[Ahmed] - Giant Beauty (2024)

Posted By: delpotro

[Ahmed] - Giant Beauty (2024)
EAC Rip | FLAC (tracks+log+.cue) - 1,62 Gb | MP3 CBR 320 kbps - 663 Mb | Scans included | 03:55:29
Avant-Garde Jazz, Free Jazz | Label: Fönstret

[Ahmed] is the quartet of Pat Thomas (piano), Joel Grip (double bass), Antonin Gerbal (drums) and Seymour Wright (alto saxophone). Together, the group re-arrange and re-imagine in real time the music of composer, bassist and oud player Ahmed Abdul-Malik (1927-1993).

Listening, learning.

In the summer of 2022 they played five nights in a row at the fifth edition festival for other music. Fylkingen sweltering under a rare Stockholm heatwave. A different tune each night.

Nights on Saturn
Oud Blues
African Bossa Nova
Rooh (The Soul)
El Haris (Anxious)

Five discs in a big box. Giant Beauty. Wrapped in excavated photographic detail from Stockholm’s legendary Golden Circle club.

“Every night the quartet brings a new song, takes it apart, puts it back together again, follows the music on unknown paths, sometimes back, sometimes not, but always remains in motion, flowing like a river in flood.” — Silvia Tarozzi

[Ahmed] have played some of the tunes on Giant Beauty multiple times before, and revisit them here, ‘versioning’. Antonin Gerbal kicks things straight into high gear with the propulsive snap of Nights on Saturn’s opening beat (a then recent, now out of print LP on Astral Spirits) and they close out on the fifth day with El Haris (Anxious), the tune they played and recorded at their first public performance in a rural Swedish barn for Joel Grip’s Hagen-fest in 2016 (and later released as the now out of print LP New Jazz Imagination on Umlaut).

The second night they played Oud Blues. A tune they’d done just the one time before but under radically different circumstances — a heaving, 600 strong dancefloor for Glasgow’s spirited Counterflows festival. That recording is also coming out now on a double LP via Astral Spirits as Wood Blues — but here they trade the raucous, ragged energy there for something more chiselled and focussed. Traces linger (a perfume) of the spare concentration in Éliane Radigue and Magnus Granberg’s music heard earlier that night.

We also hear two new tunes that appear on record for the first time — the vibrant swing of African Bossa Nova giving way to the zoned in drone of Rooh (The Soul) the following night. Rooh opens with Joel Grip’s bass channelling cellist Abdul Wadud who died the same week and the performance is dedicated to him.

No discussion.
No plan.
No solos.

The end goal for [Ahmed] is an open, ongoing learning. An ongoing excavation of the past and re-imagination of a future music. It’s jazz but also not (only) jazz, forged through a deep commitment to a variety of musical methods and an appreciation of how the context of the music’s making informs, shapes and becomes what it is. It always comes back to time and space. The five-night residency as idea, history and lived reality provides further cause for investigation, food for thought and prompts for action.

You can read Seymour Wright talking through these implications in the extended interview with Edition festival director John Chantler in the accompanying book.

The images that appear on the outer covers of the box, discs and book are details of photographs taken at the Golden Circle, Stockholm in the mid 1960s: the outer cover by Christer Landergren, and the others by Leif Wigh during a Dexter Gordon residency in 1965. Looking back into these images of Stockholm-space that the music [Ahmed] made at Fylkingen seemed rooted or seeded in, we discovered that, fascinatingly, plants — rubber (Ficus elastica) and Swiss-cheese (Monstera deliciosa) — were resident in the Golden Circle’s very modern concrete-curtained-glass-and-metal space. They lived on-stage and in-audience as the music took place and grew across nights, days and weeks around, and about them. This unusual and unexpected (to us) organic, holistic musical, architectural, botanical, volatile balance seems to resonate with something that Abdul-Malik told Bill Coss in a 1963 interview for Downbeat:

Really, a musician should be in excellent condition, physically, mentally, professionally and scientifically […] I have studied all the elements: animals, insects, plants, space - the universe - old and new jazz but most importantly the Creator.

How can you play beauty without knowing what beauty is, what it really is? Understanding the Creator leads to understanding the creations, and better understanding of what you play comes from this. How can you understand fully without knowing the start, the continuation, and the ending?

pat thomas, piano
seymour wright, alto saxophone
joel grip, double bass
antonin gerbal, drums
Tracklist:
01. Nights on Saturn
02. Oud Blues
03. African Bossa Nova
04. Rooh (The Soul)
05. El Haris (Anxious)

Exact Audio Copy V1.6 from 23. October 2020

EAC extraction logfile from 28. April 2024, 14:46

أحمد [Ahmed] / Giant Beauty

Used drive : PLEXTOR DVDR PX-716A Adapter: 1 ID: 0

Read mode : Secure
Utilize accurate stream : Yes
Defeat audio cache : Yes
Make use of C2 pointers : No

Read offset correction : 30
Overread into Lead-In and Lead-Out : No
Fill up missing offset samples with silence : Yes
Delete leading and trailing silent blocks : No
Null samples used in CRC calculations : Yes
Used interface : Native Win32 interface for Win NT & 2000
Gap handling : Appended to previous track

Used output format : User Defined Encoder
Selected bitrate : 1024 kBit/s
Quality : High
Add ID3 tag : No
Command line compressor : C:\Program Files (x86)\Exact Audio Copy\Flac\flac.exe
Additional command line options : -8 -V -T "ARTIST=%artist%" -T "TITLE=%title%" -T "ALBUM=%albumtitle%" -T "DATE=%year%" -T "TRACKNUMBER=%tracknr%" -T "GENRE=%genre%" -T "PERFORMER=%albuminterpret%" -T "COMPOSER=%composer%" -T "ALBUMARTIST=%albumartist%" -T "DISCNUMBER=%cdnumber%" -T "TOTALDISCS=%totalcds%" -T "TOTALTRACKS=%numtracks%" -T "COMMENT=%comment%" %source% -o %dest%


TOC of the extracted CD

Track | Start | Length | Start sector | End sector
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––-
1 | 0:00.00 | 48:08.00 | 0 | 216599


Track 1

Filename C:\EAC\أحمد [Ahmed] - 2024 - Giant Beauty\CD1\01 - أحمد [Ahmed] - Nights on Saturn.wav

Pre-gap length 0:00:02.00

Peak level 97.9 %
Extraction speed 10.9 X
Track quality 100.0 %
Test CRC F3B6995C
Copy CRC F3B6995C
Track not present in AccurateRip database
Copy OK


None of the tracks are present in the AccurateRip database

No errors occurred

End of status report

–– CUETools DB Plugin V2.1.6

[CTDB TOCID: I3urLgxHA61YtinNQ4NNjMW4dPM-] found
Submit result: I3urLgxHA61YtinNQ4NNjMW4dPM- has been confirmed
Track | CTDB Status
1 | (1/3) Accurately ripped


==== Log checksum 058B2A11B57BBF145B5FF6FB4CFA6B7064E6DB5F22C421AE9E5C11FDAE2B4401 ====
Exact Audio Copy V1.6 from 23. October 2020

EAC extraction logfile from 28. April 2024, 15:06

أحمد [Ahmed] / Giant Beauty

Used drive : PLEXTOR DVDR PX-716A Adapter: 1 ID: 0

Read mode : Secure
Utilize accurate stream : Yes
Defeat audio cache : Yes
Make use of C2 pointers : No

Read offset correction : 30
Overread into Lead-In and Lead-Out : No
Fill up missing offset samples with silence : Yes
Delete leading and trailing silent blocks : No
Null samples used in CRC calculations : Yes
Used interface : Native Win32 interface for Win NT & 2000
Gap handling : Appended to previous track

Used output format : User Defined Encoder
Selected bitrate : 1024 kBit/s
Quality : High
Add ID3 tag : No
Command line compressor : C:\Program Files (x86)\Exact Audio Copy\Flac\flac.exe
Additional command line options : -8 -V -T "ARTIST=%artist%" -T "TITLE=%title%" -T "ALBUM=%albumtitle%" -T "DATE=%year%" -T "TRACKNUMBER=%tracknr%" -T "GENRE=%genre%" -T "PERFORMER=%albuminterpret%" -T "COMPOSER=%composer%" -T "ALBUMARTIST=%albumartist%" -T "DISCNUMBER=%cdnumber%" -T "TOTALDISCS=%totalcds%" -T "TOTALTRACKS=%numtracks%" -T "COMMENT=%comment%" %source% -o %dest%


TOC of the extracted CD

Track | Start | Length | Start sector | End sector
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––-
1 | 0:00.00 | 46:34.00 | 0 | 209549


Track 1

Filename C:\EAC\أحمد [Ahmed] - 2024 - Giant Beauty\CD2\01 - أحمد [Ahmed] - Oud Blues.wav

Pre-gap length 0:00:02.00

Peak level 97.4 %
Extraction speed 11.2 X
Track quality 100.0 %
Test CRC BA02CE18
Copy CRC BA02CE18
Track not present in AccurateRip database
Copy OK


None of the tracks are present in the AccurateRip database

No errors occurred

End of status report

–– CUETools DB Plugin V2.1.6

[CTDB TOCID: EgYEhC1ERXTSubg2UEAd_ifGcCc-] found
Submit result: EgYEhC1ERXTSubg2UEAd_ifGcCc- has been confirmed
Track | CTDB Status
1 | (1/2) Accurately ripped


==== Log checksum BD49D5C48C82BDDDE7743336065140704511241C71ECCBBC2BAD314881F9FE8E ====
Exact Audio Copy V1.6 from 23. October 2020

EAC extraction logfile from 28. April 2024, 15:18

أحمد [Ahmed] / Giant Beauty

Used drive : PLEXTOR DVDR PX-716A Adapter: 1 ID: 0

Read mode : Secure
Utilize accurate stream : Yes
Defeat audio cache : Yes
Make use of C2 pointers : No

Read offset correction : 30
Overread into Lead-In and Lead-Out : No
Fill up missing offset samples with silence : Yes
Delete leading and trailing silent blocks : No
Null samples used in CRC calculations : Yes
Used interface : Native Win32 interface for Win NT & 2000
Gap handling : Appended to previous track

Used output format : User Defined Encoder
Selected bitrate : 1024 kBit/s
Quality : High
Add ID3 tag : No
Command line compressor : C:\Program Files (x86)\Exact Audio Copy\Flac\flac.exe
Additional command line options : -8 -V -T "ARTIST=%artist%" -T "TITLE=%title%" -T "ALBUM=%albumtitle%" -T "DATE=%year%" -T "TRACKNUMBER=%tracknr%" -T "GENRE=%genre%" -T "PERFORMER=%albuminterpret%" -T "COMPOSER=%composer%" -T "ALBUMARTIST=%albumartist%" -T "DISCNUMBER=%cdnumber%" -T "TOTALDISCS=%totalcds%" -T "TOTALTRACKS=%numtracks%" -T "COMMENT=%comment%" %source% -o %dest%


TOC of the extracted CD

Track | Start | Length | Start sector | End sector
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––-
1 | 0:00.00 | 49:44.00 | 0 | 223799


Track 1

Filename C:\EAC\أحمد [Ahmed] - 2024 - Giant Beauty\CD3\01 - أحمد [Ahmed] - African Bossa Nova.wav

Pre-gap length 0:00:02.00

Peak level 97.0 %
Extraction speed 11.9 X
Track quality 99.9 %
Test CRC 49D8ADCE
Copy CRC 49D8ADCE
Cannot be verified as accurate (confidence 1) [1679FC00], AccurateRip returned [046A6742] (AR v2)
Copy OK


No tracks could be verified as accurate
You may have a different pressing from the one(s) in the database

No errors occurred

End of status report

–– CUETools DB Plugin V2.1.6

[CTDB TOCID: E0a8fdUCooBsIVkEkhaRjew.Eco-] found
Submit result: E0a8fdUCooBsIVkEkhaRjew.Eco- has been confirmed
Track | CTDB Status
1 | (1/3) Accurately ripped


==== Log checksum 1A66210E06E9E44A3A218EA0AAE6E8F0B8BB6D8DEB6AC392D019BC12F63EE4E0 ====
Exact Audio Copy V1.6 from 23. October 2020

EAC extraction logfile from 28. April 2024, 15:33

أحمد [Ahmed] / Giant Beauty

Used drive : PLEXTOR DVDR PX-716A Adapter: 1 ID: 0

Read mode : Secure
Utilize accurate stream : Yes
Defeat audio cache : Yes
Make use of C2 pointers : No

Read offset correction : 30
Overread into Lead-In and Lead-Out : No
Fill up missing offset samples with silence : Yes
Delete leading and trailing silent blocks : No
Null samples used in CRC calculations : Yes
Used interface : Native Win32 interface for Win NT & 2000
Gap handling : Appended to previous track

Used output format : User Defined Encoder
Selected bitrate : 1024 kBit/s
Quality : High
Add ID3 tag : No
Command line compressor : C:\Program Files (x86)\Exact Audio Copy\Flac\flac.exe
Additional command line options : -8 -V -T "ARTIST=%artist%" -T "TITLE=%title%" -T "ALBUM=%albumtitle%" -T "DATE=%year%" -T "TRACKNUMBER=%tracknr%" -T "GENRE=%genre%" -T "PERFORMER=%albuminterpret%" -T "COMPOSER=%composer%" -T "ALBUMARTIST=%albumartist%" -T "DISCNUMBER=%cdnumber%" -T "TOTALDISCS=%totalcds%" -T "TOTALTRACKS=%numtracks%" -T "COMMENT=%comment%" %source% -o %dest%


TOC of the extracted CD

Track | Start | Length | Start sector | End sector
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––-
1 | 0:00.00 | 46:44.00 | 0 | 210299


Track 1

Filename C:\EAC\أحمد [Ahmed] - 2024 - Giant Beauty\CD4\01 - أحمد [Ahmed] - Rooh (The Soul).wav

Pre-gap length 0:00:02.00

Peak level 96.9 %
Extraction speed 11.3 X
Track quality 100.0 %
Test CRC D7C9E484
Copy CRC D7C9E484
Cannot be verified as accurate (confidence 1) [AD055564], AccurateRip returned [B854FBEF] (AR v2)
Copy OK


No tracks could be verified as accurate
You may have a different pressing from the one(s) in the database

No errors occurred

End of status report

–– CUETools DB Plugin V2.1.6

[CTDB TOCID: Nfs_nWqKtNqItCbbBBtd.LHHA2g-] found
Submit result: Nfs_nWqKtNqItCbbBBtd.LHHA2g- has been confirmed
Track | CTDB Status
1 | (1/4) Accurately ripped


==== Log checksum DC0170ACB19C85030E6BDC6CE195898D5389654115C45105211C95B3021615E3 ====
Exact Audio Copy V1.6 from 23. October 2020

EAC extraction logfile from 28. April 2024, 16:02

أحمد [Ahmed] / Giant Beauty

Used drive : PLEXTOR DVDR PX-716A Adapter: 1 ID: 0

Read mode : Secure
Utilize accurate stream : Yes
Defeat audio cache : Yes
Make use of C2 pointers : No

Read offset correction : 30
Overread into Lead-In and Lead-Out : No
Fill up missing offset samples with silence : Yes
Delete leading and trailing silent blocks : No
Null samples used in CRC calculations : Yes
Used interface : Native Win32 interface for Win NT & 2000
Gap handling : Appended to previous track

Used output format : User Defined Encoder
Selected bitrate : 1024 kBit/s
Quality : High
Add ID3 tag : No
Command line compressor : C:\Program Files (x86)\Exact Audio Copy\Flac\flac.exe
Additional command line options : -8 -V -T "ARTIST=%artist%" -T "TITLE=%title%" -T "ALBUM=%albumtitle%" -T "DATE=%year%" -T "TRACKNUMBER=%tracknr%" -T "GENRE=%genre%" -T "PERFORMER=%albuminterpret%" -T "COMPOSER=%composer%" -T "ALBUMARTIST=%albumartist%" -T "DISCNUMBER=%cdnumber%" -T "TOTALDISCS=%totalcds%" -T "TOTALTRACKS=%numtracks%" -T "COMMENT=%comment%" %source% -o %dest%


TOC of the extracted CD

Track | Start | Length | Start sector | End sector
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––-
1 | 0:00.00 | 44:19.00 | 0 | 199424


Track 1

Filename C:\EAC\أحمد [Ahmed] - 2024 - Giant Beauty\CD5\01 - أحمد [Ahmed] - El Haris (Anxious).wav

Pre-gap length 0:00:02.00

Peak level 98.1 %
Extraction speed 3.6 X
Track quality 99.9 %
Test CRC 4ED10669
Copy CRC 4ED10669
Track not present in AccurateRip database
Copy OK


None of the tracks are present in the AccurateRip database

No errors occurred

End of status report

–– CUETools DB Plugin V2.1.6

[CTDB TOCID: E2utfRoFrz.I3rPqmPninkGQBmw-] found
Submit result: E2utfRoFrz.I3rPqmPninkGQBmw- has been confirmed
Track | CTDB Status
1 | (1/1) Accurately ripped


==== Log checksum 6E143DBE37A86F4DAED65FB7C2DC83FA3A5E510816556A1343050A642E9DDADE ====

Thanks to the Original ripper !