This saxophonist brings traditional jazz into modern analog technology with vibrancy.
Jerome Sabbagh – Stand Up! – Analog Tone Factory – 180-gram stereo vinyl, 39:43. ****1/2:
(Jerome Sabbagh – tenor saxophone; Ben Monder – guitar; Joe Martin – bass; Nasheet Waits – drums)
Saxophonist/composer Jerome Sabbagh switched up jazz narratives. Born and raised in France, he emigrated to the United States to establish jazz credentials. As a bandleader, he has recorded with a trio and quartet. Additionally, he has performed with Bill Stewart, Eliot Zigmund, Reggie Workman, Andrew Cyrille, Victor Lewis, Johnathan Blake and a host of others. Sabbagh has embraced a wide variety of jazz styles, and has been influenced by the likes of Sonny Rollins, Stan Getz, Dexter Gordon, Joe Henderson, Miles Davis and John Coltrane. With pianist/engineer Pete Rende, he has joined the vinyl renaissance with his own label, Analog Tone Factory, supervising the technical details of the recording production. The records are engineered for AAA 180-gram vinyl, R2R (quarter-inch 15 ops IEC/CCIR), and are also available in digital formats.
Sabbagh’s latest release, Stand Up! Is an eclectic quartet collection of original compositions (with individual dedications), with a familiar lineup, including Ben Monder (guitar), Joe Martin (bass) and Nasheet Waits (drums). Side A opens with the slow, bluesy “Lone Jack”. With measured intensity, Sabbagh’s mellifluous tenor is evocative, and Monder’s slightly distorted guitar reverberates. Watts’ hi-hat drums fit perfectly. “Michelle’s Song” is also low-keyed, but with a gentle tempo uptick. Martin contributes a tasteful extended solo, and Sabbagh is luminous. “Lunar Cycle” moves the quartet in a more expressive free-form direction with Monder gliding through complicated notation and chording. Waits’ solo is magnetic. The ensemble has a fluid approach to all of the arrangements. Sabbagh interacts with the rhtyhm section seamlessly as the ensemble embraces different motifs. A certain highlight is“The Break Song” which features a soulful delivery and accessible musical chemistry.
This musical journey adopts Latin-infused resonance on “High Falls” with Monder executing nimble, precise runs. Sabbagh re-engages with flowing lines and tonal control. In a definitive change-of-pace, “Mosh Pit” explores avant-garde stylings with dissonance and furious rhythm by Waits. Sabbagh has an innate feel for melodic nuance. Both “Vanguard” and “Unbowed” unfold with atmospheric mood shading that distill sentiment.
Stand Up! Is a welcome addition to the present jazz landscape. The sound mix is vibrant with excellent stereo separation. Bernie Grundman’s vinyl mastering is excellent. Analog Tone Factory has made an auspicious contribution to modern analog jazz recording.
Highly recommended!
—Robbie Gerson
Jerome Sabbagh – Stand Up
Side A:
Lone Jack (for Ray Charles and Pete Rende);
Michelle’s Song (For Michelle Egan);
Lunar Cycle (For Sam Rivers);
The Break Song (For Stevie Wonder)
Side B:
High Falls (For Meaghan Glennan);
Mosh Pit (For Trent Reznor);
Vanguard (For Paul Motian);
Unbowed (For Kenny Barron).
