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Rob van Bavel - Time for Ballads - The Studio Sessions

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"A painting is not thought out and settled in advance. While it is being, it changes as one’s thoughts change. And when it’s finished, it goes on changing, according to the state of mind of whoever is looking at it."
- Pablo Picasso

Rob van Bavel - piano
Marcel Serierse - drums
Frans van Geest - double bass


Total time: 42:31

Original recording format DXD352kHz-24bit.
Mastered by an HQ analog chain to PCM768kHz-32bit.
All other formats are converted versions of the original master.

The Studio Sessions

Rob van Bavel's creativity exhibits a seemingly endless number of dimensions. Each of his albums presents a unique combination of these elements, yet none capture the complete picture. This variety is a significant advantage. Too often, musicians reveal their entire repertoire too quickly and eventually resort to repetition. While they may deepen and mature, they inevitably become somewhat predictable, diminishing their capacity to surprise, challenge, and captivate. In contrast, an artist who remains mysterious and unpredictable always retains an aura of magic. Rob van Bavel is such an artist - a wizard, who keeps us eagerly anticipating his latest work with a sense of wonder and excitement.

MCO Studio 1 is celebrated across Europe for its exceptional acoustics and its history of hosting some of the greatest artists of the 20th century. The large hall offers an open, warm, and balanced sound with a natural and clean reverb. Its remarkable spectral balance produces a clear yet warm 'color,' enhanced by clean first reflections that add depth to the sound. MCO Studio 1's spacious ambiance and ideal proportions have made it a standout location for recording everything from small ensembles to full symphony orchestras.

Recording in Studio 1 requires a very different approach compared to Studio 2. Recording engineer Frans de Rond chose to embrace the hall's famous long, lush reverb rather than try to tame it. At the same time, by meticulously placing spot microphones near the instruments, he ensured the clarity of the trio's projected sound was preserved. We are grateful for the professionalism and patience of the Rob van Bavel Trio, as the setup took longer than usual. However, we are confident that the result will be appreciated: Europe's foremost piano trio playing an intimate and delicate set of ballads, recorded in a gorgeous concert hall by Europe's foremost recording engineer.

- Peter Bjørnild

"This album marks the second installment of the 'Time For Ballads' trilogy. Recording these albums has been a deeply fulfilling musical journey. While jazz often thrives on bustling, energetic, or even frenetic rhythms, I've always held a special affection for playing and listening to ballads.

At the end of 2020, during a time when the world's pace had notably slowed, I decided to invite friends and colleagues to share their favorite ballads. From their extensive suggestions, I carefully selected the songs featured on these albums. My trio members and dear friends, bassist Frans van Geest and drummer Marcel Serierse, enthusiastically embraced the concept of a dedicated Ballad Project, and we began rehearsing.

During this period, my friend Frits Landesbergen introduced me to the REF album 'Born To Be Blue,' which he recorded for the Sound Liaison label. Impressed by its quality, I approached engineer Frans de Rond and producer Peter Bjørnild, the seasoned duo behind Sound Liaison, to discuss recording my project. They loved the idea and immediately suggested recording in MCO Studio 1 - a hall renowned for its lush acoustics, ideal for ballads but challenging for faster tempos.

During setup, Frans and Peter meticulously positioned each microphone to capture every subtle nuance of our performance. They also strategically placed two microphones further back to capture the hall's exquisite reverberations. Their expertise, combined with the positive and creative feedback we received throughout the recording process, made the whole thing come together, culminating in a cohesive and memorable album."

- Rob van Bavel

Recording, mixing and mastering by Frans de Rond.
Produced by Peter Bjørnild & Rob van Bavel.
Recorded the 30th of September 2021 at MCO Studio 1.

Piano tuning: Naomi van Schoot

Used microphones:

Main set: 2x DPA 4006
Rob (piano): Josephson C700S, 2x Josephson C617
Marcel (drums): 2x Sonodore RCM-401 (overhead), 1x Josephson e22 (snare), 1x Josephson C715 (bassdrum)
Frans (bass): Josephson C700A

Used equipment:

Micpre's: Merging Horus
Microphone cables by AudioQuest & Mogami
Speakers (mixing): TAD Compact Evolution
Poweramp: Moon 760A
Recording & mixing headphones: Hifiman HE1000se / Sennheiser HD800S
All power cables and power conditioners by AudioQuest.
Mixing computer and Audiophile Network Switch by SOtM.

Cover design and trio portret photo by Tom Beek

Catalog Number: SL-1069A

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