jazz

Fragments Of Time is a Live DSD 256 recording of the Gourmet Quartet performing an album of Jazz Standards from APSoon Recordings.  It is an album that fans of DSD recording will enjoy.

The Gourmet Quartet was born as a collaboration between singer-pianist Yvetta Uustalu and double bass player Tõnis Tüür, who originally performed under the name Gourmet Duo. Their debut album Secret Marriage was released in 2010. The following year, the band expanded to become the Gourmet Quartet at the Jazzkaar Festival, adding drummer Indrek Tetsmann and saxophonist Marko Mägi. This memorable performance was later released as a double album Live in Tallinn.

The current line-up includes the brilliant soprano and tenor saxophonist Villu Veski. Over the years, the quartet has collaborated with many prominent soloists, including saxophonists Lembit Saarsalu, Raivo Tafenau and Ivo Lille, accordionist Tiit Kalluste, guitarist Mart Soo, trumpeter Aleksei Saks, and others.

In addition to performances at the Jazzkaar Festival, the Gourmet Quartet has been invited to perform abroad on several occasions. Uustalu’s rare ability to combine vocal performance with sensitive and expressive piano playing makes her one of the few true singer-pianists in Estonia. Her music focuses on sincerity, simplicity, and emotional depth. Gourmet Quartet offers understandable and subtle jazz that appeals to casual listeners and experts alike. This recording is unique in every aspect, offering profound musicality and performance straight from the soul.

Live recording at Heino Eller Music School on April 19, 2025. • The recording has not been cut or edited.
Microphones: Piano – Sonodore MPM 81 • Double bass – Josephson C700A, Sonodore MPM-81 • Drums – Sonodore CMA16, Josephson C715, e22S • Vocal: Sonodore MPM 81 Preamps: Rens Heijnis 8 MS, Grace Design MK II • AD converter: Merging Horus • Recording format: DSD 256 Recording engineers: Aular Soon, Priit Kuulberg • Photos: Endel Apsalon • Design: Lemmi Kuulberg

Making of album ”Fragments Of Time”

Midnight Breeze brings you a completely unique Jazz album in Estonian conditions. The first Jazz recording in Estonia made in Pure Stereo DSD 256.

We are happy in our hearts that this recording became the new album of Tõnu Naissoo Trio. In addition to standards, the album also features arrangements of today’s rock and pop classics, you can hear virtuoso piano playing and a deep-sounding double bass.

The album was recorded in Tartu, Eller Music School, Tubina Hall. All tracks are played at once, no cuts or edits have been made. We are sure that this Tõnu Naissoo Trio album will have an honourable place in the trio’s long history.

Tõnu Naissoo Trio
Tõnu Naissoo – piano
Taavo Remmel – double bass
Toomas Rull – drums

NB! Samples are in mp3 format

Booklet

APSoon Recording has started the production of a new record series – “Estonian jazz” in addition to the series “Estonian Organs”. As part of the series, we release the best of jazz already recorded on analog audio media and record Estonian jazz musicians using the high-definition method (DSD). The audio medium remains the vinyl record, which has proven itself as a true sound image transmitter. The first thing we are working on is a new release of the 1981 vinyl record “Turning Point” by the Tõnu Naissoo trio. This record has been recorded by Enn Laidre with excellent knowledge and published by the contemporaneous USSR Melodyja. In the new version, we will adjust the sound image a bit, make a new design and review. The vinyl record should go on sale in May this year