Exclusively Available at NativeDSD in Pure DSD 256 Stereo from the Edit Master Source
There are pieces in the rich, century-old jazz tradition that embrace you from the very first note — as if they’ve always been there. On The Blue Hour Sessions: Audiophile Jazz Recordings, Rembrandt Frerichs’ explores exactly those works that are closest to his heart. But don’t be misled: what may sound familiar at first listen reveals itself as richer, more layered, and more personal with every play. This is the 5th album from the Rembrandt Trio and the 10th album with Rembrandt Frerichs at NativeDSD.
The recording, captured by audiophile master engineer Jared Sacks, is a work of art in its own right. Using ultra-high-end Pure DSD 256 technology, every detail is preserved. The breath between phrases, the resonance of the pedal, the woody tones of the double bass, and Vinsent Planjer’s renowned silky percussion. This isn’t a studio retreat — it’s a vivid moment, etched onto the record.
The Pure DSD 256 Stereo recording was mixed in the DSD domain in HQP Pro by NativeDSD Mastering Engineer Tom Caulfield to generate the Stereo DSD editions of the album including DSD 1024, DSD 512, DSD 256, DSD 128 and DSD 64.
While the repertoire consists of standards from the Great American Songbook — pieces the listener may recognize — the interpretations, true to the Rembrandt Trio’s style, are anything but predictable. These recordings weren’t born from a concept, but from a mood. The inspiration came from The Blue Hour — that magical moment between day and night when the world seems to pause. In photography, it refers to soft blue hues and diffused light; metaphorically, to a time of reflection. Rembrandt and his trio sought to capture exactly that feeling: music that expresses subtlety, that doesn’t shout but whispers. Standards you think you know, but here sound as if revealing themselves to you for the first time.
The sessions began with the Steinway D concert grand piano that Rembrandt plays at the Muziekcentrum van de Omroep (MCO) in Hilversum, Netherlands — an instrument that, in his hands, sings with personal clarity. Rembrandt explains: “Because of the recording technique and microphone placement, the sound seemed to rise off the keys as I played — spatial and tangible at once. It felt like the music on this album doesn’t just translate the blue hour musically, but almost lets you touch it.”
Together with bassist Jos Machtel and drummer Vinsent Planjer, Rembrandt takes time to listen, to let the music breathe, and to uncover new layers in these standards along the way. In their hands, Detour Ahead, Goodbye, or Smile aren’t just exercises in style — they become personal narratives told by seasoned musicians. Sometimes with delicate irony — always with love.
Rembrandt:
“With The Blue Hour Sessions, we tried to create a poetic exploration of what it means to pause in time… music in the spirit of the blue hour: balanced, understated, and above all, human.”
Jared Sacks:
“Hopefully an album for the connoisseur and the dreamer alike. For those who listen with the mind — but especially with the heart.”
Rembrandt Trio
Rembrandt Frerichs, Piano
Jos Machtel, Bass
Vinsent Planjer, Drums
Tracklist
Please note that the below previews are loaded as 44.1 kHz / 16 bit.Total time: 00:55:37
Additional information
| Label | |
|---|---|
| SKU | JL035 |
| Qualities | DSD 1024 fs, DSD 512 fs, DSD 256 fs, DSD 128 fs, DSD 64 fs, DXD 24 Bit |
| Channels | |
| Artists | |
| Composers | Chaplin, Coots, Ellis, Jenkins, Jobim, Mancini, Porter, Shearing, Strayhorn, Weill, Williams |
| Genres | |
| Original Recording Format | |
| Recording Engineer | Jared Sacks |
| Mastering | Tom Caulfield |
| A/D Converter | Horus, Merging Technologies |
| Instruments | |
| Mixing Board | Rens Heijnis, Custom Design |
| Speakers | Grimm LS1 |
| Release Date | May 13, 2025 |
Press reviews
Positive Feedback
“[…]It is a magical listening experience. Rembrandt is a musician’s musician—an artist of immense and subtle sensibilities. He breathes jazz, but infuses his playing with influences from music of the Baroque to music of the Middle East.
The music breathes subtlety. Quietly. No shouting. No crashing and banging. This is music of the quiet time, the blue hour. It is music that is contemplative and filled with complex layers of emotional content.
My recommendation to you: This is a very special album. Do not wait. Just get it now. If you have any affinity for exceptionally well-played and well-recorded small ensemble jazz, you will love this.”
8 reviews for The Blue Hour Sessions: Audiophile Jazz Recordings [Pure DSD]
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Intimacy. It’s amazing the emotions the simplest Jazz Trio can evoke. Brushes thwapping drum skins, hammers striking piano strings, bass notes plucked… How am I in the middle? Uncanny, the engineering and musicianship, hand in hand, incredible.
The pieces chosen fit the concept of the album perfectly, and it seems the decay from each instrument’s notes does likewise. Nothing overdone. Simple, beautiful, and with the slightest bit of imagination, tangible.
Just listen. Relax, and listen. I recommend a good scotch, but whatever works for you is fine.
This is the epitome of “Why DSD?” My answer, “Yes.”
Bill Maietta (verified owner) –
I downloaded this album in DSD 256. Listening with headphones, using a hi-fi portable player and a high-end cable, the sound quality is exceptional. The music is very enjoyable and full of sensitivity.
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J’ai téléchargé cet album en DSD 256. L’écoute sous casque, à partir d’un baladeur hifi et avec un câble haut de gamme, est exceptionnelle de qualité. Une musique très agréable, pleine de sensibilité.
Jean-Claude Defaux (verified owner) –
This musician always plays special music, in a special style. This one is very easy-listening, but again with that special approach. Recording quality is exceptional!
Henny Georg (verified owner) –
Magic formula. Professional dedicated musicians playing gold standards. A marvelous recording setup all captured in Pure DSD 256 yields a truly transparent audio experience as close to the real thing as it can get.
My favorite part is sound of the Piano on this recording. Great job!
Adrian Lebena (verified owner) –
What a wonderful presentation of excellent musicianship. What a masterfully executed preservation in Pure DSD 256 by the technicians!
Very enjoyable standards presented in a very intimate “simple” trio-style way. Music to relax with and to tap your feet to the rhythm. Well done! Simply beautiful…
Alfred Eder (verified owner) –
I own all of Rembrandt Frederichs’ and friends albums that are available at NativeDSD. Each and every one is highly enjoyable. The recording quality of Blues Hour is excellent. The Steinway Model D that Frederichs plays on this album sounds terrific!
Bill Steiner (verified owner) –
With a glass of wine you can sit back and relax listening to this wonderful album. The Blue Hour Sessions in Pure DSD 256. I enjoy it 🙂
Jen Spelikowsky (verified owner) –
A wonderful mix between smooth, modern and free Jazz. It brought me a combination of vivid images, a relaxed mind, rising above the pity of the day’s problems, and even some encouragement and motivation for a brighter new day.
The album starts with a track bringing you home at twilight hour. Pouring you a drink and handing you an unlit cigar. No, you don’t smoke it. Just enjoy the aroma mixing with the taste of the drink.
Then the second track suddenly makes your mind start pondering over unfinished problem from the day. You remember the faces, the words, maybe some small quarrels…and the third settles things with maybe a decision, or the right person to do the job and solve the problem.
You can let the day go now and the fourth track will make it much, much easier as it transitioned unexpectedly to your dreams as you fall asleep in the chair. And then the fifth which will just give you the glorious morning sunrise…
I will stop here. Get it and enjoy!
S. Petkov (verified owner) –