Pat Thomas and his band Ahmed have been making waves in the music scene with their unique blend of free-jazz, groove music, and world influences. Their latest set, Sama'a (Audition), is a testament to the group's dedication to the legacy of 1950s-70s jazz icons like Art Blakey and Thelonious Monk.
The album takes its cue from Thomas's spiritual practice as a follower of Sufism, with Arabic term sama'a meaning meditative listening to music and poetry. The result is four tracks that embody the spirit of musical devotion. From the opening Ya Annas (Oh, People), which combines ghostly sax sounds with bowed-bass figures, to Isma'a (Listen), a drum'n'bass hook that erupts into hoarsely urgent free-sax improv, each track is a masterclass in infectious energy.
The band's lineup is a veritable Who's Who of jazz and avant-folk heroes. Saxophonist Seymour Wright channels the likes of Evan Parker, while drummer Antonin Gerbal brings a level of power and precision reminiscent of AMM's Eddie Prévost. Bassist Joel Grip provides the low-end rumble, while pianist Pat Thomas brings his signature wildness to the table.
El Haris (Anxious) is a standout track, with brittle horn exhalations giving way to a gripping robotic strut. Farah 'Alaiyna (Joy Upon Us) begins as dissonant folk-dance before hurtling into rocketing jazz swing. The Monk tribute that Thomas and Ahmed are cooking up is shaping up to be a must-listen.
In other news, guitarist John Scofield and bassist Dave Holland have released Memories of Home, their first duo album in years. The pair trade warm, boppy grooves on the country-bluesy originals, with Scofield's voice-like harmonies and Holland's deep tone making for a classically hip set.
Canadian composer Anna Webber has also dropped Unseparate (Out of Your Head), her second release with saxophonist Angela Morris. The album sees the pair balancing their inventive arrangements with fine young improvisational skills, resulting in a subtle yet inventive balance of jazz and contemporary-classical influences.
Lastly, Mike Westbrook's 1980 session The Cortège has been reissued as The Cortège Live at the BBC 1980 (Cadillac). A celebration of landmark European literature and cutting-edge jazz, it remains an epic and essential listen.
The album takes its cue from Thomas's spiritual practice as a follower of Sufism, with Arabic term sama'a meaning meditative listening to music and poetry. The result is four tracks that embody the spirit of musical devotion. From the opening Ya Annas (Oh, People), which combines ghostly sax sounds with bowed-bass figures, to Isma'a (Listen), a drum'n'bass hook that erupts into hoarsely urgent free-sax improv, each track is a masterclass in infectious energy.
The band's lineup is a veritable Who's Who of jazz and avant-folk heroes. Saxophonist Seymour Wright channels the likes of Evan Parker, while drummer Antonin Gerbal brings a level of power and precision reminiscent of AMM's Eddie Prévost. Bassist Joel Grip provides the low-end rumble, while pianist Pat Thomas brings his signature wildness to the table.
El Haris (Anxious) is a standout track, with brittle horn exhalations giving way to a gripping robotic strut. Farah 'Alaiyna (Joy Upon Us) begins as dissonant folk-dance before hurtling into rocketing jazz swing. The Monk tribute that Thomas and Ahmed are cooking up is shaping up to be a must-listen.
In other news, guitarist John Scofield and bassist Dave Holland have released Memories of Home, their first duo album in years. The pair trade warm, boppy grooves on the country-bluesy originals, with Scofield's voice-like harmonies and Holland's deep tone making for a classically hip set.
Canadian composer Anna Webber has also dropped Unseparate (Out of Your Head), her second release with saxophonist Angela Morris. The album sees the pair balancing their inventive arrangements with fine young improvisational skills, resulting in a subtle yet inventive balance of jazz and contemporary-classical influences.
Lastly, Mike Westbrook's 1980 session The Cortège has been reissued as The Cortège Live at the BBC 1980 (Cadillac). A celebration of landmark European literature and cutting-edge jazz, it remains an epic and essential listen.
Pat Thomas and his crew are totally killing it with Sama'a, that opening track Ya Annas is giving me LIFE, the way those sax sounds just transport you to another world... 
I'm so stoked to see all these amazing jazz albums dropping lately! It's like the music scene is finally giving us a taste of that old-school vibes we've been missing 
. Pat Thomas and Ahmed's Sama'a is like a spiritual awakening for my ears, you know? The way they blend free-jazz with world influences is pure magic 
. And can we talk about John Scofield and Dave Holland's Memories of Home? Those guys are legends, man! Their chemistry on this album is undeniable 
. The reissue of Mike Westbrook's The Cortège Live at the BBC 1980 is a must-listen for any jazz fan, trust me 
!
. News about climate change is still gettin bad, sea levels risin at a rate way faster than scientists predicted. Like, we're talkin 7mm per year now 
. If this keeps up, coastal cities are gonna be underwater in no time. And don't even get me started on the wildfires... Australia's still dealin with some crazy bad fires and it's just... ugh. My heart's not in music or jazz or any of that right now 
. But I guess it's good to see Pat Thomas and his band puttin out new stuff, at least 
. Sama'a (Audition) sounds like somethin to listen to when the world is goin crazy... meditation through sound and all that... hope I can find solace in music today 
anyway, gotta keep an eye out for their live shows...
their Sama'a album is straight fire 
And can we talk about how talented their lineup is? Seymour Wright on sax, Antonin Gerbal on drums... it's like the jazz gods are smiling upon them 
And the way they're incorporating world music elements is super refreshing... not to mention how infectious their energy is! I mean, who can sit still when they're playing Isma'a (Listen)? 
Their music always has this effortless cool factor that never gets old.
. Like, yeah, it's cool to respect the legends, but can't we push the boundaries a bit more? Sama'a (Audition) sounds like it's stuck in the past, you know? Free-jazz and groove music are all well and good, but why not try something new for once? 
. And what's up with the lineup, anyway? It's like they're trying to check off a "jazz musician" list instead of creating something truly unique 
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. On one hand, the idea of blending free-jazz with world influences is super exciting and reminds me of some amazing jam sessions I've been to in the past 
. Pat Thomas's spiritual practice is definitely bringing a fresh perspective to his music, and the Sufi connection adds an extra layer of depth.
. We've seen it happen before with some jazz releases getting watered down for mainstream audiences, losing their raw energy in the process 
. Still, if Ahmed's lineup can deliver on their promise of infectious energy and innovative arrangements, I'd be stoked to dive into Sama'a (Audition) 
. The music world is definitely getting more diverse and exciting, but it's gotta stay true to its roots at the same time 
!!! Pat Thomas and Ahmed are pushing the boundaries of free-jazz in such a way that's both mesmerizing and humbling. Their music is like a spiritual experience - I feel like I'm transported to another world where time stands still and all that matters is the music 
. Anna Webber's Unseparate is also giving me all the feels, it's like she's speaking directly to my soul 
. And Mike Westbrook's The Cortège Live at the BBC 1980... I don't even have words, just go listen to it immediately and experience the magic for yourself 
The way they blend free-jazz with world influences is like a sonic tarantella - it gets stuck in your head but somehow makes sense. That saxophonist Seymour Wright sounds like he's having some sort of spiritual encounter on every track 
. The band's lineup is like a jazz dream team - I'm just hoping they don't start selling out to the corporate music gods anytime soon 
. John Scofield and Dave Holland's new duet album Memories of Home is also solid, but it feels like they're trying way too hard to be cool 
.