Woody Guthrie: There Stands the Glass’ 2025 Artist of the Year

Original image by There Stand the Glass.

Suggesting that an aged work of political art is as relevant as ever is a tired trope. Yet these are exhausting times. Woody Guthrie died in 1967, but he was never far from my mind in 2025. Essential anthems including “Deportee,” “Pastures of Plenty” and “This Land Is Your Land” mirrored unwelcome headlines.

A set of Guthrie’s home demos was among the year’s most essential reissues. Contemporary folkies such as the duo of Haley Heynderickx and Max García Conover upheld Guthrie’s legacy. Three Guthrie covers are included in Bob Dylan’s October release Through the Open Window: The Bootleg Series, Vol. 18.

Speaking of Guthrie’s most famous acolyte, I was pleased to see that a heartrending portrayal of a debilitated Guthrie bookends A Complete Unknown when I got around to watching the 2024 Dylan biopic a couple months ago.

I made a pilgrimage in July to Woody Fest in Okemah and The Woody Guthrie Center  in Tulsa in July. The trip made the icon the incontrovertible choice as the There Stands the Glass Artist of the Year.

Amid a downpour, I commandeered a complimentary shuttle bus to deliver me to the original Guthrie digs in Okemah. I was devastated to discover that he literally ain't got no home in this world anymore. Yet Guthrie’s legacy doesn’t require sacred ground or holy relics. His work is embedded in my soul.

Honorable mentions: Gerald Clayton, Sylvie Courvoisier and Wadada Leo Smith. Previous recipients of There Stands the Glass’ Artist of the Year designation are Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (2024), Hilary Hahn (2023), Joyce DiDonato (2022), Pat Metheny (2021) and Bad Bunny (2020).

The Top Reissues and Reimaginings of 2025

A bundle of cassettes containing unreleased Bruce Springsteen studio recordings was one of my most cherished possessions in the 1980s. Much of that material was officially released this year. Springsteen’s buried treasures meant more to me decades ago, but the following ranking reflects the sustained value of the illicit cache. Hours of obscure Sun Ra sounds also saw the light of day in 2025. I acknowledge that embarrassment of riches with only one listing. Caveat: I have yet to tackle new collections of rarities by icons including Anthony Braxton, Bob Dylan, Rahsaan Roland Kirk and the Who.

1. Bruce Springsteen- Tracks II: The Lost Albums
Perfect world.

2. Bruce Springsteen- Nebraska ‘82: Expanded Edition
Reason to believe.

3. Moor Mother- Analog Fluids of Sonic Black Holes
An orchestral reimagining of her 2019 album.

4. Anat Fort- The Dreamworld of Paul Motian
The pianist with Steve Cardenas, Garry Wang and Matt Wilson.

5. Woody Guthrie- Woody at Home, Vol. 1 and 2
My review..

6. James Newton Quartet- Live in Willisau Switzerland 1983
The flautist with Geri Allen, Anthony Cox and Andrew Cyrille.

7. Larry June, 2 Chainz and the Alchemist- Life Is Beautiful: Chopped But Not Slopped
A lost art.

8. Nick Drake- The Making of Five Leaves Left
Time has told me.

9. Makaya McCraven- Off the Record!
His four 2025 EPs compiled.

10. Joni Mitchell- Joni's Jazz
One side now.

11. Cecil Taylor and Tony Oxley- Flashing Spirits
Spectral sounds from 1988.

12. Irène Schweizer, Rüdiger Carl, Johnny Dyani and Han Bennink- Irène's Hot Four
Improvisational madness from 1981.

13. Charles Mingus- Mingus in Argentina: The Buenos Aires Concerts
A glorious mess from 1977.

14. Sun Ra- Uncharted Passages: New York Piano Soliloquies 1977-79
Solo.

15. Sviatoslav Richter- The Lost Tapes: Beethoven: Sonatas Nos. 18, 27, 28 & 31
My review.

16. Peggy Lee- Mirrors: Expanded Edition
Existential art songs.

17. Kassa Overall- CREAM
My review.

18. Tedeschi Trucks Band and Leon Russell Present- Mad Dogs and Englishmen Revisited: Live at Lockn’
Feelin’ alright.

19. Willie Nelson- Oh What a Beautiful World
Willie on Rodney.

20. Art Pepper- Geneva 1980
Bird lived.

21. Rima Khcheich- Ya Man Itha: Tribute to Fouad Abdel Maheed
The Lebanese vocalist interprets the Egyptian composer.

22. Don Letts- The Rebel Dread at Echo Beach
Reggae party.

23. Branford Marsalis Quartet- Belonging
A fresh take on Keith Jarrett’s 1974 album.

24. Willie Nelson- Workin’ Man: Willie Sings Merle
Swinging doors.

25. Sister Irene O’Connor- Fire of God’s Love
Zany but persuasive gospel.

August 2025 Recap: A Monthly Exercise in Critical Transparency

Screenshot of the trailer for Národní divadlo Brno’s production of Antonín Dvořák’s Rusalka by There Stands the Glass.

The Top Ten Albums of August 2025

1. Linda May Han Oh- Strange Heavens
My review.

2. Aruán Ortiz- Créole Renaissance
Créolité.

3. Emily D’Angelo, Ben Bliss, Yannick Nézet-Séguin and the Metropolitan Opera- Tesori: Grounded
My review.

4. Oren Ambarchi, Johan Berthling and Andreas Werliin- Ghosted III
Haunting.

5. Pino Palladino and Blake Mills- That Wasn’t a Dream
Too good to be true.

6. Sara Ruiz- Telemann: Fantaisies Pour La Basse de Violle
Viola da gamba.

7. Endlings- Parallel 03
End times soundtrack from Raven Chacon and John Dieterich.

8. The Good Ones- Rwanda Sings with Strings
Rapturous.

9. Miguel Zenón Quartet- Vanguardia Subterránea
Basement tapes.

10. Deftones- private music
Public record.

The Top Three Reissues, Reimaginings and Compilations of August 2025

1. Woody Guthrie- Woody at Home, Vol. 1 + 2
My review.

2. Anat Fort- The Dreamworld of Paul Motian
My review.

3. Antone’s 50th Allstars: 50 Years of the Blues
Tough Texas blues.

The Top Ten Songs of August 2025

1. Cécile McLorin Salvant- “What does blue mean to you?”
All blues.

2. Gabriel Jacoby- "Be Careful"
Voodoo.

3. Earl Sweatshirt- "Gamma"
Everybody loves the sunshine.

4. Patricia Brennan- "Antlia"
Lost in the stars.

5. Sam Gendel- "Stair 1"
Spiral.

6. Chance the Rapper featuring Jamila Woods- "No More Old Men"
Wisdom of the ages.

7. Carin León and Kacey Musgraves- "Lost in Translation"
Cómo se dice “fun”?

8. Margo Price and Tyler Childers- "Love Me Like You Used To"
A la Loretta and Conway.

9. Rodney Crowell- “Maybe Somewhere Down the Road”
Perspective.

10. Brad Mehldau- “The White Lady Loves You More”
Elliott Smith as chamber music composer.

The Top Ten Performances of August 2025

1. Horsegirl, Sweeping Promises and Godcaster at the Bottleneck
My review.

2. Seth Davis, Jeffrey Goulet, Alexander Adams, Shanté Clair and Krista Kopper at Grand Avenue Temple
My Instagram clip and snapshot.

3. Lil Wayne and Tyga at T-Mobile Center
My review.

4. Ann Pham, Sherry Dou and Ann Marie Rigler at the 13th Annual French Organ Music Festival at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception
My Instagram snapshot.

5. Aaron Sizemore, DeAndre Manning and Brian Steever at the Music House
My Instagram clip.

6. Adam Galblum and Eddie Moore at the Market at Meadowbrook
My Instagram snapshot.

7. Bobby Watson at Jay McShann Pavilion
My Instagram clip.

8. Kitty Degler and Robert Pherigo at All Souls Unitarian Church
My Instagram snapshot.

9. Mike Bourne & KC Boogie at Black Dolphin
My Instagram snapshot.

10. Moon City Big Band at Franklin Park
My Instagram clip.

The previous monthly recap is here.

Album Review: Woody Guthrie- Woody at Home, Vol. 1 + 2

Torrential rain made my pilgrimage to Okemah, Oklahoma, perilous a few weeks ago. I had to keep my eyes fixed to narrow two-lane country roads rather than leisurely perusing limestone quarries and Native American reservations as I neared the hometown of Woody Guthrie.

The white-knuckle drive was rewarded at the Woody Guthrie Folk Festival. The kindness of folkies- both the featured musicians and the fans- and the gentle sincerity of welcoming townies were just as heartwarming as the Guthrie covers I heard during my Oklahoma outing.

The August 15 release of Woody Guthrie- Woody at Home, Vol. 1 + 2 enhances my appreciation of the trip. The “home recordings made by Guthrie between 1951 and 1952 at his apartment in Beach Haven, Brooklyn, as a way to introduce himself to his publisher” further verify his status as the conscience of America.

Songs about immigration, greed, thuggery, liberation theology and lost love make Woody at Home, Vol. 1 + 2 the right album at the right time. These unadorned lofi recordings are absolutely essential and all-too relevant more than 75 years since they were committed to tape.

Take Me Back to Tulsa

Original image of Butch Hancock by There Stands the Glass.

My ramblin’ jones led me to Oklahoma last week. People who aren’t obsessive about music may find the concept of music tourism in a state sandwiched between Kansas and Texas laughable. Yet Oklahoma made a huge impact on American music in the 20th century. It’s still a hub for a distinctive, commercially viable sound.

Here’s a partial roll call of prominent Oklahomans: Garth Brooks, J.J. Cale, Charlie Christian, the Flaming Lips, the Gap Band, Woody Guthrie, Jay McShann, Jimmy Rushing, Leon Russell and Bob Wills. Today, hordes of homegrown red dirt country bands like Turnpike Troubadours play to big crowds across the country.

I wheeled my road trip around Butch Hancock’s 80th birthday celebration at Woody Fest in Okemah, Oklahoma. I hadn’t previously patronized the folk festival in Woody Guthrie’s hometown. Furthermore, I couldn’t recall attending a Hancock performance, although I surely did in the late ‘80s and/or early ‘90s.

If The Flatlanders were more a legend than a band, Hancock is more a rumor than a man. His music isn’t available on DSPs and he’s certainly not the social media type. Fortunately for me, plenty of Hancock’s music is available in the Museum of Dead People and Outmoded Formats located in my basement.

Even if I was disappointed that the songwriter remained seated as his colleagues performed their favorite Hancock compositions for most of the show, I was glad to have been present at the heartwarming event that concluded with Hancock’s reading of “If You Were a Bluebird.”

I was dismayed to discover the Guthrie homestead is a vacant lot while in Okemah. I also became a Bonnie Whitmore fan, finally “got” Aaron Lee Tasjan and was reduced to a puddle of tears upon hearing My Politic’s “Buzzards on a Powerline” for the first time. I’m still reeling.

Tulsa’s bustling earthiness reminds me of Austin, Texas, circa 1995. I became intimate with the streets in and around the pretty campus of the University of Tulsa and spent quality time at the verdant Gathering Place. The Bob Dylan Center and The Woody Guthrie Center are located on Reconciliation Way at the site of one of the United State’s most horrific atrocities.

The Dylan Center is filled with the sort of crucial relics that are curiously missing at the Guthrie Center. Yet the Okie’s museum is currently hosting the touring Hip-Hop America: The Mixtape Exhibit. It also featured a strident poetry reading and a separate performance of union songs associated with Joe Hill on the day of my visit. I miss the town already. Take me back to Tulsa.