Prelude To A Scene
Recorded in 2013 Prelude To A Scene was less of a trombone album and more of an exploration of the role of the trombone in a minimalist, acoustic, cinematic environment inspired by artists such as Keith Jarrett, Manu Katche, Jan Garbarek and Mathias Eick. It is lush but honest... I hoped to create 'art' rather than showcase ability. In fact at times the role of the trombone is a voice of frailty. Many things were first take, mistakes and all. Honesty was the mission statement, utilising a style of recording more akin to classical music than jazz. As with most things in retrospect there are some misgivings but overall I am proud of the composition and framing of the trombone in this space. The band were of course superb.
Recorded around a stereo pair of microphones, without the use of overdubs, compression or reverb to faithfully capture the sound of one of the great studio spaces; Studio A, Studio 301. Enlisting the help of some of the greatest musicians in Australia; Hamish Stuart on drums, Brendan Clarke on bass, Brendan St Ledger on piano and Julian Gough on saxophone.
Mastered by Morten Linderg of 2L Records in Norway, it was the first album produced in Australia at audiophile DXD resolution 352khz/24bit. The album production was featured in the January 2014 edition of Audio Technology magazine.
"As for the music itself, all composed by Ben Gurton (who plays guitar, trombone and ‘electronics’ on the album), it has a flowing, relaxed, jazzy structure that I could listen to all day and the next... and forever after. Lusciously gorgeous! It’s an album every audiophile should have in their library." Greg Borrowman, Australian Hi-Fi magazine.
"The recording and mixing of the album is first-rate. Greg Simmons, the engineer/producer and his team deserve congratulations. The techniques employed have produced recordings that have presence and a quality of spontaneous performance appropriate for the music recorded. Acoustical properties of every instrument are captured authentically. On the sixth track, A Journey, the sound of the piano is about as good as it gets." Gavin Franklin, Loud Mouth.
The making of the album was published in Audio Technology magazine
Hi-Res option available from; highresaudio.com
Available on all streaming services Spotify, Apple Music and CD Baby directly; CD Baby
CD's available from Birdland Records; Level 3/428 George St, Sydney
Cd's, super high resolution (up to DSD64 and DXD) files both stereo and surround are available through contacting me directly
