Ronald Douglas & Rob van Bavel - From The Heart

Ronald Douglas – Vocal
Rob van Bavel – Piano

Total runtime: 42:36

| DXD 352kHz-24bit recording | PCM 768kHz-32bit Master |

The original high-resolution recording (352kHz-24bit) was analog mixed and mastered through an HQ analog stereo chain to a PCM 768kHz-32bit master. All other formats are high-quality conversions of this 768kHz-32bit master.

From the Heart – Ronald Douglas & Rob van Bavel in Studio 2

There are moments when music, space, and time align—resulting in something extraordinary. The legendary Studio 2 at Heuvellaan, Hilversum (MCO) is such a place. Known for its warm acoustics, natural reverb, and historic atmosphere, Studio 2 is ideal for intimate jazz recordings.

It was in this space that Ronald Douglas and Rob van Bavel recorded their jazz album From the Heart, produced by Sound Liaison. Ronald’s soft, whisper-like vocal approach allowed his voice to blend seamlessly with the room’s acoustics. In Studio 2, every breath and nuance is heard—rewarding honesty over volume. What resulted is a deeply personal jazz vocal performance, resonating with warmth and intimacy.

These tracks—drawn from the Great American Songbook—are more than classic jazz standards; they are reflections of lived experiences. Ronald Douglas brings decades of performance and personal life, including recovering from heart surgery, into every phrase. This is music that has been earned, not just performed.

Rob van Bavel, one of Europe’s most respected jazz pianists, contributes elegant and responsive accompaniment. He doesn’t just support Ronald—he converses musically with him, adding emotional depth through harmonic nuance and rhythmic subtlety. Rob’s intuitive playing enhances every note, weaving a seamless musical dialogue.

These high-resolution recordings capture a sense of unity between voice, piano, and room. The result is not simply a recording, but a preserved moment of musical alchemy—made possible by years of collaboration, life experience, and refined craft.

As a producer at Sound Liaison, I felt privileged to witness this rare musical convergence. Ronald and Rob’s performance, paired with the responsive acoustics of Studio 2, delivers a uniquely emotional jazz experience.

Peter Bjørnild

Review by Dr. Dee Daniels

“What a joyful blending of voice and piano—stories of love, life, and wisdom. Only someone who has lived deeply can deliver them with such profound feeling. Ronald Douglas is that vocalist, with nearly five decades of experience. He brings authenticity to every lyric.

Pianist Rob van Bavel’s accompaniment is like being embraced with velvet—sensitive and luxurious. As a fellow vocalist, I know that such musical support is a rare gift.

Together, they form an intuitive, spontaneous jazz unit. Their interplay captures the essence of jazz: living in the moment. I highly recommend this album for its beautiful arrangements and heartfelt delivery by two masters of their craft.”

– Dr. Dee Daniels, jazz vocalist, recording artist, composer, educator, and inspirational speaker

Recording Details:

• Recorded live in Studio 2 (Heuvellaan Hilversum) on January 14, 2024
• Recording, mixing, and mastering: Frans de Rond
• Producers: Peter Bjørnild & Ronald Douglas
• Digital mastering: Tom Caulfield
• Photography: Nienke de Groot
• Piano tuning: Naomi van Schoot

High-End Audio Equipment Used:

• Microphones: Josephson C700S – premium stereo condenser microphone offering three capsules for versatile polar patterns and exceptional clarity in high-resolution recordings.
• Speakers: TAD Compact Evolution – professional reference monitors delivering neutral, low-distortion sound;
• Loudspeakers: Linkwitz LX521.4 – a high-end 4-way open-baffle loudspeaker system known for its natural, phase-coherent soundstage and immersive listening experience.
• Power Amplifier: Moon 760A – high-performance amplifier providing clean and dynamic power, ensuring accurate playback for monitoring and mastering.
• Analog-to-Digital Converter (Recording): Merging Horus – state-of-the-art A/D converter used for capturing the original performance with transparent, detailed sound quality at high sample rates.
• Mastering Digital-to-Analog Converter: RME ADI-2/4 Pro SE – premium D/A converter employed during mastering to create the 768kHz-32bit PCM master, known for ultra-low distortion and detailed audio reproduction.
• Mastering Headphones: Hifiman HE1000se and Sennheiser HD800S – world-class open-back headphones used for critical listening during mastering, providing wide frequency response and exceptional spatial accuracy.
• Cables & Power Conditioners: AudioQuest – audiophile-grade cables and power conditioning equipment ensuring signal integrity and noise reduction throughout the recording and mastering chain.
• Network Switch: SOtM – high-quality network switch engineered for minimizing jitter and preserving audio fidelity in digital audio streaming and studio setups.

Available Now – Exclusive High-Resolution Download

From the Heart is available on Sound Liaison in ultra-high-resolution audio formats.
Discover the purity of high-end recording and the subtle brilliance of Europe’s finest acoustic jazz musicians.

Catalog Number: SL-1076A
CD available at: Zennez Records