Chris Cheek Keepers Of The Eastern Door One-Step

As European settlers moved west from the Atlantic coast of North America, the Mohawk became known as the "Keepers of the Eastern Gate" for their role as guardians against the invasion of the invading colonizers. Acclaimed saxophonist and composer Chris Cheek drew great inspiration from "The Kutenai Duck Hunter", the image by photographer and ethnologist Edward Curtis that adorns the cover of his stunning new album "Keepers Of The Eastern Door": On his label "Analog Tone Factory" he presents a remarkable all-star formation that includes uber-guitarist Bill Frisell, bassist Tony Scherr and drummer Rudy Royston. The quartet play a wide-ranging but harmonious repertoire that includes captivating originals and cover versions from The Beatles to Henry Purcell, from Olivier Messiaen to Henry Mancini.
The four musicians met at New York's famous Power Station Studio in November 2024 to set to music the dichotomy between modernism and tradition that inspired the recording: an essentially live recording where the band recorded together in a room on tape – the core philosophy of Analog Tone Factory. Cheek, one of the best saxophonists of his generation, is a great fit for Frisell. Both are melodically focused players and virtuosos who never feel the need to flaunt their valued skills. Her direct expression and ability to elicit vivid emotions from any material come into their own brilliantly, creating a coherent sound, even as Purcell's 17th-century art song "Lost Is My Quiet" transitions into the Beatles' 60s pop "From Me To You." They are skilfully supported by the sensitivity, tact and unerring instinct of Scherr and Royston. Cheek's three original compositions for the album fit seamlessly into these masterful classics.
For ultimate fidelity, the LP, pressed by GottaGroove on 180 gram vinyl, was recorded live on a 1/2-inch tape with 30 inches per second (ips) on a custom-made Ampex 351 tube tape recorder by famed sound engineer James Farber. Mastering was done in the analog area by the legendary Bernie Grundman. Analog Tone Factory is a young label that records exclusively on analogue tape. It was founded by saxophonist Jerome Sabbagh and pianist and sound engineer Pete Rende. All ATF releases are available on vinyl, tape, CD and digital formats. The vinyl releases include a download card for an uncompressed download in high resolution (192 kHz/24 bit).
"Recorded live to 1/2-inch 2-track analog tape on a custom tube Ampex 351 deck at 30 ips, Keepers of the Eastern Door is the most sumptuous-sounding and crystal-clear album that has crossed my desk this year. ... A former member of Paul Motian's Electric Bebop Band and Charlie Haden's Liberation Orchesta, tenor saxophonist Chris Cheek brings a refined touch and jazzy sensibility to the Beatles, baroque composter Henry Purcell, 20th-century French composer Oliver Messiaen, and a couple of familiar jazz standards in this varied program." — Music = 4.5/5; Sound = 4.5/5 — Bill Milkowski, The Absolute Sound
"With Keepers of the Eastern Door, Cheek and his collaborators, exemplars of sensitive listening and responsive playing, have given us a recording that prioritizes restraint, offering the satisfactions of notes carefully chosen and phrases carefully crafted." — All About Jazz
"Poised between chill out and spine-chilling, this album is a late-night delight." — The Times (London)

Features:

• 180g Vinyl LP
• One-Step Pressing 
• Numbered, Limited Edition - Only 500 Copies
• Recorded Live in the Studio Direct to Analog Tape
• Pressed at Gotta Groove Records
• Includes Album Download

• Chris Cheek, tenor saxophone, soprano saxophone
• Bill Frisell, guitar
• Tony Scherr, double bass
• Rudy Royston, drums

Selections:

Side A
1. Kino's Canoe (Chris Cheek)
2. Smoke Rings (Ned Washington & H.Eugene Gifford)
3. O Sacrum Convivium! (Olivier Messiaen)
4. On A Clear Day (Burton Lane & Alan Jay Lerner)
Side B
1. Lost Is My Quiet (Henry Purcell)
2. From Me To You (John Lennon & Paul McCartney)
3. Keepers Of The Eastern Door (Chris Cheek)
4. Go On, Dear (Chris Cheek)