Some Thursday thoughts from the Sunday Review of Filles de Kilimanjaro: open.substack.com/pub/andybeta...

“Richard Long’s soundsystem used to make love to me. That is the essence of what a good soundsystem can do.” daily.redbullmusicacademy.com/2016/05/rich...

The late Richard Long's lone remaining soundsystem:

A tribute to the late Steve Barrow and how he transported a TX teen to the Bizarro World that is JA dub reggae

Happy Ode To Billie Joe Day to all who celebrate, which should be everyone. www.youtube.com/watch?v=HaRa...

Just learned that Areski Belkacem has left us. His work with Brigitte Fontaine is magical stuff: youtu.be/sRrkSp77WM4?...

"In Filles, there’s summation, destruction, decay, creation, and new possibilities all within. It brings together Davis and Evans for one last collaboration, and also offers one final glimpse of the Second Great Quintet before Miles went electric." Happy 100th Miles: pitchfork.com/reviews/albu...

“Why did I do it?” Rollins said to Hilton Als in 2016 about recording Freedom Suite in 1958. “Because I was trying to get black consciousness into people.” open.substack.com/pub/andybeta...

The Sonny Rollins Bridge Project seeks to rename NYC’s Williamsburg Bridge to commemorate Rollins’ musical sabbatical there from 1959-1961. SIGN OUR PETITION sonnyrollinsbridge.net/our-quest/

Currently reading: Cosmic Music: The Life, Art and Transcendence of Alice Coltrane by Andy Beta @andybeta.bsky.social

An imaginary playlist for The Lot, plus loads of new music from Olof Dreijer, Croz Boyce, Marc Leclair, Ibrahim Alfa Jnr., Hans Reichel, and more: andybeta.substack.com/p/the-lot-fo...

Really lovely write-up of Cosmic Music on this list:

"Great jazz clubs are always that cozy...Even the color of the Vanguard is perfect, that darkish crimson red you got going on with the curtains." Chatted with Immanuel Wilkins about his favorite albums/ memories from the Village Vanguard: www.everythingjazz.com/story/immanu...

Bucket list chat about free jazz, UK free improv, Alice, and turning into an ECM guy with Thurston Moore: open.substack.com/pub/andybeta...

in honor of May 4th: I visited Kent State last summer & paid my respects: jukeboxgraduate.com/visiting-ken...

My next read that I’m going to start tomorrow. @andybeta.bsky.social

D.C. peeps, I'll be in conversation with @bushmeatsound.bsky.social this Wed:

John Coltrane and John Coltrane's flutes

"Whether it’s explaining her approach to making and recording music or her uncanny ability to always find a parking place. Beta simply grants Alice Coltrane the autonomy to define her own experience, which shouldn’t be radical, and yet it is." TY @carynrose.bsky.social www.salon.com/2026/04/14/a...

Thinking back some 13 years ago to an old review, while also remembering getting a MHTRTC promo from @motormouthmediapr.bsky.social and also seeing Boards of Canada play live! substack.com/home/post/p-...

extra lovea-what bro: youtu.be/Q7mWtZTjCzo?...

Ten years gone. And I still think back to this small moment in rehearsal before Prince's legendary RnR HoF performance: www.nytimes.com/2016/04/28/a...

Alice Coltrane. Music beyond music. Our Cosmic Music Special Edition tee with @andybeta.bsky.social is now available.

"She wanted to disappear in silence." Heartbroken to hear of Irena's recent unreported passing, but heartened to know she has now joined Vojtěch in the next life: www.theguardian.com/music/2026/a...

💫

NGL, really cool to hear Cosmic Music discussed on NPR: www.npr.org/2026/04/13/n...

Forgetting to remember a review from the first week of the pandemic and going into the cinematic rainforest of Priscilla Ermel's music: substack.com/home/post/p-...

🙏

Shall we go?

I wrote I wanted a "more skeptical eye" RE: Alice Coltrane's visions in "Cosmic Music." But then I listened to @andybeta.bsky.social with @marcissist.bsky.social on the Music Book Podcast and it gave a lot more depth to his decisions. Recommended. themusicbookpodcast.buzzsprout.com/2120946/epis...

Chatted music, spirituality, and writing about a saint with @tylerwilcox.bsky.social for @aquariumdrunkard.com: aquariumdrunkard.com/2026/04/07/c...

Alice Coltrane. A true visionary. Cosmic Music Special Edition 👕 . Small batch. Coming soon with @andybeta.bsky.social

Hometown paper: www.sacurrent.com/music/san-an...

Tonight! With Brandee Younger, the legendary Tulsi, and @jennpelly.bsky.social as.nyu.edu/departments/...

UK release day for Cosmic Music:

A chat with @grantsharpies.bsky.social for @pastemagazine.bsky.social "Her spirituality is the centerpiece. There was a certain point in writing the book, probably about two-thirds of the way in, and I sort of hit a spot where I’m like, 'This is no longer a music biography.' It kind of falls away."

For the latest edition of my Audio Books column at @pastemagazine.bsky.social / @avclub.com, I had a nice conversation with @andybeta.bsky.social about his new Alice Coltrane biography

Next Tuesday at NYU's Colloquium of Unpopular Culture: as.nyu.edu/departments/...

Eternity today over at @thequietus.com: thequietus.com/culture/book...

Won't play outside of the UK 🤷‍♂️ but a dream to speak with @zakiasewell.bsky.social about Alice: www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m...

"I found a much deeper connection with Cuban filin. You can hear somebody singing with these kind of Nat King Cole harmonies, but it’s in Spanish." www.everythingjazz.com/story/meliss...

The agony of listening to my voice in conversation with fellow underground music veteran Marc Masters: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/0...

"We know this guy is incompetent. I wouldn’t feel safe leaving Pete Hegseth in charge of putting together a DoorDash order." www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026...

Funky like a bag of Bravos: pitchfork.com/reviews/albu...

Chuffed to be part of this episode. Thanks to Zakia for the invite: www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m...

Tonight!

My pal @andybeta.bsky.social’s Alice Coltrane book is out today and available wherever books are sold! Happy Holi!

Two days ago 200+ Anti-ICE billboards I designed went up across the country in the following cities. tag me if you see them. Phoenix Bakersfield Fresno LA Orange County, San Bernardino Miami Chicago Boston Detroit Charlotte Raleigh PDX Memphis Nashville Dallas Fort Worth Laredo San Antonio

Chatted Cosmic Music with a fellow veteran of the US noise underground, Marc Masters. podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/0...