‘New York based trumpeter John “Scrapper” Sneider, comes out swinging on his first album as leader in twenty years. John leads a first-rate quintet through its paces on what in many respects seems like a homecoming, as everyone save tenor saxophonist Joel Frahm was present and accounted for on Sneider's earlier recording some two decades ago. That means the entire rhythm section (organist Larry Goldings, guitarist John Hart, drummer Andy Watson) has enlisted for a second tour of duty as Sneider's advance guard. That kind of longevity, not to mention loyalty, is not only extremely hard to find but worth its weight in gold. With all hands on deck and blowing in perfect unison, there could be no better way to close an admirable session whose achievement was twenty years in the making. Everyone in the ensemble not only solos with verve and assurance but listens attentively and reacts accordingly whenever someone else has the floor. When that someone is Sneider, he amplifies a storehouse of well-focused ideas with a clear, bell-like sound and flawless technique.’ Excerpted from Jack Bowers review in allaboutjazz.com

TECHNICAL INFORMATION:
The 2xHD proprietary mastering provides a unique listening experience as the process digs deep in original recordings to bring out all hidden information, without altering the music in any way, uncovering and bringing out nuances, warmth, depth of field and even the air around the musicians.

The 2xHD logo on an album cover indicates that the recording was carefully selected and the high-resolution mastering was done using the 2xHD process. Created by producer/studio owner André Perry and prize-winning audiophile sound engineer René Laflamme in collaboration with several high-end audio equipment manufacturers, the 2xHD music remastering system combines the best of vintage analog with state-of-the-art DSD and DXD digital technology – a ‘Back to the Future’ approach. Each musical project is treated with individual attention to the selection of equipment.
Some of the top flight gear used in the process includes a selection of cutting-edge A/D and D/A converters to obtain the most natural DSD or PCM sound, such as a NAGRA-T tape recorder - modified with all tubes playback electronics (With its four direct drive motors and the tape sensor head, The NAGRA-T is one of the best transports ever made), a modified vacuum tube NAGRA HD dac (DSD) to make it possible to obtain real analog sound from a digital master and in some cases even battery power is used so as to benefit from the cleanest power source possible. The 2XHD FUSION mastering system is powered by super capacitor power supplies with new technology that lowers the digital noise which is heard in the lowest levels, something that was not possible before. The resulting signal is then transformed to high resolution formats by recording it in DSD 256 kHz using the Merging Technologies’ Horus A to D converter - which is also powered by a super capacitor power supply. All analog and digital cables are the finest state-of-the-art available today. Also used in the process are Pyramix Masscore (records all high-resolution formats, allowing for great flexibility), an Atomic Clock for re-clocking, and Siltech & Shunyata cables (all digital and analog cables are reduced to a minimum optimal length in the digital conversion and mastering system).
The particular open sound and feeling of having no ceiling to the music are obtained through the 2xHD high resolution transfer. In the case of an original analog master tapes, transfer to DSD 256. In the case of an original 96/24 or DXD/DSD master, transfer is made to analogue using cutting edge D/A converters.

2xHD is an accurate and musical mastering system, earning recognition from peers and from the specialized trade publications around the world.