On The Wings Of An Eagle by the jazz trio of pianist John Hicks, bass player Buster Williams and drummer Louis Hayes is the latest edition of the New York Sessions Super Audio CD series from Chesky Records. Chesky’s February Surround Sound SACD release continues this applauded group of audiophile grade Jazz performances recorded last year at St. Peter’s Episcopal Church in New York City. Also new this month is the announcement of yet another in Chesky’s Super Audio CD releases.
As with all of Chesky’s New York Sessions Jazz SACD releases, On The Wings Of An Eagle is a Single Inventory Surround Sound Hybrid Layer Super Audio CD release. It features Surround Sound SACD, Stereo SACD and Stereo CD Audio versions of the music on the album. The On The Wings Of An Eagle SACD serves as both the SACD and CD edition of the album.
On The Wings Of An Eagle
John Hicks, Buster Williams and Louis Hayes
SACD Surround Sound/SACD Stereo/CD Audio
(Chesky SACD 318)
On The Wings Of An Eagle is the latest edition of Chesky’s New York Sessions SACD Jazz Series. It features John Hicks, Buster Williams and Louis Hayes in a live performance that now has special meaning with the recent passing of Hicks last May, just two months after this session.
In the SACD’s liner notes, Ira Gitler says that
“John Hicks performed with Buster Williams and Louis Hayes in a combination simply called “The Trio”. They gigged at clubs like the Jazz Standard and Sweet Rhythm. It is the group featured here on John’s last recording. Buster and Louis, each a leader in his own right – the former with Something More and the latter with the Cannonball Adderley Legacy Band – are more than sidemen. They are interactive parts of a strong but flexible triangle. They should open up the ears of first timers and warm the souls of veteran listeners.”
The album was produced by David Chesky and Charles Carlini, recorded, edited and mastered by Nicholas Prout with session coordination by Rick Eckerle and project coordination by Theodore Thimou, Lisa Herschfield and Nicholas Oddy. The Hybrid Surround Sound SACD was made by Sony DADC in Terre Haute, Indiana on their Hybrid SACD replication line.
On The Wings Of An Eagle finds this trio of veteran jazz musicians playing both upbeat material and ballads. Jazz fans will enjoy what can only be described as listening to some top flight players performing classic material. The Surround Sound Super Audio CD tracks present the trio in the front channels with only a hint of the church ambience in the surround channels. The sound is top notch and shows the ability of the SACD hi rez format to present quality music in its best light. For jazz fans this one is recommended for both its performances and sonics.
Album Tracks
- Minority
- Fly Little Bird Fly
- Strivers Jewels
- Balues-Bolivar-Balues-Are
- Cheese Cake
- Dedicated To You
- Minor Mishap
- Christina
- As Birds Fly (Walton’s Mountain)
Chesky Adds A New Jazz Recording To Its SACD Release List
High Fidelity Review readers will recall that Chesky Records plans to bring out a Surround Sound Super Audio CD release of Rebecca Pidgeon’s album The Raven in April. This follows the successful Hybrid Stereo SACD edition of this album that was released some time ago by the label.
Chesky has announced that they will be releasing a new album entitled The Jobim Songbook by the David Hazeltine Trio. This is the trio’s second Surround Sound SACD from Chesky, following up the group’s Manhattan album (Chesky SACD 310) that was one of the first two of the Chesky New York Sessions SACDs released last September (see linked story below).
Chesky Records – Surround Sound SACD Release – April 24, 2007
- Rebecca Pidgeon – The Raven (Chesky SACD 329)
Chesky Records – Surround Sound SACD Release – May 22, 2007
- David Hazeltine Trio – The Jobim Songbook In New York (Chesky SACD 328)
Availability
The Surround Sound Super Audio CD of On The Wings Of An Eagle by John Hicks, Buster Williams and Louis Hayes is now available for purchase from the Chesky Records web site for $15.98. It is also available from music stores and several web sites that carry audiophile and Super Audio CD titles. This includes the Acoustic Sounds, Elusive Disc, Music Direct, CD Universe, Amazon.Com, Buy.Com, CD Connection, eBay, J&R Music and Tower Records.Com web sites.
On The Wings Of An Eagle by John Hicks, Buster Williams and Louis Hayes (Chesky SACD 318)