Jerome Sabbagh's Analog Tone Factory Label Produces and Releases First "Non-Jerome" Record

Saxophonist Chris Cheeks' "Keepers of the Eastern Door" gets full, ATF live to 2 track analog treatment

Like Sabbagh's award winning Heart, Keepers of the Eastern Door was recorded live to 2-track 1/2 inch tape at 30 ips by James Farber at Power Station C, to the label's custom Ampex 351, and mastered and cut all analog by Bernie Grundman. Like Vintage and Heart, this one is being pressed at Gotta Groove on 180g vinyl.

In an email, Sabbagh told me he's been experimenting with 140g vs 180g and 1-step versus "regular" 3-step pressings. He prefers 180g to 140g and he's "very enthusiastic" about the 1-step process.

He wrote:

"To me the regular 180g pressing sounds great … and the 180g 1-step sounds quite a bit better still: more immediate, more palpable, more real sounding. You can hear detail and articulation better, but not in a hyped or unnatural way. It’s just one noticeable step closer to the sound of the actual master tape. It’s just a more engaging experience in every way. No downside that I can hear".

However, the label will issue both versions: same mastering, same everything other than 1-step vs. "regular". There will be a limited 1-step run of 500 to 1000 copies depending on demand costing $75 ($70 if you pre-order) as well as the standard 180g record for $40 ($35 if you preorder. You can pre-order now on the Analog Tone Factory website

I'll check out the test pressings of both versions ASAP and report back!

Comments

2025-03-31 09:48:51 PM

Come on wrote:

I ordered the 1step and want to support another label going the mile to optimize its products! I just heard the two singles over Spotify and I'm excited to see how much better it can get (it should and for sure it will).

Generally speaking (for most labels) I just wished, the effort would go into the recording and mic’ing technique to a higher degree than into formats and manufacturing processes. Labels like (to name a few) Chesky or Stockfish, Opus 3, UNAMAS, Just Listen Records and few others have a fascinating and unmatched 3D enveloping palpability on quite any recording, no matter if CD format or standard LP. Others like the PSAudio label make use of the highest quality formats and gear in a marketing affine way, but in my perception just learn how to record and not rarely produce artificially audiophile and deliberately gimmicky sounding products. Again others just put natural but mediocre sounding recordings on highest end formats, which may be audible in this case but is of little use if the recording quality does not provide the right starting level.

Just my opinion as always - I just want to vote for recording skill! Do we nowadays know as many highly skilled recording engineers as we know mastering engineers or even record pressing technicians, not to speak of our dubious half-knowledge of the most sophisticated formats and production techniques?
- 2025-03-31 11:43:31 PM
  
  Mats Gunnars wrote:
  
  Agree with your assessment on recording techniques. My quick listen on Tidal revealed a very hard right / left stage, with Frisell firmly locked in my left speaker. If I had this record, I would definitely use a mono cartridge.
2025-04-01 12:09:23 AM

Spin The Black Circle wrote:

I just listened to the two songs that are on tidal, and they have the hard right and left mix. I really don’t like recordings like that. It just doesn’t sound natural. It’s why I can’t listen to early Beatles “stereo” mixes.
2025-04-01 12:17:00 AM

Jerome Sabbagh wrote:

@Come on: I totally agree about putting effort into the recording. Please rest assured that's what we try to do! James Farber is one of the best engineers in the business, and Power Station is one of the best studios in the world. Most of the sound comes from the recording process indeed, and is the sound of these musicians playing together in that room. That said, I bet the AAA vinyl is going to sound a lot better to you than Spotify :)

@Matt: I'm sorry you don't like the pan in what you heard, but this is what we liked the best for this record. It's also in the tradition of the great jazz records of the 50s and 60s, recordings by Rudy Van Gelder (Blue Note, Prestige), Roy DuNann (Contemporary), Fred Plaut (Columbia) and others. More importantly, to us, it makes the music clearer, and highlights the interaction between the performers. We really like how it sounds, this was a very conscious choice on our part.

Jerome Sabbagh
- 2025-04-01 09:44:18 AM
  
  Come on wrote:
  
  Thanks Jerome! Yes, the AAA 1step will definitely be better than an 128kbps MP3 Spotify playback (or whatever they use cost free)! I’m looking forward to the LP!
  
  To calm down the soundstage debate for others: I understand the esthetic to have instruments clearly assignable in their interplay, just as it would be on a stage. At least in the (perfect sounding) small jazz club I most frequently visit, placement is exactly like that. Jazz club stages are often not that deep to place the drum set in the middle like in a Rock concert. In a jazz club there’s often just room for a bass behind the singer or soloist. To place a loud drum set a bit further away from a guitar or piano might be another reason from a musicians’ point of view.
  
  Furthermore in a Hifi setup with speakers pulled into the room, on this recording guitar and drums are left/right slightly behind the speakers, not directly in the speakers and they fill the room further to the back. Together with the bass and sax filling large parts of the mid area, there’s a coherent soundstage, extremely similar to the one Kevin Gray uses for his all tube recordings in Hackensack West, following the same esthetics.
  
  These products are art guys…not just the music, also the rest . At least when people are so dedicated with all steps of the process. Try to receive and understand what was meant to be, just as you do in an visual arts exhibition, where you might prefer different colors than the artist used (but don’t expect him to change that for you) ;-)
- 2025-04-01 01:17:51 PM
  
  Mats Gunnars wrote:
  
  You obviously cared deeply about this project, Jerome, and for that you deserve much praise. And Power Station C looks like a very beautiful space. As for Rudy’s technique, I thought his intention was to create a mono final product. Those seem to be preferred by jazz listeners. My best to you in your ongoing pursuits, / Mats
2025-04-01 12:28:39 AM

Jerome Sabbagh wrote:

Also, just for the record, sax and bass are exactly in the middle :)
- 2025-04-01 02:36:22 AM
  
  Spin The Black Circle wrote:
  
  The drums should be in the middle. Sounds weird with them all the way to the right
  - 2025-04-01 02:38:50 AM
    
    Jerome Sabbagh wrote:
    
    Not to me :)
- 2025-04-01 12:23:21 PM
  
  JackG wrote:
  
  So a different panning for vinyl? ;) Sounds great on Qobuz, Jerome, you keep doing your thing...
2025-04-01 04:43:54 PM

tony a wrote:

Oooh that track sounds good..... Thanks Jerome ! Wallet now opening.................
2025-04-01 11:36:01 PM

Preetam wrote:

Greetings from Canada! I really wanted to pre-order a regular version from the website mentioned in this article; but shipping is 80% of the price of the record! I’ll wait till it becomes available here in due course. By the way, I streamed the two singles an and left/right notwithstanding, sounded simply wonderful. Keep up your very good work folks.