Jenna Mammina - Close Your Eyes - Blue Coast Records (2016) 5.6MHz-DSF: DSD128 | 3.46GB | DR14 | Jazz, Pop Originally 11.2MHz-DSF converted by MWC with Tascam Hi Res Editor to 5.6MHz-DSF. I realise many people can't play DSD256: Some are limited to DSD128 because of DoP, others have other DAC limitations, so whilst collaborating with 'wardrobemalfunction' we decided to make this down-sample available simply as an example of what anyone can do. I'd like to stress that (despite my silly nickname) I'm not any expert: IMHO, if I can use the Tascam Hi Res Editor to do this then anybody can. :) http://bitperfectsound.blogspot.com/2016/10/jenna-mammina-close-your-eyes.html Close Your Eyes is a sort of “Best Of” album, comprising tracks taken from different recordings Cookie has made for Jenna going back about ten years. Mostly these are recorded to 2” analog tape, although a couple were recorded directly to DSD. For “Close Your Eyes” the original tapes were remastered to DSD256 using the very latest Pyramix equipment. The results are quite astonishing. Most tracks comprise Jenna on vocals, backed by Bass, Drums, Keyboards, and assorted other instruments including Guitar, Soprano Sax, and Accordion. Most of the instruments are recorded and mixed with a light touch, the whole album having a seriously laid-back feel, but the bass - OOH, THE BASS - is just spectacular. I don’t mean Jaco Pastorius spectacular. I mean absolutely flawless technique, a musical approach that doesn’t intrude, an instrument of the highest caliber, and a recording technique that captures it all perfectly. You might argue that it is mixed about 6dB too high, but then maybe you just don’t appreciate tasty bass. From the very first track you are enveloped by the music. A laid-back take on Steely Dan’s “Dirty Work”, it immediately sets the tone for the album. The arrangement is slick, highlighted by a soprano sax solo, and suits Jenna’s breathy vocal to a tee. Immediately, you are aware that you are in the presence of serious musicians. Next comes “Lotus Blossom” an old track from the 40’s, brilliantly evoking a Parisian Boulevard with a dash of accordion. It all comes together so well. “You Can Close Your Eyes” is a James Taylor song, with Jenna accompanying herself on piano. As she invites you to close your eyes, there is little else that you want to do in that moment. Next up, and quite possibly the best cover I have heard of it, is Elvis Costello’s “Watching The Detectives”. I’m sure Costello himself would approve. The vocal delivery manages to evoke a hint of hip-hop drawl which gives it a contemporary vibe. Chris Izaak’s “Wicked Game” is the only track on the album that at first seems out of place. Just Jenna with a simply plucked guitar accompaniment, but somehow I find myself thoroughly drawn into it. I think it is all down to how artfully the vocal is delivered, and the empty sound of the guitar just catches the emotion perfectly. “Running To Stand Still” from U2’s Joshua Tree album is probably the most ambitious track on the album. But arena rock does not translate so well to the intimate cafe-lounge setting, and you find yourself waiting for a slow-building climax that simply isn’t delivered. Dr. John’s “Pictures and Paintings” is offered as a straightforward jazz standard with piano trio, but segues into my favourite song on the album, Tom Waits’ “I Hope That I Don’t Fall In Love With You”. Just Jenna accompanied by piano, a great song, sung with great feeling. It’s odd that, on an album notable for its instrumental mixes, I should pick out the simplest one, but such is life. “Don’t Let Me Be Lonely Tonight” is another James Taylor offering presented as a soulful jazz number. Once again we have that delicious bass playing, the laid-back drum licks, and the keyboards doing their classic Hammond thing. What’s not to love. The album closes with “When I’m Called Home”, an Abbey Lincoln song, taken from an album Jenna did of Abbey Lincoln covers. Abbey Lincoln? You might well ask. So this is one seriously good album. The songs are of a uniformly high standard, and quite frankly, is easily as good as anything from the Norah Joneses of this world. I have played it hard and often. Even my wife nodded appreciatively, which doesn’t happen all that often. In fact she asked me to turn it up, which NEVER happens. And despite having all those strikes against it, it stands as an absolute reference when it comes to recording quality. I love it. Note: Tracks 1,2,4,6,7,9 previously released as Jenna Remixed Tracks: 01 - Dirty Work 02 - Lotus Blossom 03 - You Can Close Your Eyes 04 - Watching The Detectives 05 - Wicked Game 06 - Running to Stand Still 07 - Pictures and Paintings 08 - I Hope That I Don't Fall In Love With You 09 - Don't Let Me Be Lonely Tonight 10 - When I'm Called Home Musicians: Jenna Mammina, vocals Matt Rollings, piano John R. Burr, piano James Genus, bass André Bush , guitar Matt Rollings, organ Paul McCandless, soprano saxophone John Mader, drums Rob Burger, accordion Paul McCandless, English horn ============================================================ foobar2000 1.4 / Dynamic Range Meter 1.1.1 log date: 2019-01-13 01:24:50 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Analyzed: Jenna Mammina - Close Your Eyes DSD128 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- DR Peak RMS Duration Track ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- DR14 -3.06 dB -20.98 dB 4:34 01 - Dirty Work - 5.6M DR13 -4.78 dB -21.74 dB 3:40 02 - Lotus Blossom - 5.6M DR14 -2.62 dB -23.91 dB 4:22 03 - You Can Close Your Eyes - 5.6M DR14 -4.19 dB -22.19 dB 5:01 04 - Watching The Detectives - 5.6M DR15 -4.48 dB -26.00 dB 4:17 05 - Wicked Game - 5.6M DR14 -5.53 dB -22.84 dB 4:41 06 - Running to Stand Still - 5.6M DR13 -3.75 dB -22.48 dB 4:23 07 - Pictures and Paintings - 5.6M DR15 -6.57 dB -26.48 dB 5:38 08 - I Hope That I Don't Fall In Love With You - 5.6M DR12 -8.01 dB -24.05 dB 2:42 09 - Don't Let Me Be Lonely Tonight - 5.6M DR15 -6.44 dB -27.31 dB 4:42 10 - When I'm Called Home - 5.6M ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Number of tracks: 10 Official DR value: DR14 Samplerate: 5644800 Hz / PCM Samplerate: 176400 Hz Channels: 2 Bits per sample: 1 Bitrate: 11290 kbps Codec: DSD128 ============================================================ http://www.filefactory.com/folder/c470db3c90bb5913 ---------------------------------------------------------------- Checksums for tracks: 85b1baddbf86fc7ff81a52e8610603bb *Jenna Mammina - Close Your Eyes - 01 - Dirty Work - 5.6M.dsf e3de0cbff9eaab7cd6c09da75744d42c *Jenna Mammina - Close Your Eyes - 02 - Lotus Blossom - 5.6M.dsf c04f617bec9cc2d752750e6ba4d24eb8 *Jenna Mammina - Close Your Eyes - 03 - You Can Close Your Eyes - 5.6M.dsf 90d4cf8c674c484ddfca01fe58e67861 *Jenna Mammina - Close Your Eyes - 04 - Watching The Detectives - 5.6M.dsf 598580a62d47727e0cf13c23e4f1bf7d *Jenna Mammina - Close Your Eyes - 05 - Wicked Game - 5.6M.dsf 306dc230f1e806a43af679eb90fac8d3 *Jenna Mammina - Close Your Eyes - 06 - Running to Stand Still - 5.6M.dsf ca847f3b6d89a39ef8f3eee8bacf7234 *Jenna Mammina - Close Your Eyes - 07 - Pictures and Paintings - 5.6M.dsf 98e9c7fe2fa4e31faa67533a98acdf1a *Jenna Mammina - Close Your Eyes - 08 - I Hope That I Don't Fall In Love With You - 5.6M.dsf eec567f2484f6e618e25991f4431e82f *Jenna Mammina - Close Your Eyes - 09 - Don't Let Me Be Lonely Tonight - 5.6M.dsf 2fa3e6ffc32f27a4097b50fa0367261c *Jenna Mammina - Close Your Eyes - 10 - When I'm Called Home - 5.6M.dsf