THE SOUND OF TAPE - ALBUM EDITOR REVIEW
INGRAM WASHINGTON - WHAT A DIFFERENCE A DAY MAKES
THE DARK VELVET VOICE OF JAZZ - ON 15 IPS MASTER-QUALITY REEL TAPE
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Some singers perform the Great American Songbook. Ingram Washington appears to inhabit it.
What a Difference a Day Makes is an intimate collection of enduring jazz standards, romantic ballads and soul classics, interpreted by a vocalist whose dark, beautifully controlled baritone immediately commands attention.
Washington never needs to force his authority. His singing is measured, unhurried and deeply musical. Every word is allowed to settle; every phrase is shaped with patience. The result is an album that feels simultaneously sophisticated, comforting and emotionally direct.
THE VOICE
Born in Detroit in 1940, Ingram Washington began absorbing jazz from childhood. Duke Ellington, Count Basie and Billy Eckstine formed part of his early musical education, while the mellow voices of Nat King Cole, Al Hibbler and Joe Williams helped shape his love of romantic ballads.
His most important vocal inspiration, however, was the deep-toned Arthur Prysock.
That influence can be heard throughout this recording, although Washington is never merely imitative. His voice combines the smoothness associated with Billy Eckstine, the conversational intimacy of Nat King Cole and the relaxed rhythmic confidence of a seasoned jazz musician.
Washington toured internationally and developed an especially loyal following in Western Europe. His career included performances with distinguished artists such as Nina Simone, Ray Charles, Scott Hamilton, Teddy Edwards, Spanky Wilson and Harry “Sweets” Edison.
WHAT MAKES THE ALBUM SPECIAL?
These songs are familiar, but Washington avoids treating them like historical exhibits.
He understands them from both a singer’s and a musician’s perspective. He adjusts the phrasing, alters the emotional emphasis and allows the arrangements to breathe around his voice. The melodies remain recognisable, but the performances belong unmistakably to him.
There is no unnecessary vocal exhibitionism. Washington’s strength lies in restraint: the weight of a low note, the subtle delay before a phrase or the quiet emphasis placed upon a particular word.
The instrumental arrangements are equally tasteful. Piano, bass and drums create an elegant foundation, while tenor saxophone, trumpet, flugelhorn, harmonica and violin supply changing colours without overwhelming the singer.
THE MUSICIANS
• Ingram Washington — vocals
• Cajan Witmer — piano
• Peter Bjornild — double bass
• Marcel van Engelen — drums
• Olaf Hoeks — tenor saxophone
• Mike Booth — trumpet and flugelhorn
• Hermine Deurloo — harmonica
• Arjen de Graaf — violin
THE MUSIC
1. What a Difference a Day Makes
María Grever’s famous melody, with English lyrics by Stanley Adams, opens the programme. Washington avoids copying Dinah Washington’s definitive interpretation and instead transforms the song into a calm, mature reflection on how suddenly life and love can change.
2. Come Rain or Come Shine
The Harold Arlen and Johnny Mercer standard is perfectly suited to Washington’s deliberate phrasing. Loyalty, uncertainty and romantic commitment emerge without exaggeration.
3. My Funny Valentine
One of the album’s emotional centres. Rodgers and Hart’s haunting ballad receives an intimate, gently vulnerable reading. Washington’s low register gives the familiar words unusual gravity.
4. Smile
Charlie Chaplin’s melody becomes a quiet message of resilience. The performance is tender rather than sentimental, balancing melancholy with reassurance.
5. I Thought About You
Jimmy Van Heusen and Johnny Mercer’s travelling meditation allows Washington to demonstrate his understanding of lyrical storytelling. The vocal line moves naturally, like a private thought spoken aloud.
6. Hey There
Richard Adler and Jerry Ross’s song introduces a slightly lighter theatrical character while retaining the album’s elegant, late-night atmosphere.
7. Unforgettable
Washington approaches the Nat King Cole classic with considerable respect. His deep, warm tone is naturally suited to the song, yet the interpretation retains his own personality and avoids becoming an impersonation.
8. Autumn Leaves
The evergreen Joseph Kosma melody offers space for reflective phrasing and autumnal instrumental colour. Washington makes its sense of memory and loss feel personal.
9. Laughing at Life
A less frequently encountered selection and one of the album’s welcome discoveries. Its optimistic message brings rhythmic lift and contrast to the programme.
10. Always on My Mind
Best known through country, pop and soul interpretations, the song is recast here as a mature jazz ballad. Washington uncovers the regret beneath its apparently simple melody.
11. What a Wonderful World
The programme closes with warmth and dignity. Instead of attempting to reproduce Louis Armstrong’s iconic performance, Washington relies upon the natural authority of his own baritone.
THE ANALOGUE RECORDING
The STS Analog reel-tape edition is designed to bring the listener as close as practicable to the master source.
The tape is copied from a Philips EL3501 master recorder to a bank of six Philips N4522 recorders. Duplication is performed in the analogue domain at 15 IPS without Dolby noise reduction.
STS deliberately retains the natural characteristics of analogue recording rather than applying aggressive processing that could reduce ambience, harmonics or musical vitality.
Listen for:
• The weight and texture of Washington’s baritone
• Natural breath and vocal articulation
• The body and decay of the piano
• Precise double-bass pitch and resonance
• Cymbal texture without artificial brightness
• Clearly located instrumental positions
• A wide, stable stereo image
• The quiet ambience surrounding the performers
The tape’s attraction is not clinical sterility. It is the sense of physical presence, tonal richness and human scale- the impression of a singer and musicians performing within a believable acoustic space.
REEL-TAPE SPECIFICATIONS
• Catalogue: STS Analog T611179
• First-generation analogue tape copy
• Source: original analogue master tape
• ¼-inch, half-track stereo
• Speed: 15 IPS / 38 cm/s
• Equalisation: IEC/CCIR
• Reference level: 320 nWb/m
• Tape: Recording The Masters LPR35
• No Dolby noise reduction
• One 10.5-inch metal reel
• Individually numbered edition
• Certificate of authenticity and quality-control documentation
• Analogue production originating in the Netherland
• Metal reel manufactured in Germany
REVIEWS AND LISTENER FEEDBACK
The album has earned an average rating of approximately 4.7/5 from more than 80 ratings on OpenReelToReel Hub - a substantial indication of its lasting appeal.
Hans Frijling, presenter of the Amsterdam radio programme Jazzcorner, described it as ideal for listeners who appreciate sophisticated swing and romantic ballads.
American music historian Charlie Horner praised Washington’s ability to approach the songs from a musician’s perspective, concluding that although the words and melodies are familiar, the performances become completely Ingram’s own.
Audiophile reviewer Jimmy Auw also recommended the album for its superb recording quality and Washington’s commanding baritone voice.
Across these reactions, three qualities appear repeatedly:
• Washington’s exceptionally smooth, dark vocal tone
• The tasteful and individual treatment of familiar standards
• The clarity, spatial definition and natural timbre of the recording
EDITORIAL VERDICT
What a Difference a Day Makes is not merely an audiophile demonstration recording. It is first and foremost a beautifully judged vocal-jazz album.
The technical quality allows us to hear Washington’s voice with remarkable texture and presence, but the recording remains compelling because of his musicianship. He understands when to linger, when to withdraw and when a familiar lyric needs nothing more than honesty and a beautifully placed note.
This is music for late evenings, quiet rooms and uninterrupted listening. It invites the listener to slow down and rediscover songs that may have become too familiar through repetition.
For admirers of Arthur Prysock, Billy Eckstine, Nat King Cole and classic male jazz vocals, it is an essential discovery. For reel-to-reel enthusiasts, the STS edition offers a deeply satisfying combination of musical substance, analogue craftsmanship and reference-quality vocal reproduction.
⭐ MUSIC: 9.5/10
🎙️ VOCAL PERFORMANCE: 10/10
🎼 ARRANGEMENTS: 9.5/10
📼 ANALOGUE SOUND: 10/10
🏆 COLLECTOR APPEAL: EXCEPTIONAL
A velvet voice. Timeless songs. Pure analogue warmth.
Which song would you play first - “My Funny Valentine,” “Unforgettable” or “What a Wonderful World”?
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