Rob van Bavel - Time for Ballads - The Maene Sessions (2022) Hi Res

Pianist Rob van Bavel is accompanied by Frans van Geest on Double Bass and Marcel Serierse on Drums on Time For Ballads: The Maene Sessions, the latest album from Sound Liaison.

Time for Ballads was recorded on October 10, 2021 at De Terp (The White Church) in Oudorp, Netherlands on the amazing Chris Maene Straight Strung Concert Piano. Hence the album name “The Maene Sessions“.

In 2013 Daniel Barenboim commissioned Chris Maene to build a perfect parallel-strung concert grand piano. A piano that would reconcile the unique characteristic sonorous richness of the historical piano with the volume, clarity, power and playing comfort of the best modern concert piano. A piano with different sonorous properties, aiming to offer a valid artistic alternative to existing concert grands.

Chris Maene and his team went to work and after extensive experiments they built the first Chris Maene Straight Strung Concert Grand Piano. In May 2015 Daniel Barenboim inaugurated the new straight strung grand piano with a series of Schubert recitals in Vienna, Paris and London. The sound of the unique instrument was very well received by press, audiences and musicians alike. Today ‘Chris Maene Straight Strung Grand Pianos’ are played all over the world by the best international concert pianists.

This album features 13 ballads performed by Rob van Bavel and his trio. The songs include Body and Soul, In A Sentimental Mood, The Shadow Of Your Smile and several original compositions.

Rob van Bavel says, “This album is the result of what has been a most rewarding musical journey. Jazz is often associated with busy, energetic (or even neurotic) music. I have played my share of it and enjoyed it… but deep down, I really do love to play and listen to ballads. In October 2020, I played a concert with the John Engels Quintet in a beautiful little wooden church called ‘De Terp’ in Oudorp.

That night I had the pleasure and honor to be the first Dutch Jazz pianist to perform on the amazing Chris Maene Straight Strung Concert Grand Piano. The combination of this beautiful instrument with the acoustics of the church made a great impression on me. I realized that if I were to record a ballad album, that instrument in that church would be an ideal combination.”