Taking Jazz To The Forefront Of Audio-Video Recording Technology

3-Jan-03

The rhythm of the bass and drums make your whole body move to the beat as the melody of the piano inspires you to hum along and tap your feet. There is nothing quite like being at a live jazz performance.Until now.Using state-of-the-art recording technology, newly established jazz label, Ravenswave, has taken jazz to the next level in audio and video quality, bringing the sound and feel of a live performance into your home.Conceptualized by master improvisational pianist-composer, Bob Ravenscroft, Ravenswave was born out of a lifelong dedication to making great jazz music and exploring new ground. Working alongside audio-video expert John Gibson of Wavebase Productions, Ravenswaveís goal is to capture the sights and sounds of jazz in the highest audiophile quality that todayís rapidly-advancing recording techniques will allow.ìIn a world where many people are satisfied with MP3s, one of the lowest levels of music audio, we want to take things in the other direction,î Gibson says. ìOne is the direction of convenience, ours is that of esoterics and aesthetics. Itís the old quality versus quantity question.îRavenswaveís debut DVD, ìThe Bob Ravenscroft Trio at Taliesin West,î is an example of this commitment to quality. Recorded in 24-bit resolution, the DVD has 256 times the resolution of a standard CD audio recording. Seven cameras were used, bringing in professional crew members from ìPrimetime Sportsî and ìMonday Night Football,î just to name a few. Also used in the recording were highly sought-after vintage tube microphones known to be more psycho-acoustically pleasing than todayís best microphones.Ravenswave is a tribute to the marriage of music and technology. As technology changes and advances, so will Ravenswave. Keep a lookout for future state-of-the-art releases.ìThis is just the beginning,î says Ravenscroft. ìJazz music is so complex and organic. Seeing just how close we can get to capturing jazz in its true form is very exciting. Pursuing that challenge through Ravenswave is what jazz musicians and fans deserve.î