Conclusion

Rudy Van Gelder passed away on August 25, 2016. His legacy is that of a pioneering recording engineer and studio builder who touched the lives of millions of jazz fans all over the world. His passionate approach to his work won the favor of numerous musicians, producers, and audio professionals early on, and it stayed that way for the remainder of a long career that spanned six decades. He created “the Van Gelder Sound”, a widely celebrated, distinct sonic fingerprint that has encouraged critics and fans alike to place him in the category of an artist. The meticulous care he gave to every phase of the recording process, from greeting the musicians to sending masters to the pressing plant, coupled with the superhuman volume of his output, indeed places Rudy Van Gelder in a class all his own.