Vintage
Jerome Sabbagh, Kenny Barron, Joe Martin & Johnathan Blake
Compact Disc
Stereophile Recording of the Month for February 2024
The analog to digital transfer for our Compact Discs is made from the master tape by Bernie Grundman on a JCF Latte converter, directly at 44.1/24. This method requires a dedicated pass from the tape, in real time. It eschews downsampling and we think it sounds better. The dithering from 24 bits to 16 bits is done through a Lavry 3000S. We also prefer using this older but great sounding external processor to software solutions.
Tracks:
1. Vintage (Jerome Sabbagh) 5:22
2. On A Misty Night (Tadd Dameron) 7:26
3. A Flower Is A Lovesome Thing (Billy Strayhorn) 5:40
4. Elson’s Energy (Jerome Sabbagh) 4:39
5. Slay The Giant (Jerome Sabbagh) 5:29
6. We See (Thelonious Monk) 5:14
7. Ask Me Now (Thelonious Monk) 7:04
Total Time 41:26
Jerome Sabbagh (tenor saxophone), Kenny Barron (piano), Joe Martin (bass),
Johnathan Blake (drums)
About Vintage
With the empathetic support of NEA jazz master pianist Kenny Barron, saxophonist Jerome Sabbagh alternates between original compositions and standards for this quartet outing featuring the stellar rhythm section of Joe Martin and Johnathan Blake. The album’s three saxophone piano duets highlight the connection between the veteran pianist and the younger saxophonist.
Album Reviews
“With Vintage, Sabbagh is le son. The beauty, breadth and clarity of his tone is just stunning […] This is an important album by four masters of this American art form.”
- Keith Hoffman, The New York City Jazz Record
“Demo quality AAA sound and equally great music with Kenny Barron, Johnathan Blake and Joe Martin backing Sabbagh's lovely saxophone. Would be at home amongst your 'Tone Poet' collection.”
- Michael Fremer, Tracking Angle (Music = 10, Sound = 11)
“Jerome Sabbagh’s Vintage was one of the best jazz albums of 2023.”
- Jeff Wilson, The Absolute Sound
“This is a superb quartet. Each player brings an equal amount to the table, a daunting task for all involved when playing with someone like Kenny Barron, who was Stan Getz’s pianist for many years. […] The recording is from Audiophile Demo Land. Warm, detailed, great bass from Barron’s left hand, plucky string bass and splashy-as-hell cymbals all with a focused Van Gelder-style recording. No higher praise from me.”
- Anthony Kershaw, Audiophilia (Audiophilia Dream List)
“This is an album with serious audiophile cred. […] But in contrast to most new audiophile LPs—I'm intentionally excluding audiophile reissues of classic records—this one features frontline musicians.”
- Jim Austin, Stereophile (Recording of the month, Performance ****, Sonics ****½)
“Interactive and playful on the quartet songs, and with adventurous playing from Sabbagh and Barron both, on the duets “We See” and “Ask Me Now” (Monk), this is an exquisitely balanced record.”
- Sylvain Siclier, Le Monde
“Less is more … This is an album that invigorates the jazz tradition, without forcing things, but without mothballs either. A real jazz record.”
- Jazz News
“Jerome brings sensitivity and intelligence to his playing and composing, and with Barron, Vintage has enormous maturity and grace. Spring for the vinyl if you can. Jerome is an audiophile, and meticulously oversaw the mastering and production.”
- Marc Myers, Jazzwax
Vintage Recording Session
Production Credits
Recorded by Ryan Streber at Oktaven Audio, Mount Vernon, to multitrack analog tape on a Studer A800 MKIII at 30 ips (November 5, 2020)
Mixed by Pete Rende at Brooklyn Recording, Brooklyn, on a custom 1/2 inch tube Ampex 351 at 30 ips (November 13-14, 2022)
Assistant Mixing Engineers: Andy Taub, Samuel Wahl
Mastered by Bernie Grundman at Bernie Grundman Mastering, Hollywood
Master lacquer cut by Bernie Grundman directly from the analog tape, using an all-tube system
Produced by Jerome Sabbagh
Executive Producer for the vinyl edition: darTZeel
Graphic design: Element-S, Jérôme Witz
Photos by Berenice Abbott
Band Photo by Ryan Streber
Personal Credits
It’s a privilege to play music with Kenny Barron, Joe Martin, and Johnathan Blake. Thank you for making this dream come true!
Thanks to Pete Rende, Ryan Streber, Andy Taub, James Farber, Bernie Grundman, Joe Harley, Shane Buettner, John Devore, Elan Mehler, François Saint-Gérand, Baptiste Pataud, Dave Dintenfass, John Chester, Steve Berger, Ki Choi, Steve Puntolillo, Steve Dobbins, François Zalacain, Bret Sjerven, Laurent Coq, Philippe Chagne, Daniel Sabbagh, Clovis Nicolas, Daniel Yvinec, and David Smith.
Special thanks to Hervé Delétraz, Ana Mighty Sound, Peter Watrous, Joel F., Frank McAllister, and Andrew Morgan for their support.
This album is dedicated to Meaghan Glennan, who dreamt of it on a summer night in Croatia.
Jerome Sabbagh is a D’Addario Woodwinds artist and is also endorsed by Audeze.
Vintage
Jerome Sabbagh, Kenny Barron, Joe Martin & Johnathan Blake
Compact Disc
Stereophile Recording of the Month for February 2024
The analog to digital transfer for our Compact Discs is made from the master tape by Bernie Grundman on a JCF Latte converter, directly at 44.1/24. This method requires a dedicated pass from the tape, in real time. It eschews downsampling and we think it sounds better. The dithering from 24 bits to 16 bits is done through a Lavry 3000S. We also prefer using this older but great sounding external processor to software solutions.
Track Listing:
1. Vintage (Jerome Sabbagh) 5:22
2. On A Misty Night (Tadd Dameron) 7:26
3. A Flower Is A Lovesome Thing (Billy Strayhorn) 5:40
4. Elson’s Energy (Jerome Sabbagh) 4:39
5. Slay The Giant (Jerome Sabbagh) 5:29
6. We See (Thelonious Monk) 5:14
7. Ask Me Now (Thelonious Monk) 7:04
Total Time 41:26
Jerome Sabbagh (tenor saxophone), Kenny Barron (piano), Joe Martin (bass),
Johnathan Blake (drums)
About Vintage
With the empathetic support of NEA jazz master pianist Kenny Barron, saxophonist Jerome Sabbagh alternates between original compositions and standards for this quartet outing featuring the stellar rhythm section of Joe Martin and Johnathan Blake. The album’s three saxophone piano duets highlight the connection between the veteran pianist and the younger saxophonist.
Album Reviews
“With Vintage, Sabbagh is le son. The beauty, breadth and clarity of his tone is just stunning […] This is an important album by four masters of this American art form.”
- Keith Hoffman, The New York City Jazz Record
“Demo quality AAA sound and equally great music with Kenny Barron, Johnathan Blake and Joe Martin backing Sabbagh's lovely saxophone. Would be at home amongst your 'Tone Poet' collection.”
- Michael Fremer, Tracking Angle (Music = 10, Sound = 11)
“Jerome Sabbagh’s Vintage was one of the best jazz albums of 2023.”
- Jeff Wilson, The Absolute Sound
“This is a superb quartet. Each player brings an equal amount to the table, a daunting task for all involved when playing with someone like Kenny Barron, who was Stan Getz’s pianist for many years. […] The recording is from Audiophile Demo Land. Warm, detailed, great bass from Barron’s left hand, plucky string bass and splashy-as-hell cymbals all with a focused Van Gelder-style recording. No higher praise from me.”
- Anthony Kershaw, Audiophilia (Audiophilia Dream List)
“This is an album with serious audiophile cred. […] But in contrast to most new audiophile LPs—I'm intentionally excluding audiophile reissues of classic records—this one features frontline musicians.”
- Jim Austin, Stereophile (Recording of the month, Performance ****, Sonics ****½)
“Interactive and playful on the quartet songs, and with adventurous playing from Sabbagh and Barron both, on the duets “We See” and “Ask Me Now” (Monk), this is an exquisitely balanced record.”
- Sylvain Siclier, Le Monde
“Less is more … This is an album that invigorates the jazz tradition, without forcing things, but without mothballs either. A real jazz record.”
- Jazz News
“Jerome brings sensitivity and intelligence to his playing and composing, and with Barron, Vintage has enormous maturity and grace. Spring for the vinyl if you can. Jerome is an audiophile, and meticulously oversaw the mastering and production.”
- Marc Myers, Jazzwax
Production Credits
Recorded by Ryan Streber at Oktaven Audio, Mount Vernon, to multitrack analog tape on a Studer A800 MKIII at 30 ips (November 5, 2020)
Mixed by Pete Rende at Brooklyn Recording, Brooklyn, on a custom 1/2 inch tube Ampex 351 at 30 ips (November 13-14, 2022)
Assistant Mixing Engineers: Andy Taub, Samuel Wahl
Mastered by Bernie Grundman at Bernie Grundman Mastering, Hollywood
Master lacquer cut by Bernie Grundman directly from the analog tape, using an all-tube system
Produced by Jerome Sabbagh
Executive Producer for the vinyl edition: darTZeel
Graphic design: Element-S, Jérôme Witz
Photos by Berenice Abbott
Band Photo by Ryan Streber
Personal Credits
It’s a privilege to play music with Kenny Barron, Joe Martin, and Johnathan Blake. Thank you for making this dream come true!
Thanks to Pete Rende, Ryan Streber, Andy Taub, James Farber, Bernie Grundman, Joe Harley, Shane Buettner, John Devore, Elan Mehler, François Saint-Gérand, Baptiste Pataud, Dave Dintenfass, John Chester, Steve Berger, Ki Choi, Steve Puntolillo, Steve Dobbins, François Zalacain, Bret Sjerven, Laurent Coq, Philippe Chagne, Daniel Sabbagh, Clovis Nicolas, Daniel Yvinec, and David Smith.
Special thanks to Hervé Delétraz, Ana Mighty Sound, Peter Watrous, Joel F., Frank McAllister, and Andrew Morgan for their support.
This album is dedicated to Meaghan Glennan, who dreamt of it on a summer night in Croatia.
Jerome Sabbagh is a D’Addario Woodwinds artist and is also endorsed by Audeze.
