It's here!

Confluence, the new album from NYC singer/songwriter Jason Vitelli.

A tour de force from Jason Vitelli,
Confluence, a double album on one CD, showcases Jason’s talents
as songwriter, vocalist, musician and arranger.
Featuring solo performances, duets and a trio as well as full ensemble pieces,
the album’s 17 songs range from ballads to all out electric rockers,
all recorded "live" (for the microphones) and in stereo.

Hear samples from Confluence

See photos from the Confluence recording sessions

See photos and a video from the Confluence release party

Equinox by Markus Schwartz & Lakou Brooklyn

Hear samples from Equinox

See photos from the Equinox recording sessions

See photos from the Equinox release parties

SR interview: Markus Schwartz

Critical acclaim for Equinox

"...The music is the most infectious sound that's come into my home in a long time..."
"...it's one of the best sounding digital recordings I've heard.  Highest recommendation..."
Dennis Davis in the April/May 2011 issue of HiFi+

In the February 2011 issue of Stereophile,
Equinox was selected as Recording of the Month
In his review, Robert Baird said:
"...Intent on finding that magic equilibrium between sound and content, Diament, a former Atlantic Records engineer, has hit a new high point for Soundkeeper with his immediate-sounding and musically compelling disc of explorations by drummer Markus Schwartz and his Lakou Brooklyn project..."
"...While the technical info is impressive, and the peerless sound is gloriously unaffected and real, the compelling and exotic blend of music on Equinox is equal to the technology–a balance of art and craft that all recordings, audiophile or not, should aspire to."

In the January 2011 issue of Stereophile,
editor John Atkinson and reviewer Michael Fremer
both used Equinox to evaluate equipment they were reviewing.
In his review of the dCS Debussy DAC (digital to analog converter), Michael said:
"...The hi-rez files of this tuneful, percussive music produced an enormous, airy space in which the instruments were clearly located and layered..."
"...In short, whatever preconceptions digiphobes might have about digital sound would be quickly erased by listening to these superb-sounding high-res files..."

The Ars Nova Workshop asked several musicians for their
Best Albums of the Year list.
One of Ches Smith’s selections was Equinox.

Albanyjazz.com polled its contributors on their Top 5 Jazz Albums of 2010.
One of Rudy Lu’s choices was Equinox.

"...The musical traditions of Africa also permeate the rich, sinuous music of Haiti, and to explore this terrain we have a wonderful musical guide in percussionist extraordinaire, Markus Schwartz, and the trio "Lakou Brooklyn", on their recent release entitled Equinox [Soundkeeper Recordings].  It is always fun to keep an ear out for Soundkeeper Recordings’ Barry Diament, whose recording techniques always create a sound that is vibrant and fresh; natural in image dimensionality and rich in ambient details..."
Read the review on Stereo Times

"...For me, not only does this method of recording result in a very accurate portrayal of the music and instruments, but it gives the music a sort of intimacy that I hardly ever notice with more processed recordings..."
"...Great recording, excellent performance, and fascinating music. Highly recommended..."
"...Another excellent recording from the hands and the mics of Mr. Barry Diament!..."
Read the review on TNT-Audio.

"...The four musicians are very clearly placed on the audio soundstage, with plenty of "air" around them.  This disc should be a fine demo of your audio system’s abilities, from the deep bass frequencies of some of the drums to the extended high end of the trumpet and some other percussion..."
Read the review on Audiophile Audition.

"...a milestone in the Kreyòl jazz endeavor..."
"...Produced and recorded (live) by Barry Diament of Soundkeeper Recordings with special recording techniques to reproduce live sound performance, the listener will appreciate a sound that gives the impression of being in the presence of the musicians playing..."
"...We enjoy Markus’ dynamic clarity that shows, one more time after Ti Roro, Bonga and many others, how this instrument when played properly can raise polyrhythmic music to advanced level of artistry..."
"...Another gem for Jazz aficionados and collectors… Highly recommended!..."
Read the review on KariJazz

A recent comment from Dr. Nick Catalano in his Jazz International column
on All About Jazz says of Markus and Equinox:
"His knowledge of Haitian culture and expertise in its music make this session invaluable for international music enthusiasts."

"...The bourgeoning Haitian-Vodou Jazz movement is well served by releases like Equinox that have a distinct identity and a cosmopolitan edge.  The album is deeply rooted in Haiti’s native music and brings the genre’s standards to a new generation of listeners..."
"...No overdubbing and no multi-tracking were used for this album and a listener is made to feel a part of the entire experience.  Well done Markus!..."
Read the review from the Boston Haitian Reporter here.

"...It is one of the two best artistic works of the year in the Haitian community in New York..."
"...He [Markus] is conscious of the fundamental role of the drum in a musical piece and especially in the ancestral musical legacy that he is transmitting.  And he does not hesitate to break with the traditional linear rhythm in order to enrich its fabric..."
"...Markus Schwartz & Lakou Brooklyn's CD is an absolute must have."
Read the review from Haiti Liberte here.

Lift by Work of Art

Hear samples from Lift

See photos from the Lift recording sessions

SR interview: Work of Art's Art Halperin

Critical acclaim for Lift

"...Fortunately, for the hopeful aficionado of both good music and sound, our prayers have been answered..."
"...You will also wonder what it would have been like if all of the early folks artists could have had the same opportunity to be recorded with such accuracy.  What a delicious thought..."
"...To summarize the merits of this CD: The material is freshly imaginative and simmered in talent; the sound is spacious and superbly mastered..."
Read the review from The Audiophile Voice here.

"...This is a recording to cherish for its uncanny ability to present a clear window into the acoustic proceedings, recorded in a natural, airy space..."
"...If your system is up for it, you will not hear any better in terms of image dimensionality or a dynamic sense of a real recording space with layers of air and space between the musicians..."
"...Halperin reminds me of the late George Harrison, delivering biting social commentary, sly humor and lilting imagery wrapped in pop hooks that grab the listener and linger in the mind long after the last mandolin chord is struck..."
Read the review on Stereo Times

In the July 2007 issue of Stereophile,
Wes Phillips used the 24/96 DVD-R version of Lift
as one of his reference recordings
for his review of the Sonics Anima loudspeaker:
"...I'd admired Soundkeeper engineer Barry Diament's wonderfully recorded disc on CD, but his higher-res DVD is an ear-opener..."
"...It's not that there's so much going on in those extended high frequencies, but it's obvious that they're not there at all on the "Red Book" CD.  It's not so much a question of night and day as one of life and death..."

"...Halperin leads his band, Work of Art, through ten songs on Lift,
his music a wonderful combination of folk, bluegrass and country.
Lift sounds about as lifelike as any recording I've ever heard..."
Read the review on SoundStage!

"...Simply, this recording picks you up and brings you into the hall where the Music has been recorded.  The "being there" sensation is perhaps the strongest I've ever felt while listening to a disc..."
Read the review on TNT-Audio.

"Mastering engineer Barry Diament decides to show the major labels how it should be done."
Read about it on Stereophile.

Read about it in a SoundStage! editorial.