Vintage

Jerome Sabbagh, Kenny Barron, Joe Martin & Johnathan Blake

AAA 180g Vinyl

• Winner of the 2024 ARYA Award for Audiophile Recording of the Year

• Stereophile Recording of the Month for February 2024

The Standard Edition feature AAA 180g Vinyl, cut by Bernie Grundman and pressed at Gotta Groove. Including a high resolution digital download at 192/24.

[Side A]
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

[Side B]
1. Elson’s Energy (Jerome Sabbagh) 4:39
2. Slay The Giant (Jerome Sabbagh) 5:29
3. We See (Thelonious Monk) 5:14
4. 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.

“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