#yussef days

[sj-in-musicnote]

<What Kinda Music> Tom Misch & Yussef Dayes

2020년 블루노트에서 나온 <What Kinda Music>은 제목에서부터 음악에 대한 고민이 묻어나는 것 같다. 솔로 앨범 <Geography>를 통해 탐 미쉬는 그루비한 인디 팝 감성의 재즈 음악을 성공적으로 선보였다. 출중한 기타 연주와 작곡 실력, 보컬과 프로듀싱까지 전반적인 제작 ��정에 폭넓게 관여하는 그는 자신의 음악에서 내부적으로는 솔 음악에 대한 향수를 품으면서 외부로는 유럽 특유의 시크함을 걸친 것 같은 스타일로 어필한다고 할까. 그의 음악이 비교적 접근이 쉬운 캐치한 튠으로 이루어졌다면, 유세프 데이스는 실험성과 예술적 추구를 더욱 앞세우는 뮤지션이다. 재즈라는 핵심을 공유하지만 서로 다른 접근법과 음악성, 그리고 개성을 가진 두 사람의 공동 작업물 <What Kinda Music>은 재즈와 힙합, 그리고 진정성 있는 탐구로서의 일렉트로니카를 결합한 패기 있는 성취로 자리한다.

첫 트랙 What Kinda Music부터 실험적 성향과 마주하게 된다. 불안감을 조성하는 기타 루프와 닫힌 문을 두드리는 것 같은 둔탁한 소리가 비선형적으로 조우한다. 실내에서 누군가 기타를 연주하고 있고 밖에서 외부인이 문을 두드리는 것 같은 서사 구조가 순식간에 형성된다. 질문으로만 가득한 신호들, 낯선 외부자의 갑작스런 방문, 일종의, 익숙한 듯 미지인 세계로의 초대가 완성된다. Festival의 도입부에 드리워진 앰비언스적 분위기는 동트기 전 새벽의 어느 숲속 소리와 그 이미지를 떠올리게 한다. 드럼 머신 비트를 월등히 넘어서는 리얼 드럼이 주도하는 특유의 와일드함과 함께 이 여정은 도회지보다 한적한 숲길과 산길, 연못 등의 장소와 내밀히 결탁하는 모습을 보인다.

애니메이션으로 제작된 두 편의 뮤직비디오를, 곡을 이해하는 중요한 단서로 여겼다. Nightrider 뮤직비디오를 보면 석양으로 붉게 물든 황량한 사막을 세 사람–피처링 래퍼 프레디 깁스(Freddie Gibbs)는 뒷좌석에 앉아 있다–이 드라이브하는 장면이 나온다. 하늘은 빨강, 땅은 달빛에 물든 파랑으로 표현되어 초현실적 대비를 이끌어냈다. 나이트라이더는 밤중에 흑인을 습격하던 마스크 쓴 백인 무리를 일컫는 명칭으로, 프레디 깁스의 가사가 그런 습격 사건을 주제로 한 것으로 파악된다. 하지만 뮤직비디오에서는 특별한 사건이 일어나지 않고 인물들은 목적 없는 듯 그저 한가롭게 라이딩을 할 뿐이다. 미국인인 프레디 깁스에게 Nightrider가 무장한 ���한의 습격을 즉각적으로 연상케 한다면, 영국인인 탐 미쉬에게, 혹은 그보다 더 먼 우리에게는 온전히 밤을 유랑하는 라이더를 의미하는 것으로 다가올 수도 있다. 그러한 의미의 다양성과 상대성이 공존하고 있는 것 같았다.

‘해일’을 의미하는 Tidal Wave도 Nightrider와 유사한 톤을 선보인다. 잔잔하고 소박하게 묘사된, 이를테면 로파이 힙합(lofi hiphop) 같은 사운드를 베이스로 했다. 마음속 혼돈을 함축한 Tidal Wave의 뮤직비디오에선 서로 알지 못하던 소녀와 소년이 우연히 한 장소에서 만나는 이야기를 그려냈다. 소녀가 서핑을 즐기는 대범한 성격의 소유자라면 소년은 우울한 얼굴로 바닷가를 산책하는 소극적인 인물이다. 소년이 발을 헛디뎌 낭떠러지에서 추락해 마치 누군가 무심코 던져버린 맥주캔처럼 바닷속으로 침잠해갈 때, 해일에 익숙한 소녀가 나타나 소년을 수면 위로 구출해낸다. 가사에 쓰인 혼돈은 해양 쓰레기로 인한 생태계 파괴의 심각성에 대한 알레고리이기도 하다. ‘이게 멈추지 않으리란 걸 모두가 내심으로 알고 있어(Everybody knows inside that this won’t stop) / 너무 늦어버린 걸 알아, 하고 싶은 말이 너무도 많았지(I know it’s too late, I had so much I wanna say)’. 위의 가사는 연인과의 갈등 상황을 표현한 것으로 볼 수도 있지만 돌이킬 수 없는 환경 파괴에 관한 메시지로도 읽을 수 있다.

다음의 트랙들은 지금까지 살펴본 것들과는 뉘앙스가 사뭇 다르다. 간단히 말하면 여기부터는 대중성보다 실험성에 더 무게를 싣는다. 전반적으로 첫 번째 lp보다 두 번째 lp에서 더 재즈 친화적인 성향–이를테면 가사 없는 기악곡과 임프로비제이션, 잼 세션 같은 즉흥성–을 내보인다. 첫 번째 lp가 젊은 감각의 트렌디함을 명목상으로 덧입었다면 두 번째 lp는 재즈 본연의 영토를 순항하는 것이다. 

Lift off에서는 베이시스트 로코 팔라디노(Rocco Palladino)가 참여해 기타-베이스-드럼 3중주의 인상적인 하모니를 들려주며, 종결부에 이르러 숨 막히는 임프로비제이션을 생생히 목격하게 만든다(https://youtu.be/O7GaK516Wkk?si=AyB9GxATSIOpUbkY). 우크라이나의 카이우에서 녹음된 곡 Kyiv를 Lift off의 연장선상에 놓이는 트랙으로 이해하면 좋을 것이다(https://youtu.be/a7hNEbdcHjE?si=MVZAsZ5xoRfPlV5Z). 여기서도 로코 팔라디노의 베이스 연주를 들을 수 있는데, ‘베이스가 원래 이런 악기였나?’ 하고 뜬금없이 그런 생각을 품게 될 만큼 베이스의 본질적 악기 색을 잘 연출하고 있었다. (추가적으로 볼 영상: https://youtu.be/XjdSSMBm0Oc?si=mQBJZhhMmy2rrU9Q) 원테이크로 촬영된 뮤직비디오를 통해 알 수 있지만 위의 곡들은 그야말로 재즈 연주자들의 고유한 내력인 즉흥적 잼을 고스란히 재현하고 있다. 탐 미쉬는 <Geography>를 작업할 때 시스템과 스케줄의 압박에 고통스러웠다고 하는데, 유세프 데이스와의 잼 세션을 통해 해방감을 얻을 수 있었다고 밝혔다.

비슷한 시기에 태어난 두 사람은 음악이라는 공통분모뿐 아니라 같은 지역인 남부 ��던에서 자란 기억을 유연하게 공유할 수 있었다. 탐 미쉬는 어린 시절 학교에서 진행된 음악 경연 대회에서 유세프 데이스가 수준급 실력으로 드럼을 치는 모습을 본 적 있다고 회고했다. 이후 그들이 직접적으로 교류할 만한 사건은 일어나지 않았지만, 두 사람은 음악이라는 영역 안에서 서로를 여러 번 스쳤을 것이다. 탐 미쉬는 그들의 앨범을 블루노트 같은 명문 레이블에서 발매하게 된 행운에 대해, 정확히는 블루노트에서 제공한 시스템이나 비즈니스적 의도에 심드렁한 태도를 보였다. 하지만 이 작업이 서로 다른 성향의 두 사람을 상호적으로 고무하고 개인의 음악적 역량을 확장시킨 계기가 된 것에 대해서는 무한한 호응을 드러낸다.

[참조]

https://www.npr.org/2020/04/25/844546201/tom-misch-on-making-what-kinda-music-and-seeing-yussef-dayes-at-a-talent-show

https://www.patrickjohnsonwrites.com/home/tom-misch-yussef-dayes-what-kinda-music-album-interview

[thepastisalreadywritten]

SAINT OF THE DAY (July 24)

On July 24, the Catholic Church celebrates the life of St. Charbel Makhlouf, a Maronite Catholic priest, monk, and hermit who is known for working miracles both during his life and after his death.

On the occasion of his beatification in 1965, the Eastern Catholic hermit was described by Pope Paul VI as “a new, eminent member of monastic sanctity who, through his example and his intercession, is enriching the entire Christian people.”

Born into humble circumstances in Lebanon on 8 May 1828, Yussef Antoun Makhlouf was the youngest of Antoun Zaarour Makhlouf and Brigitta Elias al-Shediyaq's five children.

Antoun, who had been taken away from the family and forced into hard labor, died when his youngest son was only three.

Yussef studied at the parish school and tended to his family's cow.

Engaged in prayer and solitude from a early age, he spent a great deal of time outdoors in the fields and pastures near his village, contemplating God amid the inspiring views of Lebanon's valleys and mountains.

His uncle and guardian Tanious wanted the boy to continue working with him, while his mother wanted him to marry a young woman.

Yussef had other plans, however, and left home in 1851 without informing anyone.

Yussef would become “Brother Charbel,” after making a pilgrimage on foot to his new monastic home.

In this, he followed the example of his maternal uncles, who were already living as solitary monks at the Hermitage of Saint Paul in the Qadisha Valley.

Charbel took his monastic vows in November of 1853, during a solemn ceremony that was closed to the public and off-limits even to his family.

He subsequently studied for the priesthood and was ordained, returning to the Monastery of St. Maron.

The priest-monk lived and served in the monastery for 19 years, showing great devotion to the life of prayer, manual work, and contemplative silence.

Charbel's superiors observed God's “supernatural power” at work in his life, and he became known as a wonder-worker even among some Muslims.

In 1875, he was granted permission to live as a solitary monk in a nearby hermitage dedicated to Saints Peter and Paul.

Rigorous asceticism and a profound union with God continued to characterise the monk's life for the next 23 years.

Deeply devoted to God's Eucharistic presence, he suffered a stroke while celebrating the Divine Liturgy of the Maronite Catholic Church on 16 December 1898. He died on Christmas Eve of that year.

St. Charbel's tomb has been a site for pilgrimages since his death. Hundreds of miracles are believed to have occurred through his intercession with God, both in Lebanon and around the world.

Pope Paul VI beatified him on 5 December 1965 and canonised on 9 October 1977.

[haute-lifestyle-com]

The Blue Note Jazz Club is unveiling the lineup for their much-anticipated 13th annual Blue Note Jazz Festival, featuring performances by Wynton Marsalis, Andra Day, Corinne Bailey Rae, Stanley Clarke, Yussef Dayes, Soulive, and many more. See full schedule

[nonesuchrecords]

Happy International Jazz Day! Celebrate with our newly updated Nonesuch: Jazz playlist of music by Cecile McLorin Salvant, Brad Mehldau, Mary Halvorson, Makaya McCraven, Yussef Dayes, Joshua Redman, Jeff Parker, Tigran Hamasyan, Rachael & Vilray, Rob Mazurek, Ben LaMar Gay, Sam Gendel, Pat Metheny, Bill Frisell, Allen Toussaint, Fred Hersch, and more. You can listen on Spotify and Apple Music here.

[vexx-ation]

365 Albums in 365 Days: 218/365

Date: Tuesday August 6th Album: Black Focus Artist: Yussef Kamaal Released: 2016 Genre: Jazz Review: This is barber beats would sound like if it was good. Jokes aside, this is the exact kind of jazz/electronic fusion that a lot of sampled albums are chasing, but all original! The vibes here are immaculate, with those tasty bass grooves supported by drum lines that go absolutely off the walls. Don’t be fooled by the earlier, most abstract tracks— this album is a bit slow to start but by god does it settle into something magical. There’s a tight energy here, an easiness that betrays the ultimate precision the album is produced with. If your question is “can a jazz album bring to mind the dusky hazy of nighttime streets and still cut like glass?” then the answer is yes. Very much yes. Favorite Track: Lowrider

[curiositasmundi]

[...]

Tre settimane fa, i poliziotti della Sezione Antiterrorismo erano piombati a casa di Yussef – completamente incensurato sia in Italia che in Algeria – al fine di effettuare una “perquisizione urgente” ai sensi dell’art. 41 del T.U.L.P.S. (dunque senza preventiva autorizzazione del magistrato), alla ricerca di armi ed esplosivi. E nonostante la perquisizione abbia dato esito negativo, non essendo stato rinvenuto alcunché nella camera di Yussef – lo abbiamo certificato leggendo direttamente il verbale –, il giovane è stato portato in Questura, dove, come ha raccontato, gli sarebbe stato intimato di far visionare ai poliziotti i contenuti del suo cellulare, tenendolo nelle sue mani. Gli uomini della polizia gli avrebbero dunque chiesto conto di due contenuti pubblicati sui social network Whatsapp e Instagram – un’immagine dei bambini palestinesi massacrati a Gaza accompagnata la scritta “fino a oggi 10.000 bambini morti e una foto del leader di Hamas – nonché un’immagine, rinvenuta nella sua galleria fotografica, ritraente Ursula Von der Leyen. Immagini che, secondo il racconto del ragazzo, sarebbero state fotografate dai poliziotti. Tornato a casa, Yussef ha poi ricevuto una chiamata da parte del preside della sua scuola: il ragazzo ha spiegato che il suo capo gli ha comunicato di non tornare sul posto di lavoro, dal momento che la polizia gli avrebbe chiesto di tenerlo lontano per “motivi di sicurezza”. La Polizia, nei giorni successivi alla nostra pubblicazione, avrebbe smentito questo particolare, affermando di non aver fatto segnalazioni alla scuola. L’ufficializzazione dell’interruzione temporanea del rapporto di lavoro è poi arrivata con una ratifica via mail. A distanza di una settimana, senza attendere alcuna inchiesta formale, ecco pervenire la raccomandata di licenziamento.

[...]

[oil-diffuser]

Starting to think about my favorite albums this year...some others that are on the shortlist:

Scriptures - Devstacks

Black Classical Music - Yussef Dayes

Larger Than Life - Brent Faiyaz

Desire, I Want to Turn Into You - Caroline Polachek

Back In The Day - Swami Sound

Like...? EP - Ice Spice

What I Didn't Tell You - Coco Jones

Succession: Season 4 (HBO Original Series Soundtrack) - Nicholas Britell

Black Butta - RuPaul

Southern Delicacy - Jai'Len Josey

A really good music year. And I've still got so many other releases from the year that I haven't heard yet

[still-single]

HEATHEN DISCO no. 351 up for listening

photo: Mary Nisi

it goes like this:

HOUR 1

Drax – Middle Earth

Cavern of Anti-Matter – Solarised Sound

Coffin Prick – The Big Hunger/Rusty Lemonade

Long Fin Killie – Valentino

Mike Cooper – Beneath These Waves

Yussef Dayes – Tioga Pass

Units & Measurements – Fifth Star From Home

Construction Crew – Break the Beat (That House Mix)

Sandals – A Profound Gas (Ardens Bud Mix Phase 1)

New Order – The Perfect Kiss

Alabaster DePlume – Broken Again

Sharp Pins – Still a Straw Man

HOUR 2

The Equals – I Get So Excited

Jericho Jones – Time Is Now

Sexual Harassment – If I Gave You a Party

Risque Rythum Team – The Jacking Zone

Alex Coulton – Pointe Noire

Photek – The Seven Samurai

Gayle Adams – Your Love Is a Lifesaver

Arnold Dreyblatt – Shuffle Effect

Civic – Satellites

Stress Positions – Interloper

Tolouse Low Trax – Local Vers

Identified Patient – M.G.D. (cr)

The Politicians – Free Your Mind

Magic Carpet – Aum U Wah

Edsel Axle – Come Down from the Tree Now

Caroline Crawford – Coming on Strong

HOUR 3

Denise LaSalle – Your Man and Your Best Friend

Clydie King – B Minor

Irma Thomas – It’s Starting to Get to Me Now

Tirzah – No Limit

Trisomie 21 – Ravishing Delight

Al B. Sure – Nite and Day (Dawn Mix)

A Trois Sur La Plage – Le Soleil

Optic Sink – Summertime Rain

Rezzett – Spicy Pipes

Minisnap – Crooked Mile

Billie Davis – Suffer

Silicone Prairie – Elysian Fields

Spiral Dub – Beginning to Begin

OSEES – The Fish Needs a Bike

Sex Gang Children – Dieche

Cabaret Voltaire – C.O.M.A.

Slug – Godstopper

[unproduciblesmackdown]

also, for interest/reference, the titles of the individual mini plays in the mysteries (and playwrights), according to the show's program

Act I - The Fall

Song of the Trimorph (Lucifer's Lament) - Dael Orlandersmith

Falling for You - Liz Duffy Adams

The Eighth Day (Creation Hymn) - Jason Williamson

God's Rules - Johnna Adams

A Worm Walks into a Garden, or The Fall of Man - Madeleine George

Right of Return - Jorge Ignacio Cortinas

Cain and Abel - David Henry Hwang

Build It - Trista Baldwin

The Flood - Mallery Avidon

Fruitful and Begettin' - Nick Jones

Bright New Devil - Matthew Stephen Smith

The Moses Story - Ann Marie Healy

The Prophecy - CollaborationTown

The Annunciation - Jordan Harrison

Joseph's Troubles About Mary - Kate Gersten

The Shepherds - Kimber Lee

King of Kings - Kate Moira Ryan

The Slaughter of the Innocents - Chris Dimond

The Flight into Egypt - Kenneth Lin

Act II - The Sacrifice

Christ with the PhDs - Erin Courtney

Jesus Grows Up Fast - CollaborationTown

New Periods of Pain Part I - Craig Lucas

Something in the Water - A. Rey Pamatmat

Transfiguration - Billy Porter/Kirsten Greenidge

The Woman Taken in Adultery - Max Posner

The Raising of Lazarus - Amy Freed

Jesus Enters Jerusalem - Gabriel Jason Dean

Turning the Tables - CollaborationTown

The Conspiracy - Yussef El Guindi

The Last Supper - Jeff Whitty

The Garden of Tears and Kisses - José Rivera

The Denial of Peter - Bess Wohl

Christ Before Herod - Qui Nguyen

Judgment? - Marc Acito

The Remorse - Sevan K. Greene

The Road to Calvary - Jenny Schwartz

Act III - The Kingdom

New Periods of Pain Part II - Craig Lucas

The Death of Christ - Don Nguyen

The Harrowing of Hell - Lucas Hnath

Resurrection - Bill Cain

The Next Supper - Lloyd Suh

The Appearance - Ellen McLaughlin

Thomas Doubting (or, Doubting Thomas Doubts His Doubt) - Jordan Seavey

The Gospel According to Mary Magdalene - Meghan Kennedy

Pentecost - Sean Graney

Walking Away from the Mirror and Forgetting What You Looked Like - Eisa Davis

The Death of Mary - Lillian Groag

The Assumption of Mary - Najla Said

The Coronation - Laura Marks

The Last Judgment - Michael Mitnick

Sermon of The Senses - José Rivera

[renee-writer]

All's Fair Chapter 3

AO3

After six months, two surgeries, a cast on most of her lower body, and months of rehab, she is released to go home. She is anxious to get out of hospital but not to return to her Uncle Lamb’s home without him.  She knows from Nubia  that he is buried in the Egyptian style, along with Yussef. Now all that is left to do is grief.

 

Honorably discharged from His Majesty ‘s service, she heads home. Susan meets her at the door and helps her to her new room on the bottom floor. There she collapses on the bed and sobs, for Uncle Lamb and Yussef, for her parents, for all the soldiers, airmen, and others that she has seen die.

 

As the months went by, she grows used to living in Uncle Lamb ‘s home. With a stipend from the army, as well as, money provided by his estate for the upkeep of the house, she is able to take time to decide what she wants to do.

 

Botany or healthcare? She ponders which to finish her degree in.

 

The book from Geillis is a treasure. It amazes her to think it has been around since the 1600’s. So many plants that were available for healing! Plants that were indigenous to England and Scotland, some she wasn’t sure are still around. On those, she made notes on, planning on looking them up.

 

One day as she sat going over the notes, sipping a cup of tea, she hears a knock on the door.  Raising with her brand new cane, she goes to answer it.

 

Her cane, found in a local  charity shop, with a head of amber containing a dragonfly, was necessary. Her legs are still unsteady and shoes are a near impossibility, worn only when she must. For the house, it is slippers that she slips on, on the way to the door.

 

She opens it to a tall, redheaded man who reminds her of the gods in the Cairo museum. Though none have cropped red hair and stand alive at her doorstep.

 

He bows to her, his blue eyes sparkling, “ Mistress  Claire Beauchamp?”

 

“Yes, how may I help you?”

 

“Mistress Beauchamp, I am James Fraser Esquire. Myself and my partner, Ned Gowan Esquire, are in charge of your late uncle’s estate. We are quite sorry for your loss and offer heartfelt condolences. He was a great man. If you have time, I would like to come in a discuss the disposition of his estate.” He takes a breath and continues, “apologies for not phoning ahead. I am in Oxford for only a few days. I was brought here on other business and hoped to see you at the same time.”

 

She steps aside, inviting him in. His presence was another reminder of her loss. Tears gathered but none fall as she asks, “Would you care for some tea Mr. Fraser?”

 

“That would be lovely. Thank you.” She leads him to the table where he rests his briefcase. Turning back after fetching another cup, she sees he has removed a stack of papers out of it, as thick as a book. Her eyes grow wide.

 

“Miss Beauchamp, were you aware of the size of your uncle’s estate?”

 

She is shaking her head as she answers, “No, Mr. Fraser. Uncle Lamb took care of everything. There is an account that sees to the incidentals here and I get a stipend from the army for my injury. That is all I am aware of.”

 

“Mr. Gowan and myself were sorry to hear of your injury and pray you are feeling better and fully heal.”

 

She nods and sets the small tray of biscuits in the middle of the table. “I was injured taken care of soldiers. An honor to have served.”

 

He nods. “Aye. I would have enjoyed the honor of service to King and country. Unfortunately a back injury disqualified me.” He looks to the tray of biscuits, reaches for one before pulling his hand back, “May I?”

 

She smiles and nods. “Yes. Help yourself.”

 

He does. “Back to business. Your uncle owned this house here, your parent’s  house in Inverness. His home in Egypt has been gifted to his friend ‘s mam, Nubia. This house and your parents, you inherit. There is also three life insurance policies. One for each of your parents, one for Lamb. Between them they pay out 5,000,000 pounds sterling, all to you. Ah, let’s see…” He ruffles the papers as she sits stunned. She has no idea about any of these.

 

“A bank account in Edinburgh worth £3,000,000, the antiques in both houses that are valued at £3,000,000 more, if you wished to sell them. There are several museums awaiting your decision on that.

 

You can sell the Inverness house and live here or sell this house and live in Edinburgh. It is fully up to you. We can see all the money placed in one account of a bank of your choice or leave it in several. I will place your Uncle ‘s life insurance policy in the Edinburgh bank where both himself and your parents held accounts. There is also a small, ah, not a farm but a place to grow things, one second,” He searches through the papers, “ah here it is, a flower shop with a greenhouse attached.”

 

He remembered, she thinks. He knew my interest in plants and provided for it. She swallows back more tears.

 

“It was purchased two years before you went to war with a Miss Mary MacNab seeing to it’s care.” He keep looking through the will. “Oh, you have a stack in Lallybroch, my family estate. Your uncle and my father are, err were, very close friends . I didn’t know that “ He looks up from the papers, “May I trouble you to use your phone and ring my dad?”

 

“Of course.” She stands and points to where it sits. He raises, gives her a half bow and heads over to it.

 

“Da, I am at the home of a Mistress Claire Beauchamp going over her late uncle’s  estate, a Mr. Quinton Lambert Beauchamp.”

 

“Lamb, aye, I was so sorrowed by his passing.” Brian replies.

 

“Aye, it seems he owns  25 percent of our horse breeding program.”

 

“Aye son. We needed the capital to get started. As he was a good mate…”

 

“Mistress Claire has ownership now. I will see the profit to her account.”

 

“A good lass, is she, Jamie?”

 

“Aye da. I will see you and mam after I finish my business in Oxford.” He rings off.

 

“Sorry about that. I just wasn’t aware my da needed money to get our horse breeding business started. I would have helped, would he have came to me.”

 

“I am sure Uncle Lamb was happy to. He was a very giving soul.”

 

“Aye,” he gives her a smile, “The profits from your stake will be added to the account. Do you have any questions for me?”

 

She can’t think of any, her mind to overwhelmed by all she has found out. “Not right now. This is a lot to take in. Uncle Lamb and I lived simply. I would never suspect that he would leave this much, making me a very wealthy woman. Oh, one question, if I decide to sell this house, what is the house in Inverness like?”

 

“I can check into that when I return to Scotland. From what I can recall, it is one story with three or four rooms and a few loos. The shop is very near it. Would that be something you are interested in?”

 

“I am not sure right now. Will need time to think on it. Is there anything I need to sign?”

 

“Not right now,” he gathers up the papers, placing them back in his briefcase, “before I leave Oxford, I will return with the papers needing signatures. It was a pleasure to meet you Miss Beauchamp. If you have any questions before I return, you can reach my office,” he hands her a card and their hands glaze. She feels a tingle at the contact, something she has never felt before, “ah, they can reach me, Miss Beauchamp.”

 

“Please, call me Claire.”

 

“Claire, call me Jamie then.” They stand, grinning at each other.

 

“Well, I must be off, Claire. I shall see you in a few days.”

 

“Yes Jamie.” She walks him to the door.

 

Susan prepares supper. She offers to help but she insists that she rest.

 

After dinner, there is a banging on the door. Claire raises, confused by who would be so rude at that time of night. Then she hears Frank.

 

“Claire , Claire, why didn’t you tell me you were injured?”

 

She opens the door. “Frank, I wrote you and told you. You never wrote me back. Oh, a German soldier toke your ring.” She holds her hand out, “Where have you been and why didn’t you write me back?” she demands.

 

“I was out in the field collecting intelligence. I just heard of your ambush.”

 

She rolls her eyes. “Frank, you are lying. I was hurt eight months ago. We lost eight British officers. You are telling me you didn’t know that?”

 

“Claire, I never got a letter from you.”

 

“No, you just never read them. Go away Frank. I don’t need you in my life.” She shuts the door in his face.

 

She then picks up the phone. Reaching the operator, she gives her the number on the card Jamie gave her. Jamie called back in less then an hour.

 

“Mr. Fraser, Jamie, you can put this house on the market. I wish to move to Inverness.”

 

Jamie is smiling as they ring off.

[tenaciouspostfun]

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The Urban Stages has put on a play that I like to refer to as a hidden gem; on off off Broadway play that is edgy, with great writing as well as interesting. Yussef El Guindi has written a play that has almost perfect symmetry to it. He presents four characters (a square), gives us four points a view; he brings out the jealousy in the men and shows us the support by their strong woman.

On the surface you think the plot is about the book that Jason wrote (Brian Slaten), but you would be wrong. The play dives into a psychological frenzy about people. Guindi touches on political dynamite, however, thankfully, it is only a small piece of his writing by way of small barbs here and there. His writing isn't always clear but that never tips the play downward for very long as the action onstage always picks up the shortcomings of the sputtering verbiage.

As Jason becomes popular with a book he has just written, his high school friend, Amir (Ramsey Zeitouneh) is visually jealous of his friends accomplishments. As a poet he has only garnered a small prize in poetry. He and his wife, Lynn (Sarah McAfee) struggle financially as she too is a struggling artist. Although Lynn is supportive of her husband, the sexual tension between her and Jason is obvious from the start. They flirt, talk about the high school days and comment on each others looks and body.

As a war veteran, Jason is admired by Lynn and less so by Amir. It is evident that Lynn and Jason belong together. Marrying a Mideastern woman, Madeeha(Haneen Arafat Murphy), Jason introduces her to the world at the airport when she arrives into America. She is both old fashioned and yet a modern woman all at the same time. She wants to please Jason, yet Jason is reticent of her love. What is her motivation? With all the twists and turns we later find out.

Guindi is brilliant in bringing out the jealousies in humans. Pointing to each of the four we find their vulnerabilities, strengths as well as their detraction's. Each is likeable; each is detestable, but that's what keeps the audience interested in the plot onstage, and as the story grows the plot gets more and more interesting. We at times hate each character and at other times we like and sympathize with each actor. The writer makes us look at ourselves in this play. How would we feel if we were Amir? What has Madeeha been through? How torn is Lynn? Is Jason for real and what kind of torment has he been through in war torn Iraq?

In this very basic set, Elena Vannoni does an admirable job on this small stage. Very deft in making the time and place believable with the moving boards. Able to place ourselves in the realm of where the actors are at all times, her set is well done. The sound too is great. David Margolin Lawson provides the various moods in the play well. This play had many mood swings and Lawson picks this up without exception, and gives us great flow to the piece. John Langs direction for the most part has the actors clicking on all cylinders. While there are lulls at times, Langs mostly gives us a quality effort.

"People of the Book" is a play that is reminiscent of how off off Broadway used to be... quality, raw edge and good acting as well as good underground writing. Unfortunately today, off off gives us preachy, poorly written political play. But not this one! This play takes us into the depths of four lives. Each of those lives are riddled with underlying problems that slowly boil to the surface by the plays ending.

Broadway Bob, Urban Stages, off off Broadway, Obie Awards, New York City, Tony Awards, Sunset Boulevard, The Outsiders, Lion King, Aladdin, Harry Potter.





Words: 656

[thepastisalreadywritten]

SAINT OF THE DAY (July 24)

On July 24, the Catholic Church celebrates the life of St. Charbel Makhlouf, a Maronite Catholic priest, monk and hermit who is known for working miracles both during his life and after his death.

On the occasion of his beatification in 1965, the Eastern Catholic hermit was described by Pope Paul VI as “a new, eminent member of monastic sanctity who, through his example and his intercession, is enriching the entire Christian people.”

Born into humble circumstances in Lebanon on 8 May 1828, Yussef Antoun Makhlouf was the youngest of Antoun Zaarour Makhlouf and Brigitta Elias al-Shediyaq's five children.

Antoun, who had been taken away from the family and forced into hard labor, died when his youngest son was only three.

Yussef studied at the parish school and tended to his family's cow.

Engaged in prayer and solitude from a early age, he spent a great deal of time outdoors in the fields and pastures near his village, contemplating God amid the inspiring views of Lebanon's valleys and mountains.

His uncle and guardian Tanious wanted the boy to continue working with him, while his mother wanted him to marry a young woman.

Yussef had other plans, however, and left home in 1851 without informing anyone.

Yussef would become “Brother Charbel,” after making a pilgrimage on foot to his new monastic home.

In this, he followed the example of his maternal uncles, who were already living as solitary monks at the Hermitage of Saint Paul in the Qadisha Valley.

Charbel took his monastic vows in November of 1853, during a solemn ceremony which was closed to the public and off-limits even to his family.

He subsequently studied for the priesthood and was ordained, returning to the Monastery of St. Maron.

The priest-monk lived and served in the monastery for 19 years, showing great devotion to the life of prayer, manual work, and contemplative silence.

Charbel's superiors observed God's “supernatural power” at work in his life, and he became known as a wonder-worker even among some Muslims.

In 1875, he was granted permission to live as a solitary monk in a nearby hermitage dedicated to Saints Peter and Paul.

Rigorous asceticism and a profound union with God continued to characterise the monk's life for the next 23 years.

Deeply devoted to God's Eucharistic presence, he suffered a stroke while celebrating the Divine Liturgy of the Maronite Catholic Church on 16 December 1898.

He died on Christmas Eve of that year.

Charbel's tomb has been a site for pilgrimages since his death.

Hundreds of miracles are believed to have occurred through his intercession with God, both in Lebanon and around the world.

Pope Paul VI beatified him on 5 December 1965 and canonized on 9 October 1977.

The pope had earlier hailed the Lebanese Maronite saint as an “admirable flower of sanctity blooming on the stem of the ancient monastic traditions of the East.”

Charbel is the patron saint of Lebanon.

[mathpumamusic]

Uh oh...

I got busy; Given how long it's been, I think trying to write even terse reviews for all the music would cease to be fun either to read, or to write, so I'll just share some highlights and interesting things. Part of me wants to hate [Sublime Jupiter Snake Duo] for their presentation, but their discography is just to solid for me to ignore. The group [Haggus] makes music so comically agressive that I would earnestly believe that it was a parody if told such. However, that doesn't mean for a second that I don't enjoy listening to it. In a similar vein, [Brojob] specializes in making metal with stellar guttural vocals, whose lyrics are also gleefully as gay as possible, deliberately in ways which will alienate listeners who aren't in on the joke, so to speak. It kicks ass. [Yussef Dayes] nails a particular blue and wistful atmosphere, and is so good at nailing the production of all his music that I actually noticed production for once in my life. The [Scattle] album "Sketch" doesn't have any one thing in particular that I need to point out, but I've revisited it a few times. [SOIL & "PIMP" SESSIONS] created some of the best music to ever scratch the very particular itch I have for jazz based music that's also irreverently aggressive with it's rough edges. It's gritty and loud and great. "Witchy Activities and the Maple Death" was a weird find, but a worthwhile listen that I checked out a few times after the ledger below ceased being updated. There's lot's of stuff I listened to but didn't record, unfortunately. In the below, I grouped all the projects that I listened to so frequently that it wouldn't make sense to even write them on any individual days.

Normally I try to respect how artists stylize their names and album titles, but for the sake of getting this typed and out, that's definitely not the case for the below. Full ledger (except for the fact that at some point I stopped recording due to being so behind): Frequent Listens (Omitted from specific days, because it would be overwhelmingly frequent): [City Hotel] All albums, repeatedly, several times a week. [Pilotredsun] "Groundhog" and "Scuffler" EP's, repeatedly [Ferenczi Gyorgy] "Mindenek Szerelme" at least ten times [Bobbing] "Year of the Newt" numerous times Notable Listens: 4-3-2024: [J3PO] "MAINS" [Squarepusher] "Just a Souvenir" [Carling & Will] "Soon comes the Night" [Lianhua] "Citrus!" [Animals as Leaders] "The Madness of Many" [Bach performed by Masaaki Suzuki] "J.S. Bach original works, Vol.5" [Venetian Snares] "Hospitality" 5-3-2024: [Frums] "Vignette" [Aphex Twin] "...I care because you do" and "come to daddy" [Boiled Buzzards] "Fine Dining" [Bele Fleck and the Flecktones] Various Albums [Floating Points et. al] "Promises" [Kamasi Washington] "Harmony of Difference" 6-3-2024: [Bele Fleck and the Flecktones] First three albums [Glasys] "Defective Humanity" [Dubmood] "Lost Tapes Vol. 2" [Disasterpeace] "Rise of the Obsidian Interstellar" [Green Lung] "Woodland Rites" [E-An-Na] "Alveolar" 7-3-2024: Several recommendations from George [Squarepusher] "Ultravisitor" [Keshi] [The Funky Knuckles] "Delicious" [Flyleaf] "Flyleaf"

8-3-2024: [Adhesive Wombat] "Sticky Tracks" 11-3-2024: [Varra] "Varra III" More recs from George [Lemon City Trio] [Bruno Major] "A song for every Moon" [zabutom] "Lost Tapes Vol. 1" 12-3-2024: [Bruno Major] "Let a good Thing Die" [Return to Forever] "Romantic Warrior" [Soiya] "You can Say Hi" [The Ollum] 13-3-2024: [Drumcorp] "Falling Forward" [Moon Tooth] "Chromaparagon" 18-3-2024: [Wanclaw Zimpel] "Long Weekend" [Justice] "Cross" Recommendations from Kenny [Squarepusher] "Solo Bass" and "Feed me Weird Things" 19-3-2024: [Squarepusher] "Ufabulum" [Mark Guliana] "Music for Doing" [5SOS] [Breaking Benjamin] "Shallow Bay" [David Hyams] "Knowing the Place" 20-3-2024: [Old & in the Way] [Nora Brown] "Cinnamon Tree" [Squrepusher] "Be up a Hello" 21-3-2024: [Arthur Verocai] "Encore" [Glasys] "Defective Humanity" and "The Pressure" [Faux Plums] "In Tongues" [The Collection] "Entropy" 22-3-2024: [Dubmood] "Lost Floppies Vol. 1" [zabutom] "Lost Floppies Vol. 2" [Aphex Twin] "Syro" [Disasterpeace] "Rise of the Obsidian Interstellar" [E-An-Na] "Alveolar" [Machine Girl] "Because I'm young, arrogant, and hate everything you stand for..." [Ween] "The Mollusk" (Large break in the ledger from when I went to visit George in person) 5-4-2023: [Green Lung] "Woodland Rites" [Grouper] "I'm Dragging a dead deer up a Hill" [Pilotredsun] "Cyber op Keys" and "Think Environment" [Moon Hooch] "Red Sky" 8-4-2024: [Mick Gordon] "Doom OST" [Scary Goldings] [By the Spirits] "We are Falling" [Queen] "The Game" [zabutom] "Lost Tapes 1" [The Orb] "Orblivion" 9-4-2024: [Lincoln Park] "Hybrid Theory" and one more album I can't make out in my notes [Irving Force] "Godmode" [Micheal Hedges] "Oracle" 10-4-2024: [zabutom] "Resolution" [ur pretty] Entire Discography [Nora Brown] "Long time to be Gone" [Evan Marian] "Elysian" [Michael Hedges] "Oracle" [Kaizo Slumber] "The Kaizo Manifesto" [Sublime Jupiter Snake Duo] "Clown" That's all for now. I'll probably get back to recording what I listen to because I like the timeline of what I was interested in, but I'll probably not write proper reviews or responses to most things, just in the interest of saving myself some time. Things I have big reactions to will definitely get some more love though.

[nonesuchrecords]

Happy first day of spring to our fellow Northern Hemisphereans! Celebrate with our newly updated Ring in Spring playlist here.

Listen in for songs by Hurray for the Riff Raff, Yasmin Williams, Molly Tuttle, Yussef Dayes, Carminho, Sam Gendel, Caroline Shaw, Cecile McLorin Salvant, The Staves, Mary Halvorson, Wilco, David Byrne, Sam Amidon, The Magnetic Fields, Kronos Quartet, Brad Mehldau, The Black Keys, k.d. lang, Emmylou Harris, Chris Thile, Randy Newman, Caetano Veloso, Tigran Hamasyan, and more. 

[drjpresents]

27th May 2024 - DJ Set - Track List

I had the incredible privilege of DJing some cinematic soul for friends at their wedding at the end of last month, rounding off a bank holiday weekend!

Loads of funk, jazz, Motown, funky house, hip-hop, broken beat and beyond! Massive shout out to my hosts for inviting and entrusting me with the finale of your big day! The amazing staff at Viet Hoa Cafe and Mess for the hospitality and support with setup and set down and, of course to the amazing guest who danced their feet off throughout the course of the night and shared kind feedback directly with me and the hosts too! I had a huge amount of fun at this gig (as pictured, ha ha!) For any of you there who were curious about any of the tracks played for the warmup and during the main event, I’ve popped it all in a video of you swipe to the end! And of course, if this kinda music is up your street and you’d like me to spin for you, hit me up and we’ll see if we can work something out!

The Warm Up

Chola - The Nostalgia 77 Octet

Escape Velocity - Menagerie

Settle The Score - Cookin' On 3 Burners

Take What You Need - The New Mastersounds

Tbilisi Sunset (Skit) - Fulgeance & DJ Scientist

2 Minutes To Midnight - Dr. J

Saudade De Maecenas - S.O.L Collective

Take A Break - Sven Wunder

Bergen Sunrays feat. Selim Mutic - Espen Horne

I Did It For You - Tom Misch & Yussef Dayes

African Mailman - The Rhythmagic Orchestra

Dub y Guaguanco - Quantic Presenta Flowering Inferno

Sweet Love Affair - Resonators

The Get Down - Jonny Drop

Feel Involved In Love Feat. Mr. Tanqueray - Tall Black Guy

Loving Someone (Part 1) - Jaguar Skills & Omar

I Predict A Riot - Carolina Lins & Os Planatos

The First Dance

Chicken Wings - Samm Henshaw

The Main Event

Get Up (I Feel Like Being A) Sex Machine - James Brown

Crazy In Love - Beyoncé feat. Jay-Z

It Takes Two - Marvin Gaye & Kim Weston

What A Man - Linda Lyndell

Sài Gòn (1965) [Remastered] - Trúc Mai

Work It Out - Speedometer

Everywhere - Fleetwood Mac

Under the Sea / Flyers Drive - The Fearless Flyers

Funky Nassau, Pt. 1 - The Beginning Of The End

Arraino - Popular Cooper and His All Beats Band

Bomba Trópica - Ondatrópica

Is This Love - Bob Marley & The Wailers

Help Me Make It Through The Night - John Holt

All I Do Is Think About You Featuring Christopher Ellis - Quantic Presenta Flowering Inferno

My Light - SAULT

It Runs Through Me - Tom Misch

The Way You Make Me Feel - The Kount and Marc Rebillet featuring Moods

Avenue Joffre (Instrumental) - The Shanghai Restoration Project

Un Canto A Mi Tierra (J-Boogie Remix) - Quantic and His Combo Bárbaro

Keep On Loving Me - Onra

Ooh Wee (featuring Ghostface Killah, Nate Dogg, Trife & Saigon) (Amended Version) - Mark Ronson

(Are You Ready) Do The Bus Stop / Suga - The Fatback Band/Sarah Ruba

Ain't Nobody ft. Sharlene Hector - Jack & Juke

Thinking - Louis Cole

Get Lucky (Radio Edit) - Daft Punk ft. Pharrell Williams

Cosmic Girl - Jamiroquai

Candy - Cameo

Treat U Good - Moods feat. Noah Slee, Lyriya, Meron

Digital Love - Daft Punk

Delight (Instrumental) - Dr. J

Red Alert - Basement Jaxx

Caravan - Mark de Clive-Lowe & the Rotterdam Jazz Orchestra

Not So Blue - Quantic

Superstylin' - Groove Armada

Re-Rewind (The Crowd Say Bo Selecta) (Radio Edit) - The Artful Dodger

Hold It Down (Bugz in the Attic's Co-operative Mix) - 4hero

Body Groove (Original Mix MC Version) - Architechs

Dancing (Original) - Omar & Zed Bias

Loving You Is Easy - Camo & Krooked

Mesablanca - O'Flynn

Lk (feat. Stamina MC) - DJ Marky & XRS

Tremendo Boogaloo (Fluid Mechanics Remix) - Manteca

Last Goodbye (Feat. Celestine) - Break

Move on Up - Curtis Mayfield

I Say A Little Prayer - Martha Reeves & The Vandellas

Ain't No Mountain High Enough - Diana Ross

Light My Fire - Stevie Wonder

It's Dancing Time - Mr. Scruff & Quantic

Evil Vibrations - The Rebirth

It's Dancing Time - Mr. Scruff & Quantic

Back To Life (Scrimshire, Waaaaaaait For it, Edit) - Scrimshire

8th Wonder (Pressure Drop Remix) - The Sugarhill Gang

Jumpin' Jumpin' (Jean Tonique Remix) - Destiny's Child

Joints & Jam Album Version  - The Black Eyed Peas

Dragonball Durag - Thundercat

A Little Bit Of Love (Souleance "C'est La Fête" Re-edit) - Brenda Russell vs Souleance

Shelter - junior state