Screenshot of soprano Sara Blanch in the trailer of the Donizetti Opera Festival’s staging of Gaetano Donzetti’s La fille du régiment by There Stands the Glass.
Top Ten Albums (Released in May, excluding 5/27 titles)
1. Mary Halvorson- Belladonna
2. Ches Smith- Interpret It Well
3. Bad Bunny- Un Verano Sin Ti
Summer soundtrack sorted.
4. Leikeli47- Shape Up
Fit.
5. John Scofield- John Scofield
Sublime solo set.
6. Shabaka- Afrikan Culture
Hushed Hutchings.
7. Daniel Villarreal- Panamá 77
International Anthem indeed.
8. Mary Halvorson- Amaryllis
My review of the companion album.
9. Andris Nelsons- Strauss
10. Kendrick Lamar- Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers
The transformation of King Kendrick into Captain Obvious is a hard pill to swallow.
Top Ten Songs (released in May)
1. Charles Stepney- “Daddy’s Diddies”
My favorite sound.
2. Tank and the Bangas with Lalah Hathaway and Jacob Collier-
Fulfillingness’ second finale.
3. Becky G- "Kill Bill"
Dead.
4. Dougie B- “I’m Back”
Bumpin’ me against the wall.
5. Flee Lord with Mephux- "Out the Mud"
True grit.
6. Hollie Cook- “Happy Hour”
Red Stripe special.
7. Ty Segall- “Saturday Pt. 2”
A stroll in Itchycoo Park.
8. Belle and Sebastian- "Do It for Your Country"
Ask not.
9. Flora- "Hey"
Ya.
10. Kevin Morby- “A Coat of Butterflies”
Hallelujah.
Top Ten Performances of May (and the last weekend of April)
1. Little Joe y La Familia at the Guadalupe Center
2. Samantha Ege at the Folly Theater
3. Logan Richardson + Blues People at the Ship
4. High Pulp at the recordBar
5. Isata and Sheku Kanneh-Mason at the Folly Theater
6. The Lyric Opera of Kansas City’s “Tosca” at Muriel Kauffman Theatre
7. Kind Folk at the Black Box
8. Drew Williams, Brandon Cooper and Seth Andrew Davis at Charlotte Street Foundation
9. Brian Scarborough Quintet at Westport Coffee House
10. Guitar Elation at Green Lady Lounge
The dueling guitars of Brian Baggett and Danny Embrey.
Last month’s survey is here.