Van Gelder Studio

Van Gelder Studio is a recording studio in Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey, located on Sylvan Avenue. The tall main hall houses recording rooms with special wall coverings and technical installations that control room acoustics and reverb.

Rudy Van Gelder, an optometrist from New Jersey, set up the studio in 1959 in a purpose-built building and moved it from his parents' home in Hackensack. Over three decades, he recorded many jazz records there for labels like Blue Note and Prestige.

The studio bears the name of the sound engineer who worked with artists like Sonny Rollins and Herbie Hancock, developing new recording techniques. Jazz fans visit the street to see the place where albums were created that are now heard worldwide.

The building stands on a residential street away from main routes and looks modest from the outside. Visitors can view the exterior facade from the sidewalk, but should note that it is a private property without public tours.

In 2022, the National Register of Historic Places added the location to its list of historical sites, honoring its contribution to audio engineering and performing arts. The recognition highlights the technical innovation and musical influence that came from a single engineer and his workspace.