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Just got to 'The Bear'. Wasn't sure how it would stack up against all the hype and plaudits. A couple of episodes in and I can that it might

I bought the 5CD box set of [ahmed], two discs in and it's a blast. They're certainly developing a signature sound, possibly not for everyone, that's taking the acoustic quartet to places it rarely visits. https://ahmedquartet.bandcamp.com/album/giant-beauty

I bought the String Quartets as a leap of faith as much as anything else as I don't ordinarily listen to the format very much at all. As a big WLS fan I thought why not. They've definitely repaid my listening and give an enlightening perspective on his other writing. Without stating the obvious they sound to me very like WLS music and I'd say any fan of his would find them an interesting listen. There's variation and development across the set although as mentioned above the guests aren't providing a lot of that. How they compare to others' string quartets I'm not qualified to comment. I didn't buy 'Emerald Duets' as I already have a lot of WLS in duet but would love to hear the Bennink. As for ' Chicago Symphonies', I think I'm a bit of an outlier in finding that set a little underwhelming, maybe expectations were too high given the line up. I'm very excited about the mention of an Amina Claudine Myers collaboration. I'll buy that one.

Lovely album, quite a diversion from her previous releases

I always think of 'Don Juan's Reckless Daughter' as that

I discovered through the same source, good substack

That's great

That's good to hear. I'm excited to hear how he presents his new music

Listening to the Base now @Pim. It sounds pretty good I have to say I have tickets for Shabaka in London in a few weeks but the Barbican venue doesn't have boxes so Andre 3000 will have to slum it with the rest of us in the unlikelihood he turns up 😀

To be honest I haven't really noticed either way, my expectations are never too high with ESP. I need to relisten

I don't know but it would make sense. Evidently, according to Shabaka yesterday talking to GP, we're calling all this stuff Ambient Jazz. If it means the death of Spiritual Jazz as a catch all label I'm on board Very nice, originals don't come cheap. I envy you as a Base owner...love Ric Colbeck on that

[ahmed] - giant beauty 5CD [fönstret] [ahmed] - wood blues 2LP [Astral Spirits] Some compensation for not making the Oto residency. Nice to have a brief chat with Seymour Wright whilst making the purchase>

[ahmed] - Giant Beauty, disc 1 Nights On Saturn [fonstret, 2024]

And Andre is on the Shabaka album, one track

That's been getting a lot of coverage here in the UK too. Some interesting interviews with Everett. Definitely on my 'to read' list

If you decide to sell this one just let me know...

Interesting interview with him about this album and the motivations behind the switch in instrument on Gilles Peterson Radio 6 just now. On BBC Sounds, not sure if available outside the UK.

That definitely needs a reissue

That's pretty much my take too. First and only listen for me too. Somehow I tend to like the ideas behind his music more than their execution and this is the same. I like the premise of ditching the saxophone soo definitely to take on a new direction. This has more immediacy than the Andre 3000 album(s) I think, more complete in conception and execution. It suffers a little from having too many different players which means it doesn't quite sit together as a whole though. An album of the Moran quarter would have been very 8nteresting. I like the vocal input more than I thought I would That said it's very listenable and I think will merit return listens. But I will still go to Yamamoto when I want to hear shakuhachi.

Thanks, didn't think to do that

Indeed...although I couldn't find a stream so you were one step ahead. Did you buy it?

And I think I know why, a certain Instagram sale perhaps... What is this? I'm intrigued

Kayhan Kalhor And Toumani Diabaté - The Sky Is The Same Colour Everywhere [RealWorld, UK 2023] Stunning followed by first listen to Shabaka - Perceive Its Beauty, Acknowledge Its Grace [Impulse, 2024] I love 'Nuovi Sentimenti', and others I have always have enough interest to them to survive successive collection culls. The discography is such that I never can get an overview of it though, a real grasp.

Nice one, such a good album and such a good feeling when you snag a long sought after

Evan Parker & Barry Guy - 'So It Goes...' [Maya Recordings]