Piano Piano Piano is a collection dedicated to recordings by Famous Jazz Pianists. Featuring 18 songs with over 90 minutes of music, the album travels through periods and different styles. Ranging from famed Jazz Stars like Bill Evans, Monty Alexander, Bob James, Hank Jones, Les McCann, Teddy Wilson and Dick Hyman.  The album also includes a song performed by pianist Martin Vatter which will be part of a future release at NativeDSD.

Exclusively Available at NativeDSD in Stereo DSD 512, DSD 256, DSD 64 and DXD from the DXD 24 bit Edit Master Source. 

The selections on the album from the catalogs of Jazzology Records, Resonance Records, Storyville Records and others were transferred from Stereo Analog Tape to 24 Bit DXD by Rene Laflamme at 2xHD Mastering. This is a rare and complete collection that 2xHD was thrilled to assemble.

The L.A. Network (Track 1)
Dick Hyman (Track 2)
Bill Evans (Tracks 3, 5, 15)
Monty Alexander (Track 4)
Martin Vatter (Track 6)
Piltich & Davis (Track 7)
Hank Jones (Track 8)
Dorothy Donegan (Track 9)
Les McCann (Track 10)
Teddy Wilson Trio (Tracks 11, 14)
Derek Smith (Tracks 12, 17)
Sir Roland Hanna (Track 13)
Bob James (Track 16)
Tamir Hendelman (Track 18)

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Holly Cole ignites the unspoken. Whether singing in the Yukon or New York City, she breathes the fresh air of irony through the smoky, dimly-lit longing for intimacy – traditionally a dangerous haven for a woman’s shouldering soul.

Working here with producer Peter Moore, she preserves the quintessence of her live performances. Inspired by fifties photos of Billie Holiday, Peter choreographs musicians around a single mike, letting “biofeedback”: and the acoustics of the space do the rest: live off the floor.

The revival of this unique recording process takes risks unheard of in these technology-laden times. The result? A trio perfectly attuned to each other and every nuance of their music. As they explore jazz, country, pop and R&B, somehow the customary meanings in these forms are transformed by a contemporary sensibility – nostalgia has no place on this musical map.

But Holly’s no supersaturated cynic. David’s percussive imagination sparks the Maritimes exuberance she lets fly through the joyous tune Cruisin’. (She slips back into a down-east accent as easy and salty as John Johnson’s sax). And the solicitude each syllable of I’m So Lonesome I Could Cry receives is her way of bringing the natural empathy of country music to an audience well-versed in “sophistication”.

Guest trumpeter John MacLeod sketches the plains – those miles we live in no matter where we are. Holly’s taste for intriguing lyrics as well as the sonorous range of her timbre is much in evidence on the remaining songs in this collection – from the exquisitely world weary Spring Can Really Hang You Up The Most to Melancholy Baby’s mingling of vaudeville and vulnerability.

Her duet with Dave on My Baby Just Cares For Me is a joust – but all in jest. In case you don’t get the gist of How Long Has This Been Going On, I’ll quote Holly once more: “It’s about prostitution”. The recording ends with a compassionate interpretation of Downtown – a song Holly finds touchingly naive.

Holly Cole Trio
Holly Cole – Vocals
Aaron Davis – Piano
David Piltch – Double Bass

Guest Musicians
John Johnson – Saxophone on “Cruisin”
John MacLeod – Trumpet on “I’m So Lonesome I Could Cry”

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Mastered at 2xHD on Nagra equipment, the set is pure analog from analog master tapes. It includes tracks from Bill Evans, Buddy Tate, Louis Armstrong, Monty Alexander and  Shirley Horn and other amazing audiophile tracks that were transferred from Analog Tape to Stereo DXD and DSD with the legendary Nagra IV-S tape recorder.

Mono & Stereo 2022 Editors Choice Award

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Mastered at 2xHD on Nagra equipment, the set is pure analog from analog master tapes. All original analog masters were played on a custom Nagra-T Tape Recorder with Tube Tape Stage electronics directly connected to a custom 2xHD A/D converter in DXD resolution. Some tracks used an EMT 240 Reverb Gold plate. The track featuring Marlene Ver Planck is a Mono Recording, the balance of the album is in Stereo.

It includes tracks from Bill Evans, Buddy Tate, Louis Armstrong, Monty Alexander and  Shirley Horn and other amazing audiophile tracks that were transferred from Analog Tape to Stereo DXD and DSD with the legendary Nagra IV-S tape recorder. Stereo DSD 512 tracks were created by Tom Caulfield at NativeDSD Mastering Studios using the Signalyst HQ Player 4 Pro Mastering Software.

Bill Evans
Buddy Tate
Buzz Brass
Frederic Alarie
Louis Armstrong
Marc Valle Trio
Marlene Ver Planck
Melanie Barney
Monty Alexander
Piltch & Davis
Shirley Horn
The L.A. Network
Trio de Curda

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The New York Sessions, which complete the balance of the album, were produced by Russ Titelman.  These tracks feature Holly Cole singing with a formidable group of Jazz musicians including Wycliffe Gordon on Vocals and Trombone, Larry Goldings on Piano and Hammond B3 Organ, Ed Cherry on Guitar, Scott Robinson on Tenor Sax & Cornet, John Johnson on Flute, Ben Street on Bass.

Holly has been transferred from the Original Analog Master to Stereo DSD 256 by Rene Laflamme at 2xHD Mastering. This is a DSD Exclusive, Not Available on SACD release,

Holly Cole writes  “When I made this album I didn’t know what to expect. All I knew was that I was excited; excited to work with producer Russ Titelman, excited to work at Sear Sound Studio in New York, a wonderful studio I had recorded songs from my “Temptation” recording in and excited to record with a whole new band that Russ Titelman had assembled. It was an interesting experience for me to walk in the studio on day one of recording and meet most of these people for the first time. And then play songs that I basically did not participate in arranging. That’s pretty different for me. I consider arranging to be a substantial part of my identity as a musician. Having less control was challenging. And what I found was that it took me to new places as a singer.

Russ and I both wanted Larry Goldings as the piano player and arranger for the New York sessions. Apart from being an astounding musician he shares my musical aesthetic and is a kindred spirit.

Russ suggested that I do a couple of vocal duets with trombone player/singer Wycliffe Gordon. I haven’t done that many vocal duets before. It can be hard to find the right chemistry musically and personally with another singer. Wycliffe and I fell in from the get go. He’s such a fascinating man and a great singer and trombone player. Singing with him was pure joy.

The sessions in New York were very intensive. That was a great way to work because we all got to know each other personally and musically very quickly. We did few takes and were able to record those precious moments of discovery. That is so important to me. Capturing the spark of musicians connecting with one another and discovering the essence of the song while recording is rare and fantastic. To me this is the greatest joy in improvised music.

When I got home to Toronto I was brimming with ideas and enthusiasm and excited to share these ideas and determined to record several more songs for the record. I love playing with my original Trio members Aaron Davis and David Piltch, piano and bass and along with drummer Davide DiRenzo and John Johnson on horns we recorded three more tracks that made the record. And then we were done, it’s my hope you come to enjoy the fruits of our collective labors as much as we all do, happy listening!” 

Holly Cole – Vocals
Larry Goldings – Piano & Hammond B3 Organ
Aaron Davis – Piano and Fender Rhodes
Ed Cherry – Guitar
Wycliffe Gordon – Vocals & Trombone
Scott Robinson – Tenor Sax & Cornet
John Johnson – Flute
Ben Street – Bass
David Piltch – Bass
Justin Faulkner – Drums
David DiRenzo – Drums

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Whether playing simply as a duo, with Davis on piano and Piltch on acoustic bass, or with the occasional friends on some tracks, their dedication to the ‘spirit of ensemble music’ is palpable.

Bassist David Piltch and pianist Aaron Davis, veterans of Holly Cole’s trio, recorded Take One, their first album together, in 1996 live off the floor with musical friends including David’s brother, the accomplished guitarist Rob Piltch, drummer Mark Kelso and fellow Holly Cole band member Kevin Breit.

Piltch and Davis composed most of these tunes, either individually or together; the album is rounded out with a Steve Earle cover, Kirsty MacColl’s Last Day of Summer and the traditional folk song Black Is the Color (Of My True Love’s Hair).

Piltch & Davis
David Piltch – Bass & Bass Percussion
Aaron Davis – Piano & Piano Percussion

Friends
Robert Piltch – Guitar
Kevin Brett – Guitar
Mark Kelso – Drums

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