Marty Elkins & Mike Richmond – ‘Tis Autumn – CD Review
Plastic – CD
Surface noise: N/A
Dynamic Range: 5-
Stereo Imaging 5
Image depth/perspective: 4+
Overall frequency response: 5-
Please see here for my comments on reviewing albums.
Track List:
- Old Devil Moon
- In A Mellow Tone
- ‘Tis Autumn
- When The Red, Red Robin Comes Bob, Bob, Bobbin’ Along
- Stairway To The Stars
- Lullaby Of The Leaves
- My Mother’s Eyes
- Honeysuckle Rose
- I Ain’t Got Nothin’ But The Blues
- All Or Nothing At All
Line Up:
- Marty Elkins – Vocals
- Mike Richmond – Bass and Cello
This album was recorded by Tom Tedesco at Tedesco Studios, Paramus, NJ., August 29th & 30th, 2019. It was mixed by Dave Kowalski at The Singularity, Hackensack, NJ., and mastered by Michael Marciano at Systems Two, Brooklyn, NY. The album is due to be released on the Elktone Records label on January 15th, 2021.
Marty Elkins is a New York jazz and blues vocalist who has teamed up with Mike Richmond a veteran bassist to create her 5th CD album featuring her distinctive vocal style with “fresh renditions of some of the greatest jazz composers of the 20th Century”. A terrific melding of two talents.
I have finally become accustomed to the lack of (surface) noise from CD’s. Rarely do I hear any electronics white noise or hum as CD tracks are faded up and down, or during very quite passages. This CD fully meets all my expectations on these fronts. With only the acoustic double bass and Marty’s vocals to fill out the sound field, the complete lack of noise was impressive and provided a real inky black silence for notes to rise from and decay into. The dynamics were very good throughout showing no signs of compression and providing a very solid attack, particularly for the acoustic double bass. Not that Marty’s vocals lacked any impact either.
The imaging was rock solid, outstanding and pin-point with both the vocals and double bass providing enough presence to “appear” in my room. Marty’s vocals stood right up front and center stage with the double bass just set very slightly back to her right hand side. The cello, when bowed, being placed further back to Marty’s left hand side well towards the right hand speaker. When plucked, appearing just to Marty’s left hand side and almost front center stage.
Reverb sounded remarkably natural. It was very short and low level, sounding as if it was created by just the studios natural acoustics rather than synthetically. Both instruments and the vocal were “wrapped” with the same reverb that presented with a very short delay before its onset. The reverb was so low level and short that at no time did it interfere with, distract from or color the musical performance, yet still managing to add just a little warmth.
The recording provides a very intimate performance by Marty and Mike. There seemed to be no restrictions to the dynamics of her vocal range or either of the instruments. Her voice was absolutely natural, smooth and mellow, having excellent annunciation, with no undue emphasis to any part of the vocal range. Her close miking never accentuating any sibilance. Marty’s presence was positively palpable, standing just in front of my center speaker with the bass to her right hand side.
Mike’s double bass was a real treasure that exuded presence and a level of realism that in the past I have only experienced from vinyl. From the finger noise as he moved up and down the neck, the string plucks to his occasional “gasp” for air. The double bass work was artistry in motion “watching” the individual and pairs of strings being plucked providing a deep, detailed and mellow sound with an outstanding clarity and lack of any coloration. Rarely have I heard an acoustic double bass sound so intimate and real.
Not to be left out, Mike also played the cello on tracks 5 and 7 that was obviously overdubbed. It was set back to the right hand side when bowed, providing a clean, natural and mellow tone lacking in any coloration. When plucked, moving to a central and more forward image, exhibiting a similar but less impactful plucked sound to that of the double bass.
Yes there were a couple of occasions were there was a fluffed or bum note but nothing of consequence. All in all this was an excellent performance by Marty, Mike and the engineering team.
Recommended tracks, all of them. They are all very well recorded and performed, providing accomplished vocal performances, with all of the tracks having excellent vocal and double bass solos. If you love jazz, acoustic double bass and crystal clear vocals this album is highly recommended.
Playback note: Reviewed using my Denon DBP A100 over Denon Link 3. Speakers; a stereo pair of Genelec 1038’s and four SVS subs.
Disclosure: This CD was provided by Mouthpiece Music for my review. No financial compensation was provided.
Marty Elkins & Mike Richmond – Tis Autumn – CD Review
Purchase from Jazzheads and Bandcamp.
See my other Mouthpiece Music reviews.
