Essential album from Hungarian jazz guitarist Gabor Szabo The Sorcerer was originally recorded in 1967 at Boston's Jazz Workshop. It documents some of the excitement Szabo's group stirred in 1967 and 1968. His quartet featured Jimmy Stewart on guitar, bassist Louis Kabok, Marty Morell on drums and percussionist Hal Gordon. They provide eastern tinged renditions of Sonny and Cher's "The Beat Goes On," and Cole Porter's "What Is This Thing Called Love?," along with some Szabo originals and covers of French pop and bossanova tunes. After being known primarily to jazz heads, Szabo was elevated to the larger pop consciousness with this album. Eight tracks in all.

• 180g black vinyl pressing
• Verve By Request edition pressed at Third Man Pressing in Detroit
• remastered from the original analog tapes
• housed in gatefold sleeve w/ liner notes
• original release year: 1967
• music label: Impulse! 2023

reviewed by Cool Hand 02/2016