioquinha,” with Gabriel and Alicia playing one of the many intricate dual-harmony lines they bounce off each other throughout Live at Nocturne. Next up is another Brazilian-flavored tune, “Bossa Dorado,” where Gabriel takes off with a soaring solo. “Just One for Babik” spotlights the propulsive drumming of Braxton Kahn, with every nuance of his drum kit and playing heard with exceptional detail and dynamics. “Ménilmontant” features Alicia Jo Straka’s singing, evocative of the Paris neighborhood after which the song is named. Other album highlights include the band’s easy-swing take on “It Might As Well Be Spring,” and a spellbinding, contemplative version of Django Reinhart’s “Nuages.”
About PS Audio
Founded in 1973, PS Audio has earned a worldwide reputation for excellence in manufacturing innovative, high-value, leading-edge audio products. Located in Boulder, Colorado at the foothills of the Rocky Mountains, PS Audio’s staff of talented designers, engineers, production and support people build each product to deliver extraordinary performance and musical satisfaction. The company’s wide range of award-winning products include the all-in-one Sprout100 integrated amplifier, audio components, power regenerators and power conditioners.
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