Rabshakeh

When I was a kid, Channel 4 in the UK used to show art house or foreign films on a Friday evening, chosen and introduced by the film critic Mark Kermode (still going). As a teenaged boy in a pre-internet era, these Friday night foreign and arthouse films were one of the few reliable sources of (ahem) "intellectual stimulation" that was available. You would have Kermode and his quiff talking for 15 minutes, inevitably something about how the film you were about to see recontextualised and reframed modes of alienation through its subversively marxist use of mise-en-scene, and then you'd finally get onto what you were watching for, which was sub-titles and generous pubic carpetry. Anyway, Vampyros Lesbos was typical of Kermode's highly intellectual choices (presumably the producers knew their audience). I remember watching it and being really impressed by the soundtrack (even if it failed to live up to its name when it came to the amount of full frontal 'mise-en-scene' shown). I'm going to track it down. Thanks for the reminder.

I've only discovered Michael Franks recently. I'm not a huge fan, but I really can't believe how much his stuff was ripped off by so many of those British Columbia indie bands that Pitchfork Media so desperately wanted to marry in the 00s, without anyone ever mentioning his name. That Kaputt album by Dan Bejar was a particular example.

I like the contrast. The first side is all expansive post bop workmanship. Then the second side starts with the Freemans kicking down the door and playing a song dedicated to Gene Ammons, that still manages to do more interesting things.

Did you enjoy this one? I'm really enjoying Courvoisier at the moment, but don't know this record. Leandre is always a sell.

Makaya McCraven – In The Moment I wish this one didn't fade out at the end of every track. There's some really great stuff on here.

I enjoyed it, although I'd have liked more Courvoisier. She tends to sit in the background a bit with her recordings with Feldman. Currently listening to this one: A first ever listen for me, from my recent run over the historic jazz charts. I don't think I'd ever heard the name, even though it clearly shifted the old SKUs. It isn't exactly John Coltrane. Still, it's fun to think of all the ex-neoboppers piously indulging in their supposedly heretical fusions of hip hop and jazz, seeking to "update" jazz, when meanwhile something as broad and populist as this was squatting on the jazz and R&B charts.

How is it?

I love this one.

I would prefer a Second Book of Wadadas or Braxtons. I think both are stronger composers. Let's hear what Medeski, Martin and Woods and Pat Metheny do with that. Thanks.

Well done. No better feeling.

Which one? Haborym or Azazel. Ideally the Book of Angels concept should get round that by having others do the playing. But I don't think it does.

These are some which I enjoy: Fernando Gelbard - Didi Horacio Chivo Borraro - El Nuevo Sonido del Chivo Borraro Jorge Lopez Ruiz - Bronca Buenos Aire Jorge Lopez Ruiz - Viejas Raices Matias Pizarro - Pelo de Rata Quinteplus (Carlos Pocho Lapouble and Gustavo Bergalli) - Quinteplus

The usual infernal smooth Gorelick treatment is too good for Gallagher.

There've been some good recent rediscoveries coming out of that scene.

John Zorn - The Crucible Enjoying this one a lot more than Zorn's other punk / metal records so far. More assimilated, better material, and less dilettentish. I'm looking forward to hearing the Heliogabalus record that people like, which I think is the same group.

Pat Metheny – Tap (Book Of Angels Volume 20) I found myself enjoying this one the most of all the BoA records I've listened too. Metheny doing the full studio-as-instrument in a way that is I think stronger than most Metheny albums. He never needed much of a tune either, so he's well suited to the slightly whispy compositions.

How does the Book of Angels work? Do the artists pick the tunes from the 300 second book compositions and then decide how to play them? Or does Zorn pick them and/or do the arrangements to some extent?

Give him what he deserves: a single 48 minute long take on Wonderwall in expansive outside post bop style. It's what they'll be serving up to him in the new place, anyway.

What are some examples of post-smooth Washington on record?

Koby Israelite – Orobas (Book Of Angels Volume 4)

There’s always more Herbie Mann.

Sylvie Courvoisier - Abaton

@optatio So many of these are British trad groups. Where are you finding these? They look like they can't have been pressed in runs larger than 5.

Dave Bailey - Two Feet In The Gutter

This may just be the reissue. Now on: The Abyssinians - Satta Massagana