Gabor Szabo – The Sorcerer

My copy sounds fantastic. I’d read all the negative reviews but took a chance anyway - and I’m so glad I did!

As with too many Third Man issues, a decent re-mastering effort, but a terrible pressing job. Noisy from start to finish, even after several rounds of vacuum and ultrasonic cleaning.

Vastly enjoyable. Great music, masterful playing throughout. Thoroughly enjoyed this release.

This does not sound good. Just go run an a/b with the version on Spotify. This is veiled, murky, muddy and just sounds sloppy.

I must’ve lucked out; snagged this pressing, changed the inner to a rice paper one, gave it a quick brush before playing and it is stupid quiet. is it as audiophile as an AP/AS/TP? no. is it a lovely live recording and we should be happy that we finally have an in-print legitimate reissue? yes.

" the new lacquers for The Sorcerer were cut from digital sources, as confirmed directly by our s at UMe. "

https://www.analogplanet.com/content/review-explosion-short-cuts-edition-vol-4-trio-eclectic-180g-1lp-reissue-jazz-offerings

Super dirty. Even after wet clean the stylus was dirty as hell after playing one side, but the pop and crackle was almost gone after one play. I love the music and after it got clean it sounded rather good. I will recommend to buy it, but as I said, it need to get cleaned and played before it get's better.

Sort of hot and cold on this release. The music is fantastic but the pressing is not great as mine is super noisy. Not sure if I will be grabbing any additional titles from this series.

What a wonderful sounding album absolutely quite and with a huge sound stage. Must be cleaned due a an unfortunate paper sleeve.

In cheapest available price 35 EUR is about 39 Dollars. One would expect high quality pressing at this price range. Optical very disappointing pressing quality. Abrasion marks all over, I returned my copy without listening, because these days flawless pressing quality is possible as e.g. current Blue Note pressings show. This one is disappointing!