A showcase for Chesky Records' groundbreaking binaural 3-D recording technique, Sessions From The 17th Ward was the first of two albums the award-winning singer, songwriter, and actor Amber Rubarth recorded for the revered New York audiophile label. Noted for her plaintive voice and storytelling lyrics, the California-born singer/guitarist is beautifully accompanied by cellist Dave Eggar, fiddler Tim Snider, and percussionist Chuck Palmer.

Rubarth serves up fourteen mesmerizing tracks, ranging from indelible original songs ('Novocaine' and 'Washing Day') to jazz standards ('A Kiss To Build A Dream On'), folk-rock evergreens (Bob Dylan's 'Just Like A Woman' and Tom Waits' 'Hold On'), Americana touchstones (the Carter Family's 'Storms Are On The Ocean') and atmospheric instrumentals ('Tundra').

The album is reissued on SACD Hybrid Stereo and 180g One Step Pressing Vinyl LP in 2025 as part of the "Chesky Original Masters" series.