" data-original-title="" title="">Rudy Van Gelder (a.k.a. RVG) was one of the most influential recording engineers in jazz. Largely self-taught, he was a true industry pioneer as one of the first well-known examples of an engineer operating a home recording studio and even constructing his own custom-built audio mixer in the early years. As an innovator and perfectionist, he was always looking to improve the sound of his recordings, not just as a technician but as an artist with his techniques. Yet, he was a bit eccentric and secretive about his recording methods.

An optometrist by profession, Van Gelder began his recording career (part-time) in the living room of his parents' Hackensack, New Jersey home. He later left his practice to focus on recording full-time and eventually built a custom studio in nearby Englewood Cliffs that is still in use today. The design of which was inspired by Columbia Records' 30th Street Studio in New York City, a.k.a. "The Church," where Kind of Blue and Time Out were recorded. He recorded thousands of sessions with musicians including