Jude Kofie’s story is a remarkable one. The high school student faced numerous health challenges, overcoming them to become a gifted pianist and songwriter at age 14. Born prematurely, Kofie had to deal with multiple heart surgeries and other serious issues as a young child, including being diagnosed with autism. None of it stopped him from learning piano on his own, with no lessons, by ear, beginning at age 10. His parents and mentors quickly realized he was gifted. He blossomed on the instrument and developed a deep musical soul at a young age.
Octave Records is proud to present his first recording, Introducing Jude Kofie, featuring interpretations of jazz and pop songs that show that Jude is no mere curiosity. He plays acoustic and electric piano with emotional depth and a flair for putting his personal signature on the music, with a delicate, thoughtful approach and an open sound.
On Introducing Jude Kofie he’s supported by Murphy Smith on bass, Matthew Campbell on drums, Solomon Chapman on Organ, and Parris Fleming on trumpet.
Jude Kofie’s piano is captured with clarity, dynamic power and nuance, thanks to Octave Records’ Pure DSD recording process. A grand piano is one of the most challenging instruments to get right, and here it’s recorded with remarkable fidelity.
The album was recorded, mixed and produced at Octave Studios by Callum Bair, and mastered by Gus Skinas, with Paul McGowan as executive producer. Introducing Jude Kofie was recorded using Octave’s Pyramix Pure DSD system, and mixed and mastered using PS Audio’s flagship Aspen FR30 loudspeakers.
The album opens with an Afro-Cuban version of Stevie Wonder’s “Don’t You Worry ‘Bout a Thing,” with Jude mixing the melody with adept chording, improvisational turns, and rollicking musical spirit. Next, the band shifts gears for a relaxed version of Charlie Parker’s classic “Ornithology.”
Jude’s commitment to faith is reflected in a number of songs, among them a reflective version of “Great Is Thy Faithfulness,” the gospel-meets-jazz of the Edwin Hawkins Singers’ “Oh Happy Day,” a majestic rendition of “Thank You Lord,” and a stately version of “Total Praise,” the closing track. “I Surrender All” is a solo piano performance where Jude mixes left-hand arpeggios with right-hand chords and “slip notes,” a technique where grace notes “slide” into the melody to add color and feeling.
Jude Kofie at the electric piano in Octave Records' studio.
Rounding out the album is a bouncy version of “There Will Never Be Another You,” featuring trumpeter Parris Fleming playing the swing-era melody and Jude and the band stretching out, and Erroll Garner’s “Misty,” where Jude and the band let the beautiful melody come through with a purity of expression, followed by one of Jude’s most delightful improvisational solos before returning to the main theme. Introducing Jude Kofie is an auspicious beginning for a major new talent.
Introducing Jude Kofie features Octave’s premium gold disc formulation, and the disc (available June 10; downloads can be purchased now) 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 512, 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: $29.)
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