Octave Records offers something refreshingly different with the release of Sturtz: Live at Roots Music Project, an acoustic quartet that blends folk, soul, bluegrass and Americana into a unique sound that’s been described as “a reassuring blend of fresh air.” The band is led by guitarist/vocalist Andrew Sturtz, joined by Jim Herlihy on banjo, Courtlyn Carpenter on cello and background vocals, and Will Kupper playing stand-up bass and singing back-up vocals.
Sturtz: Live at Roots Music Project was recorded in DSD high-resolution sound using Octave Records’ Pure DSD system, for a you-are-there sonic realism that conveys every nuance of the band’s distinctive blend of acoustic instruments and open, airy sound. It’s a warm, intimate and inviting recording, yet musical details are rendered with exquisite resolution and clarity, from the upper harmonics of the acoustic guitar and richness of the cello, to the sweetness of the vocal harmonies. Jessica Carson, Executive Producer for Octave Records said, “Sturtz plays music that’s as Colorado Americana as a group can get. Their mix of styles, captured in the songwriting of Andrew Sturtz, is a beautiful representation of the Boulder music scene.”
The band: Jim Herlihy, Courtlyn Carpenter, Will Kupper, Andrew Sturtz.
Sturtz: Live at Roots Music Project was recorded in Pure DSD 256 using the Pyramix workstation, with Paul McGowan as the recording and mixing engineer and Terri McGowan assisting. The album was mastered by Gus Skinas.
Sturtz: Live at Roots Music Project features Octave’s premium gold disc formulation, and the disc is playable on any SACD, CD, DVD, or Blu-ray player. It also has a high-resolution DSD layer that is accessible by using any SACD player or a PS Audio SACD transport. In addition, the master DSD and PCM files are available for purchase and download, including DSD 256, DSD 128, DSD 64, and DSDDirect Mastered 352.8 kHz/24-bit, 176.2 kHz/24-bit, 88.2 kHz/24-bit, and 44.1 kHz/24-bit PCM. (SRP: $19 – $39, depending on format.)
Andrew Sturtz.
Though all-original, the songs feel friendly and familiar, from the easy swing and breezy harmonies of “The Beck and the Call” to the wry humor of “Quarter Life Crisis,” the reminiscing of times past in “Go There,” and the album’s upbeat closer, “Changing by the Second,” which acknowledges that people and their relationships always change, but that can be a good thing. Sturtz: Live at Roots Music Project is a raw and honest live performance.
