Saxophonist Phillipe Maté has played with the Acting Trio, Jef Gilson and Butch Morris, amongst others; and that’s him on Jean-Claude Vannier’s brilliant L’Enfant Assassin Des Mouches. As the recording engineer of BYG, Daniel Vallancien worked alongside Anthony Braxton, Don Cherry and Sonny Sharrock; for Saravah he recorded Brigitte Fontaine and the Cohelmec Ensemble. From 1972, this free-form saxophone/electronics collaboration is another bonafide classic of the French musical underground, revived with characteristic panache by Souffle Continu.

What a tune. A surging, early-seventies Soul Syndicate rhythm, with a fulgent trombone solo; and succinct, profound reasoning from the Don, at his very best, about thinking for yourself. Rebel music to live by; as clear as a bell. That’s a tough Sleepy on the flip, too. Killer.

A droning, slo-mo Leonard Cohen cover, and a collaboration with violinist Jessica Moss, from A Silver Mt. Zion; both around twelve minutes. Grouper’s a big fan.

Recently described by Vijay Iyer as ‘one of the greatest recorded works of all time.’ ‘His sound has strong resemblances to that of Miles Davis,’ noted the five-star Guardian review, back in 1978, ‘but Smith has absorbed the approaches of all the bebop trumpet heroes and redeployed them within a bold, vital and often ritualistic setting.’
With Charlie Haden, Lester Bowie, Kenny Wheeler…