Shirley Horn - Softly (Reel-to-Reel)
Piano - Shirley Horn
Bass - Charles Ables
Drums - Steve Williams
1xHD reel-to-reel
1/4'' 15 ips IEC / CCIR EQ, sourced from a copie of the original analog master tape
Transferred to Recording The Masters SM468 magnetic tape
Stereo
Studio
Label : Fidelio 2xHD
Original Label : 2xHD
Recorded at Mapleshade Studios in October 1987
Recorded by Joël Siegel
Engineered by Pierre Sprey
Produced by Andre Perry
Mastered by René Laflamme
Originally released in 1988
Reissued in 2024
Tracks:
1. Since I Fell For You
2. Dindi
3. Softly, As I Leave You
4. How Long Has This Been Going On?
5. My, How the Time Goes By
6. Forget Me
Reviews :
The reflective mood of this album captures the late-night intimacy of the recording sessions. Shirley Horn’s performances here, surrounded by devoted friends, protected from the time-is-money anxiety and clinical ambience of commercial recording studios, is more introspective and emotionally intense than anything she has recorded to date.
The lady is really amazingly on target with her approach to every tune she had chosen to perform in this album. Seldom will a recording session yield only indispensable tracks. This Shirley Horn studio visit did.
Seldom will a recording session yield only indispensable tracks. This Shirley Horn studio visit did. The lady is really amazing on target with her approach to every tune she had chosen to perform. The reflective mood of this album captures the late-night intimacy of the recording sessions. Although, as Gary Giddens has observed, Shirley can “swing your socks off”, her performances here, protected from the time-is-money anxiety and clinical ambience of commercial recording studios, and surrounded by devoted friends and inevitably, food, is more introspective and emotionally intense than anything she has recorded to date.
Audiotapes from 2xHD guarantees that ultimate quality is preserved from the original master in contrast to vinyl albums, CDs or other formats. Audiophile quality microphone designer and 8 times winner of "Best sound in the show" at high-end audio equipment conventions, Laflamme uses his knowledge and unfailing instinct to match various audio components to create the best all-encompassing sound experience. The exclusive 2xHD system is the fruit of Laflamme's total experience and imagination.
At 2xHD, we have developed over the last ten years our own proprietary system in conjunction with state of the art audio equipment manufacturers. It is the most accurate and the most musical mastering system available today, earning recognition from our peers and from the specialized trade publications around the world.
Widely acknowledged as a pillar of the Canadian Music Industry, producer, musician, composer, recording engineer, André Perry is the creator and founder of the first sophisticated, world-class environmental recording facility; Le Studio (Morin Heights). Over 250 million copies of recordings made at Le Studio have been sold worldwide by artists such as The Police, Sting, Asia, Cat Stevens, Rush, the Bee Gees, David Bowie, Keith Richards and many more.
In the high-end audio world, audiophile sound engineer René Laflamme has carved out a reputation for the definition of excellence. Manufacturers of audiophile equipment such as Nagra Audio, renowned D to A converter manufacturer dCS Ltd and high-end turntable manufacturers, Kronos Audio seek his expertise in representation and assistance in design. Audiophile quality microphone designer and 8 times winner of 'Best sound in show' at high-end audio equipment conventions, Laflamme uses his knowledge and unfailing instinct to match various audio components to create the best all-encompassing sound experience. The exclusive 2xHD system is the fruit of Laflamme's total experience and imagination.
Ratings :
AllMusic : 4 / 5 ; Discogs : 4.75 / 5