The Legendary Rudy Van Gelder Studio in Englewood Cliffs Still Recording Gems

Written By Mike Greenblatt

Perhaps the most famous recording facility in all of jazz, Rudy Van Gelder’s studio, first in Hackensack, then in Englewood Cliffs, is the birthplace of seminal albums by the likes of Thelonious Monk, Miles Davis, Duke Ellington, Ray Charles, John Coltrane, Sonny Rollins and hundreds of others.

The newest gem to emanate from these hallowed halls is the self-titled debut of The Heavy Hitters. Pianists Mike LeDonne/Eric Alexander, trumpeter Jeremy Pelt, alto saxophonist Vincent Herring, bassist Peter Washington, drummer Kevin Washington and guest guitarist Rale Micoc (on the brilliant 7:58 adventure called “Chainsaw”) live up to their band name as they spiral into the stratosphere on their own trips while remaining perfectly in sync with each other.

No small feat.

In approximating the classic Blue Note Records playbook, these nine originals—ranging in times from 5:26 to 8:19—span the gamut of post-bop. Using bebop as but a base, they lunge through atmospheric flights of tight ensemble playing and fluid soloing to create one of the year’s best jazz albums.

Mike Greenblatt

MIKE GREENBLATT has been writing for Goldmine magazine and New Jersey's Aquarian Weekly for more than 35 years. His writing subjects fill the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

He's interviewed Joe Cocker, Graham Nash, David Crosby, Carlos Santana, Bruce Springsteen, Paul McCartney, Johnny Cash, and members of The Rolling Stones and The Beatles. He was 18 when he attended Woodstock in 1969.

In addition to writing about music, Greenblatt has worked on publicity campaigns for The Animals, Pat Benatar, Johnny Winter, Tommy James and Richard Branson, among others. He is currently the editor of The Jersey Sound.

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