Tone Profile

A clean, resonant acoustic grand piano with a slightly dark, intimate character and natural room reverb, typical of late 1950s jazz recordings. The sound emphasizes delicate touch and complex modal voicings.

Signal Chain

Recording Notes

• Recorded at Columbia 30th Street Studio, known for its large, reverberant space (a former church).
• Likely minimal EQ or dynamic processing during tracking.
• The piano sound benefits significantly from the natural room ambience.
• Bill Evans' specific chord voicings (often quartal) and delicate playing style are integral to the sound.
• Potentially recorded using multiple microphones (e.g., a spaced pair) to capture a wide stereo image and room sound.

Recreation Tips

• Use a high-quality sampled Steinway B grand piano.
• Apply a natural-sounding room or hall reverb; impulse responses from large studios or churches are ideal.
• Avoid heavy compression; use light compression only if necessary for level control.
• Keep EQ minimal, perhaps a slight cut in harsh upper mids if needed.
• Focus on replicating the characteristic 'So What' voicings and the dynamic range of the original performance.
• Consider subtle tape saturation emulation for vintage warmth.

Recommended Gear

• Steinway Model B Grand Piano(instrument)
• Keyscape - Spectrasonics(sample library)
• Neumann U 47(microphone)
• Warm Audio WA-47(microphone)
• Valhalla Room(plugin)
• Universal Audio Ampex ATR-102(plugin)