August 2026 Recap: A Monthly Exercise in Critical Transparency

William Brownlee

September 1, 2026

Screenshot of the trailer for Opera Holland Park’s production of Johann Strauss’ “Die Fledermaus” by There Stands the Glass.

The Top Ten Albums of August 2026
1. Linda May Han Oh and Melissa Aldana- Beneath Lifted Skies
Stunning duo #1.

2. Miguel Zenón y Luis Perdomo- El Arte del Bolero, Vol. 3
Stunning duo #2.

3. Skúli Sverrisson and Bill Frisell- For All Your Flowers
My review of stunning duo #3.

4. Sarah Davachi- The Will of Tongues
Deific whispers.

5. Bruce Liu- Lunaris
Celestial piano.

6. Henry Threadgill, Vijay Iyer and Dafnis Prieto- Fifteen
Gold-plated improvisations.

7. Jorja Smith- What Are the Odds
The sweetest taboos.

8. Evil Island- Terraform the Afterlife
My review.

9. Erykah Badu and the Alchemist- Before the World Blows
Faded.

10. Ben Goldberg- Dog Hypnotic, Spillway Four, Optical, Trouble Trouble, For Bobby, Dreaming Upon Waking, Just What You Thought You Wanted and Rock Band
My review.

The Top Three Reissues and Compilations of August 2026
1. The Cramps- Gravest Gravy
Be-bop-a-lula.

2. Iréne Schweizer- Prelude to a Kiss and More
Solo piano at Volkshaus Zürich in 1986.

3. John Williams- Legacy
My review.

The Top Ten Songs of August 2026
1. Denzel Curry and Kenny Beats featuring Yabba- "Difference"
Prog rap.

2. Nicole McCabe and Savannah Harris- "Monstera"
The sound of the moment.

3. Sylvie Courvoisier- "At Risk"
With Patricia Brennan, Thomas Morgan and Dan Weiss.

4. Mike Shabb featuring Mike- “Dontsweatit!”
Swampy.

5. Fat Joe, Pusha T and Dre- “Set of Keys”
Unlocked.

6. Ela Minus & Nick León- "qué les pasó a mis amigos?"
Fast friends.

7. Natanael Cano- “Mar Azul”
Asea.

8. Karol G- "Alguien que te amaba"
One of the better tracks from a disappointing album.

9. Lambchop- “Just West of Nicollet”
Darkness.

10. The Odyssey Cult- “Our First Trip”
Freak scene.

The Top Ten Performances of August 2026
1. J. Cole at the T-Mobile Center
My review.

2. French Organ Festival at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception
My Instagram clip.

3. Logan Richardson at the Gem Theater
My review.

4. The Kansas City Symphony with Blake Pouliot at Helzberg Hall
My Instagram snapshot.

5. Steve Cardenas, Forest Stewart and Brian Steever at Ted’s Taproom
My review.

6. Charles Williams, DeAndre Manning and Kenny Watson at First Baptist Church
My Instagram clip.

7. Made in France at French Market
My Instagram clip.

8. David Chael, Aaron Sizemore, Greg Whitfield and John Kizilarmut at Music House
My Instagram clip.

9. Twice on Sunday at Thompson Park
My Instagram snapshot.

10. Jam session at 515 Music Hub
My Instagram snapshot.

The previous monthly recap is here.

William Brownlee

August 20, 2026

Concert Review: J. Cole at the T-Mobile Center

William Brownlee

August 20, 2026

Original image by There Stands the Glass.

I was priced out of J. Cole’s arena tour in 2024. Given the least expensive tickets for the rapper’s return to the T-Mobile Center on Wednesday, August 20, were more than $100, I reckoned I’d be shut out again. Yet a few hours before the concert I spotted a front-row aisle seat in a newly opened “obstructed view” section for an all-in price of $57. Suddenly, "I'm in the building and I'm feeling myself!"

Could I see? Sometimes! I was situated thirty feet from an on-stage drink and towel stand Cole visited between songs in his two-hour performance. Could I hear Cole and his live band clearly? Not really! I was behind the banks of speakers pointed at the capacity audience of approximately 14,000. I was glad to be surrounded by women who shouted the words to most of the songs. Their cues allowed me to immediately recognize personal favorites like “Middle Child” and “A Tale of 2 Citiez.”

Many people went home raving about the child who went bar-for-bar with Cole on Benny the Butcher’s “Johnny P’s Caddy.” I can’t stop thinking about one of the night’s few glitches. Situated above the tech crew, I marveled at a spate of finger-pointing when Cole’s microphone cut out and a replacement couldn’t be quickly located. I was also surprised at the indifferent reception hometown producer Conductor Williams received during his opening set.

Cole insisted he belongs on a Mount Rushmore of rap during a lengthy manifesto early in the concert. His grind and talent are irrefutable. Yet the intrinsic corniness on full display in Kansas City locks him out of my top four. On the other hand, Cole’s everyman persona makes him unique among rap superstars. He may not be in my top four, but he’s a shoe-in for my top twelve.