The first person I saw upon entering a punk-oriented show on Tuesday was a prominent jazz musician. As most people in Kansas City stick to their own lanes, I was pleasantly surprised. Kassa Overall knows that type of restrictive mindset is nonsense. His genre-fluid 2023 release Animals was my fourth favorite album of that year. I even wheeled a trip to Portland around Overall’s performance at Mississippi Studios. His intentions become even more explicit on CREAM. Joined by saxophonists Emilio Modeste and Tomoki Sanders, keyboardist Matt Wong and percussionist Bendji Allonce, drummer and bandleader Overall makes no distinction between classic compositions associated with the likes of Eddie Harris and Juvenile. I’m embarrassed I was initially taken aback by the jazz cat’s presence at the punk gig.
Album Review: Gerald Clayton- Ones & Twos
Music appreciation has become so effortless that I’m inclined to resent the artists responsible for Ones & Twos. Accessing the gimmick of the new Blue Note Records release required the help of a friend kind enough to create bespoke files for me.
Alluding to the DJ reference in the title of his latest album, Gerald Clayton explains it’s “a record where the A side can be played simultaneously with the B side… you hear two separate pieces at the same time.”
Each side of the twelve-track album is meant to be heard separately and simultaneously. The music in the latter experience is obviously twice as dense as the detached tracks. Remarkably, it succeeds both ways.
The ruse may not have intrigued me had not several of my favorite musicians been involved. Marquis Hill, Elena Pinderhughes, Joel Ross, Kendrick Scott and the brilliant trickster Kassa Overall have created many of the most exciting sounds of the past decade. Ones & Twos is no exception.
Hilary Hahn: There Stands the Glass’ Artist of the Year
(Screenshot of Hilary Hahn video by There Stands the Glass.)
A confluence of circumstances makes Hilary Hahn There Stands the Glass’ Artist of the Year for 2023. Already immersed in solo interpretations of Johann Sebastian Bach, I was primed for the American violinist’s October concert at the Folly Theater. I’d also developed a passion for Hahn’s new album Ysaÿe: 6 Sonatas for Violin Solo, Op. 27. A recent reading Isaac Stern’s autobiography My First 79 Years further enhanced my appreciation of Hahn’s place in the continuum of classical violinists.
Honorable mention: Danny Brown, Lise Davidsen, Kassa Overall and Morgan Wallen. The previous winners of the Artist of the Year designation are Joyce DiDonato (2022), Pat Metheny (2021) and Bad Bunny (2020).
We Let the Liquor Talk: The Top Albums and Songs of 2023
Instigating a cappella singalongs of Morgan Wallen’s hit “Last Night” at parties, backyard barbecues and amid crowds of strangers in public spaces was my favorite prank of 2023. It’s the song by which I’ll remember the year. Determining my favorite album wasn’t as easy. A dozen releases listed below spent time at the top of my albums list during 2023. Wallen’s One Thing at a Time might have been a contender, but I elect not to duplicate artists in these tabulations.
The Top Fifty Albums of 2023
1. Karol G- Mañana Será Bonito
2. Sebastian Rochford- A Short Diary
3. Bad Bunny- Nadie Sabe Lo Que Va a Pasar Mañana
4. Kassa Overall- Animals
5. Billy Woods and Kenny Segal- Maps
6. Jason Moran- From the Dancehall to the Battlefield
7. Grupo Frontera- El Comienzo
8. Elle King- Come Get Your Wife
9. Hilary Hahn- Eugène Ysaÿe: Six Sonatas for Solo Violin
10. JPEGMAFIA and Danny Brown- Scaring the Hoes
11. Young Fathers- Heavy Heavy
12. ANOHNI and the Johnsons- My Back Was A Bridge For You To Cross
13. Sylvie Courvoisier- Chimaera
14. Lonnie Holley- Oh Me Oh My
15. Kelela- Raven
16. Joe Lovano, Marilyn Crispell and Carmen Castaldi- Our Daily Bread
17. Buddy and Julie Miller- In the Throes
18. Matt Otto- Umbra
19. Atmosphere- Talk Talk
20. Henry Threadgill- The Other One
21. Cécile McLorin Salvant- Mélusine
22. The Art Ensemble of Chicago- The Sixth Decade: From Paris to Paris
23. Armand Hammer- We Buy Diabetic Test Strips
24.Wilco- Cousin
25. Aja Monet- when the poems do what they do
26. Killer Mike- Michael
27. Bonnie “Prince” Billy- Keeping Secrets Will Destroy You
28. Laura Schuler Quartet- Sueños Paralelos
29. The Clientele- I Am Not There Anymore
30. Irreversible Entanglements- Protect Your Light
31. Sampha- Lahai
32. Tyshawn Sorey- Continuing
33. Mike Dillon & Punkadelick- Inflorescence
34. Willie Nelson- I Don’t Know a Thing About Love: The Songs of Harlan Howard
35. Zoh Amba, Chris Corsano & Bill Orcutt- The Flower School
36. Rudy Royston’s Flatbed Buggy- Day
37. Christian McBride’s New Jawn- Prime
38. Mette Henriette- Drifting
39. Kali Malone- Does Spring Hide Its Joy
40. Johnathan Blake- Passage
41. King Krule- Space Heavy
42. The Necks- Travel
43. Ambrose Akinmusire- Beauty Is Enough
44. Cleo Sol- Gold
45. Jaimie Branch- Fly or Die Fly or Die Fly or Die ((world war))
46. Tilo Weber- Tesserae
47. Lana Del Rey- Did You Know That There’s a Tunnel Under Ocean Blvd
48. El Michels Affair and Black Thought- Glorious Game
49. Ingrid Laubrock- The Last Quiet Place
50. Bertrand Chamayou- Letter(s) to Erik Satie
The Top Fifty Songs of 2023
1. Morgan Wallen- “Last Night”
2. Jamila Woods and duendita- “Tiny Garden”
3. Joshua Redman featuring Gabrielle Cavassa- “Chicago Blues”
4. L’Rain- "Pet Rock"
5. Meshell Ndegeocello featuring Brandee Younger and Julius Rodriguez- “Virgo”
6. That Mexican OT featuring Paul Wall and Drodi- “Johnny Dang”
7. Shirley Collins- “High and Away”
8. Military Gunn- “Do It Faster”
9. The Streets- “Gonna Hurt When This Is Over”
10. Danny Brown- “Tantor”
11. Austin Plaine- “Turn It Around”
12. Yahritza y Su Esencia- “Rositas”
13. SZA- “Kill Bill”
14. Jessie Ware- "Pearls"
15. 2 Chainz and Lil Wayne- "Presha"
16. Turnstile and BadBadNotGood- "Underwater Boi"
17. Stik Figa with the Expert and Blu- "Uknowhut?"
18. Lauren Watkins- "Grain of Salt"
19. Carin Leon- "Primera Cita"
20. Brent Cobb- "Devil Ain't Done"
21. Joanna Sternberg- "I Will Be With You"
22. SexyyRed- "SkeeYee"
23. Tokischa- "Candy"
24. Kali Uchis- "Te Mata"
25. Cultura Profética- "Para Mí"
26. Snoh Aalegra "Wait a Little Longer"
27. Tech N9ne and the Popper- "They Know Meh"
28. Alien Nosejob- "Split Personality"
29. Camilo and Diljit Dosanjh- "Palpita"
30. Raheem DeVaughn- "Let's Fall in Love"
31. Don Omar- "Carcelero"
32. Peso Pluma- "Bye"
33. Ice Spice- "In Ha Mood"
34. 100 gecs- "Dumbest Girl Alive"
35. Big Freedia- "Gin In My System"
36. Luke Combs- "Love You Anyway"
37. Robert Glasper featuring SiR and Alex Isley- "Back to Love"
38. esperanza spalding- "Não Ao Marco Temporal"
39. Sleaford Mods- “So Trendy”
40. Noname with $ilkmoney, Billy Woods and Stout- "gospel?"
41. Maria Elena Silva- "Love, If It Is So"
42. PJ Harvey- “I Inside the Old Year Dying”
43. Sam Hunt- "Walmart"
44. Fuerza Regida and Becky G- "Te Quiero Besar"
45. Slauson Malone 1- "New Joy"
46. Bizzy Banks- "Ok Ok Ok"
47. SleazyWorld Go- "Off the Court"
48. DJ Lucas- "The Climb"
49. Megan Moroney- "Kansas Anymore"
50. Mireya Ramos & the Poor Choices with Los Texmaniacs- "There Stands the Glass"
There Stands the Glass’ top 50 performances of 2023 are listed here.
There Stands the Glass’ top albums and songs of 2022 are listed here.
The Top Fifty Performances of 2023
Original image of Yujia Shen at the Diastole Scholars Center by There Stands the Glass.
The accompanying image of Yujia Shen at Diastole Scholars’ Center encapsulates my year. Classical violin (and piano) provided default ambience throughout 2023. By arriving early and through financial outlays, I claimed spots up front at dozens of concerts. The books in the room are also meaningful. My evenings were devoted to reading when I wasn’t attending performances.
1. Hilary Hahn at the Folly Theater
My review.
2. The Smile and Robert Stillman at the Midland Theatre
My review.
3. Kassa Overall and Omari Jazz at Mississippi Studios (Portland)
My Instagram clip.
4. Samara Joy at the Folly Theater
My review.
5. The Metropolitan Opera’s Tannhäuser at Lincoln Center (New York City)
My review.
6. András Schiff at Helzberg Hall
My review.
7. Mike Dillon and Brian Haas at the Brick
My review.
8. Yujia Shen at Diastole Scholars’ Center
My review.
9. Jake Blount at the Folk Alliance International Conference
My review.
10. RP Boo, DJ Alphabeta and Whorxata at the Encore Room
My review.
11. Pretty Yende at the Folly Theater
My review.
12. Adam Larson, Matt Clohesy and Jimmy Macbride at Westport Coffee House
My Instagram clip.
13. Tim Bernardes at Mississippi Studios (Portland)
My review.
14. UMKC Opera’s Proving Up at Spencer Theatre
My review.
15. Bill Frisell, Greg Tardy, Gerald Clayton and Johnathan Blake at the 1900 Building
My review.
16. Boston Camerata’s Dido & Aeneas at Community Christian Church
My Instagram photo.
17. Hermon Mehari Quartet at the Folly Theater
My review.
18. Off!, Upchuck and Weaponize Chomsky at the recordBar
My Instagram clip.
19. Thomas Rosenkranz at White Recital Hall
My review.
20. Juan Diego Flórez at the Folly Theater
My review.
21. Devin Gray, Maria Elena Silva and the Extemporaneous Music and Arts Society at Firehouse Gallery
My review.
22. DJ Lucas, Papo2oo4 and Subjxct 5, Lil Heavn, Paris Williams and N1n4 Freakqncy at Farewell
My review.
23. Thee Sinseers, the Altons and Alanna Royale at Lemonade Park
My review.
24. Willi Carlisle and Betse & Clarke at Knuckleheads
My Instagram snapshot.
25. CRAG Quartet, Joshua Gerowitz and the Extemporaneous Music and Arts Society at the Bunker
My review.
26. Artemis at the Gem Theater
My review.
27. Queens of the Stone Age, Viagra Boys and Jehnny Beth at Starlight Theatre
My review.
28. Rafael Lozano-Hemmer’s Listening Forest at Crystal Bridges (Bentonville)
My Instagram clip.
29. Miguel Zenón Quartet at the Folly Theater
My review.
30. Bob Weir at Louisville Palace (Louisville)
My review.
31. Bonnie “Prince” Billy and Michael Hurley at the Aladdin Theater (Portland)
My review.
32. Christian McBride, Benny Green and Gregory Hutchinson at the Village Vanguard (New York City)
My review.
33. Rod Fleeman Trio at Green Lady Lounge
My Instagram clip.
34. Nickel Creek and Gaby Moreno at Muriel Kauffman Theatre
My review.
35. Alien Nosejob, Citric Dummies and CKrit at Howdy
My review.
36. Danielle Nicole and Katy Guillen and the Drive at the Uptown Theater
My Instagram snapshot.
37. Pat Metheny’s SideEye at Muriel Kauffman Theatre
My review.
38. Janet Jackson and Ludacris at the T-Mobile Center
My Instagram snapshot.
39. Big Freedia at Boulevardia
My Instagram clip.
40. Jean-Yves Thibaudet at the Folly Theater
My Instagram snapshot.
41. Parker Quartet at Polsky Theatre
My review.
42. Eugene Friesen and Henrique Eisenmann at the 1900 Building
My review.
43. Chalis O’Neal at the Blue Room
My Instagram clip.
44. Booker T. Jones at the Folly Theater
My Instagram clip.
45. Rob Magill and Marshall Trammell, the Extemporaneous Music and Arts Society and Alber at Farewell
My review.
46. The Salvation Choir at Theis Park
My Instagram clip.
47. Hot Chip and Cadence Weapon at Wonder Ballroom (Portland)
My Instagram clip.
48. Randy Porter, Tom Wakeling and Todd Strait at the 1905 (Portland)
My review.
49. John Mellencamp at the Midland Theatre
My Instagram clip.
50 Kentucky Opera’s Cinderella at W.L. Lyons Brown Theatre (Louisville)
My Instagram snapshot.
There Stands the Glass’ top albums and songs of 2023 are listed here.
Last year’s concert rankings are here.
November 2023 Recap: A Monthly Exercise in Critical Transparency
Screenshot of the trailer of Opernhaus Zürich’s production of Richard Wagner’s Götterdämmerung by There Stands the Glass.
Top Ten Albums of November
1. Bertrand Chamayou- Letter(s) to Erik Satie
Correspondence with John Cage.
2. Sullivan Fortner- Solo Game
Two sides of the pianist.
3. 2 Chainz and Lil Wayne- Welcome 2 Collegrove
Duffle bag boys.
4. Yuhan Su- Liberated Gesture
Good vibes.
5. DJ Manny- Hypnotized
Superior footwork.
6. Viktor Orri Árnason and Álfheiður Erla Guðmundsdóttir- Poems
Icy.
7. Thandi Ntuli and Carlos Niño- Rainbow Revisited
Sunshine.
8. Nitai Hershkovits- Call On the Old Wise
Wisdom of the elders.
9. Blockhead- The Aux
Underground all-stars.
10. Sarah Davachi and Quatuor Bozzini- Long Gradus
Deceptive drones.
Top Ten Songs of November
1.Tokischa- "Candy"
Not so sweet.
2. Danny Brown featuring Kassa Overall- "Jenn's Terrific Vacation"
An unexpected update of 2011’s “Fields”.
3. Rico Nasty, NCognita, Simon Said. and Raedio- "Lackin"
Complete.
4. Björk featuring Rosalía- "Oral"
“I just don’t know.”
5. Atmosphere- “Traveling Forever”
Never-ending tour.
6. 070 Shake featuring Ken Carson- "Natural Habitat"
Uncaged.
7. Larry June, Cardo and the Alchemist- "The Great Escape"
Free.
8. Majid Jordan- "Eyes Closed"
Smooth operator.
9. Yahritza Y Su Esencia and El Yaki- "Nos Equivocamos"
We were wrong.
10. Willi Carlisle- “When the Pills Wear Off”
Reckoning.
Top Ten Performances of November
1. András Schiff at Helzberg Hall
2. Juan Diego Flórez at the Folly Theater
3. Rafael Lozano-Hemmer’s Listening Forest at Crystal Bridges Museum (Bentonville)
4. The Danielle Nicole Band and Katy Guillen and the Drive at the Uptown Theater
5. DJ Lucas, Papo2oo4, Subjxct 5, Paris Williams, Lil Heavn and N1n4 Freakquency at Farewell
6. Kelly Hall Tompkins at the Folly Theater
7. UMKC Opera’s “The Magic Flute” at White Recital Hall
8. Jackie Myers, Rich Wheeler and Sebastian Arias at the Market at Meadowbrook
9. The Extemporaneous Music and Arts Society’s “Intersect & Interdependence” at Charlotte Street Foundation
10. East Hill Singers at Rolling Hills Presbyterian Church
The previous monthly survey is here.
Concert Review: Kassa Overall at Mississippi Studios
Original image of Stas Thee Boss, Bendji Allonce and Kassa Overall by There Stands the Glass.
A modified stage dive during Kassa Overall’s appearance at Mississippi Studios on Saturday, August 26, affirmed jazz’s historic mutability. The euphoric 75-minute performance also clarified the ambitious artist’s intent.
Once a drummer for elite artists like the late Geri Allen, Overall is committed to expanding the sound associated with Kendrick Lamar’s groundbreaking 2015 album To Pimp a Butterfly. Overall’s current tour focuses on material from his latest release Animals.
Joined by soprano saxophonist Tomoki Sanders, pianist Ian Finkelstein, bassist Giulio Xavier Cetto and percussionist Bendji Allonce, Overall drummed and rapped with wild abandon. An expansion of the interpolation of “This Train (Is Bound for Glory)” heard on “I Know You See Me” was among the selections in which the quintet breathed new life into old forms.
Stas THEE Boss, a musician best known as a member of the Seattle group ThEESatisfaction, joined the band for a hypnotic rendition of "Tried It". Yet even the pieces that presented as hip-hop possessed unmistakable jazz foundations. Finkelstein’s playing in particular rendered genre distinctions meaningless.
As for that stage dive: after indicating the audience of about 250 should part, Sanders leapt from the stage and ran through the club. Scrambling back, bounced off the lip of the stage and exited again. As a percussion workout climaxed, Sanders hurled himself onto the stage. Punk rockers- as well as everyone who embraces the ongoing evolution of jazz- should be impressed.
August 2023 Recap: A Monthly Exercise in Critical Transparency
Screenshot of the trailer for a recent production of Il Signor Bruschino at Rossini at Wildbad by There Stands the Glass.
Top Ten Albums of August
1. Karol G- Mañana Será Bonito (Bichota Season)
Pop perfection.
2. Jaimie Branch- Fly Or Die Fly Or Die Fly Or Die (world war)
This ain’t no picnic.
3. Jonathan Blake- Passage
4. Bonnie “Prince” Billy- Keeping Secrets Will Destroy You
Spill the beans.
5. Grupo Frontera- El Comienzo
A celebratory debut.
6. Arnold Dreyblatt- Resolve
Classical grit.
7. Evan Parker- Etching the Ether
8. Miguel Zenón y Luis Perdomo- El Arte del Bolero, Vol. 2
Transcendent duo.
9. Bobby Rush- All My Love for You
He’s the one.
10. Ratboys- The Window
Heartland rock.
Top Ten Songs of August
1. L’Rain- “Pet Rock”
Heavy.
2. Turnstile and Badbadnotgood- “Underwater Boi”
Aqualung.
3. Noname with $ilkmoney, Billy Woods and Stout- “gospel?”
Fight song.
4. Kirk Franklin- “Try Love”
The gospel truth.
5. Armand Hammer with Elucid, Billy Woods and Pink Siifu- “Trauma Mic”
Crisis of faith.
6. Earl Sweatshirt, The Alchemist and Mike- “Sentry”
Drowsy.
7. Snoh Aalegra- “Wait a Little Longer”
Patience.
8. Doja Cat- "Paint the Town Red"
Walk on by.
9. Miguel and Lil Yachty- “Number 9”
Pet sounds.
10. EST Gee with Yo Gotti- “A Moment with Gotti”
Time stands still.
Top Ten Performances of August
1. Kassa Overall and Omari Jazz at Mississippi Studios
2. Parker Quartet at Polsky Theatre
3. Randy Porter, Tom Wakeling and Todd Strait at the 1905
4. Truth Cult, Young Mvchetes and Burning Bush at Howdy
5. The Clientele and Papercuts at Mississippi Studios
6. Culture Club, Howard Jones and Berlin at Starlight Theatre
7. The Phil Collins Experience at Barkley Square
8. Jass at Second Presbyterian Church
9. Claes Almroth Trio at Starday Tavern
10. Rich Hill Trio and True Lions at Volker Park
The previous monthly survey is here.
May 2023 Recap: A Monthly Exercise in Critical Transparency
Screenshot of the trailer of Glyndbourne’s production of Don Giovanni by There Stands the Glass.
Top Ten Albums of May
1. Rudy Royston’s Flatbed Buggy- Day
Bumpy ride.
2. Billy Woods and Kenny Segal- Maps
The right direction.
3. Shirley Collins- Archangel Hill
Time out of mind.
4. Joe Lovano, Marilyn Crispell and Carmen Castaldi- Our Daily Bread
Holy communion.
5. Roomful of Teeth- Rough Magic
6. Atmosphere- So Many Other Realities Exist Simultaneously
Atmosphere finally made a good record.
7. Kassa Overall- Animals
Pigs on the wing.
8. Béla Fleck- As We Speak
With Zakir Hussain, Edgar Meyer and Rakesh Chaurasia.
9. Slowspin- Talisman
Hounds of love.
10. Rod Fleeman- Saturday Afternoon Live at Green Lady Lounge, Vol. 2
Top Ten Songs of May
1. Megan Maroney- “Kansas Anymore”
Getting out of Dodge.
2. Kevin Morby- “Going to Prom”
Time the revelator.
3. That Mexican OT featuring Paul Wall and Drodi- "Johnny Dang"
Ice.
4. Paris Texas- "Bullet Man"
Who shot ya?
5. SleazyWorld Go with Polo G- “Off the Court”
Trust the process.
6. Peso Pluma- "Bye"
I say hello.
7. Speakers Corner Quartet featuring Kae Tempest- "Geronimo Blues"
Stump speech.
8. Sparks- "Gee, That Was Fun"
Au revoir.
9. $uicideboy$- “Realism vs Idealism”
No limit.
10. Lil’ Keke- "Motion"
OG.
Top Ten Performances of May
1. Tim Bernardes at Mississippi Studios
2. Yujia Shen at Diastole Scholars Center
3. Off!, Upchuck and Weaponize Chomsky at recordBar
My Instagram clips are here, here and here.
4. Bonnie “Prince” Billy and Michael Hurley at Aladdin Theater
5. Hot Chip and Cadence Weapon at Wonder Ballroom
My Instagram clips are here and here.
6. Janet Jackson and Ludacris at T-Mobile Center
7. Stone & Sue at the Portland Farmers Market
8. Rod Fleeman Trio at Green Lady Lounge
9. Drew Williams Quartet at Westport Coffee House
10. Luke Tarter at Portland International Airport
Elton John melodies unnerved me amid flight delays.
The previous monthly survey is here.
Album Review: Sun Ra & His Intergalactic Solar Arkestra- Space Is the Place (Music From the Original Soundtrack)
Last night I told the leader of a gypsy jazz band that I sometimes wonder why I listen to anything but Django Reinhardt. Twelve hours later, I’m considering dedicating the remainder of my life to the music of Sun Ra. Basking in a new expanded reissue of the soundtrack to the 1974 film about “the other worlds they have not told you of” further enhances my appreciation of the iconoclast. Heavy and hilarious, Space Is the Place is a touchstone for much of my favorite contemporary music made by the likes of Alter Destiny, Moor Mother and Kassa Overall.