Chris Cheek – Keepers of the Eastern Door. Analog Tone Factory (2025) Review
LINK TO FULL VIDEO
In 2025, news of any label recording fully all-analog, direct-to-tape is reason enough to take notice. Following in the footsteps of recent efforts from Kevin Gray’s Cohearent Recordings and Italy’s Bird Box Records, a new name has entered the scene: Analog Tone Factory.
Founded by Jérôme Sabbagh, Analog Tone Factory is dedicated to capturing music the old-school way—live in the studio, direct to half-inch tape, no overdubs, no digital middleman. Their third release, Chris Cheek’s Keepers of the Eastern Door, is a showcase not only for this philosophy but for a deeply moving and beautifully recorded set of contemporary jazz.
My Perspective
I’m not a jazz musician or even a seasoned jazz expert. My journey has largely been through reissues of the greats from the 1950s and 60s. Contemporary jazz was unfamiliar territory for me—especially combined with an audiophile recording approach, which too often in the past has produced technically impressive but musically sterile results.
That’s not the case here.
The Musicians
This session is led by saxophonist Chris Cheek and features an outstanding lineup:
Bill Frisell – guitar
Tony Scherr – bass
Rudy Royston – drums
The result is a subtle, graceful, and deeply contemplative set of music—one that took a couple of listens to fully reveal its beauty to me, but has since lingered in my mind and on my turntable.
The Music
The album includes eight compositions:
Three originals by Chris Cheek
Two classical adaptations (Messiaen and Pécsel)
A Broadway standard ("On a Clear Day")
A lovely Beatles cover (“From Me to You”)
The playing is melodic, warm, and emotionally resonant—nothing avant-garde or difficult here, but also not lightweight. Every note, particularly from Cheek’s sax and Frisell’s guitar, is delivered with taste, sensitivity, and space to breathe.
The standouts for me include:
“Kino’s Canoe” – a strong opener
“Lost in My Quiet” – a gorgeous reworking of classical material
“From Me to You” – a surprising and heartfelt take on the Beatles classic
The Recording & Sound
Recorded: Power Station NYC, live to half-inch analog tape (30 IPS)
Engineer: James Farber
Mastered by: Bernie Grundman, direct from tape
This is a truly AAA recording—an increasing rarity in 2025.
The sound is lush, warm, and organic. The mix has depth and a touch of vintage character, though it’s a bit more polished than classic Blue Note or Verve recordings. The sax is front and center; the rest of the band floats beautifully around it. I did find that the music came to life more when the volume was turned up—at lower levels, it felt slightly recessed. But when dialed in, the presentation is engaging and emotionally rich.
The Pressing & Packaging
The One-Step edition I reviewed is pressed by Gotta Groove Records—a plant I had limited experience with but who delivered a quiet, clean, and excellent pressing here. The use of standard black vinyl and simple but elegant packaging (with historic Edward Curtis photography) reflects the label’s minimalist philosophy: focus on the music, not material excess.
The One-Step retails at $70, with a standard edition available at $40. There’s also a CD and streaming options.
Final Thoughts
This is not only a high-quality all-analog recording but also a genuinely beautiful album of contemporary jazz—something that often feels rare in today’s audiophile market. The music is soulful, melodic, and rewarding. The sound is warm and immersive. And the philosophy behind Analog Tone Factory—simplicity, integrity, and respect for the music—shines through in every detail.
I can easily recommend Chris Cheek’s Keepers of the Eastern Door to:
Jazz newcomers
Audiophiles seeking fresh, fully analog material
Listeners looking for contemplative, emotionally rich instrumental music
For those curious, it’s also worth checking out on streaming services before deciding on a physical copy.
