This standout tribute to the music of Jerome Kern could just as well have been titled "Smith Swings Kern." Joined by Ronnie Bedford on drums and Linc Milliman on bass, expatriate Englishman Derek Smith applies a light and lilting touch with Oscar Peterson-like energy to the play list of 11 songs, six of which have alternate takes as well as the preferred one. Tunes such as "The Way You Look Tonight," "I'm Old Fashioned," and "I Won't Dance" are given a glowing burnish here. Even on the tunes where t pace slows down a dash, there's still a swinging swagger to them, such as "The Folks Who Live on the Hill." If your collection lacks an album featuring the compositions of Jerome Kern, you would be hard-pressed to find a more satisfying album than this one.


TECHNICAL INFORMATION:

The 2xHD Fusion Mastering System: In the constant evolution of its proprietary mastering process, 2xHD has progressed to a new phase called 2xHD FUSION, integrating the finest analog, with state-of-the-art digital technology.

The mastering chain consists of a selection of high-end vacuum tube equipment. For the recordings on this album, the original 1/4" 15 ips Nagra Master curve, NAB and CCIR master tapes were played on a Nagra-T tape recorder, modified with high-end tube playback electronics, wired with OCC silver cable from the playback head direct to a Nick Doshi tube head preamplifier. The Nagra T, with its four direct drive motors, two pinch rollers and a tape tension head, has one of the best transports ever made. A custom-built carbon fiber head block and a head damping electronic system permit 2xHD FUSION to obtain a better resolution and 3D imaging.

The resulting signal is then transferred into high resolution formats by recording it in DXD using a custom 2xHD Technologies A to D converter. All analog and digital cables that are used are state of the art Siltech. The 2xHD FUSION mastering system is powered by a super capacitor power supply, using a new technology that lowers the digital noise found in the lowest level of the spectrum. A vacuum tube NAGRA HD DAC X is used as a reference digital playback converter in order to A and B with the original analog master tape, permitting the fusion of the warmth of analog with the refinement of digital.