About 150 grown-and-sexy fans of rarified soul music attended performances by Bilal and Yaya Bey at Star Theater on Sunday, September 20. I was also present. A $45 expenditure placed me in the resplendent room. I may be grown (old) and (un)sexy, but I grooved with Bey and her three-piece band throughout her opening set. And that’s how The Incident occurred.

Having been aware of my enthusiasm, Bey brought me to the stage to sing with her. After my demurals were rejected, everyone in the venue learned that I’m not much of a singer. While spending a minute nose-to-nose with Bey was delightful, my inability to effectively trade licks with the current critical darling was humiliating.

Bilal is only a decade older than Bey but it feels as if his 2001 debut album 1st Born Second came out several decades ago. The man with a spectacular voice has gradually drifted into increasingly esoteric musical terrain, a progression that’s made him a There Stands the Glass mainstay. Bilal’s two 2024 albums, for example, placed at #10 on my Top Albums of 2024 list.

A four-piece band wasn’t quite at the level of frequent Bilal collaborators including Robert Glasper and Questlove, but it was plenty good enough to provide a sympathetic backdrop for the vocalist’s transcendent emoting. The Incident had a mild reprise when Bilal spotted me scowling at his praise for Portland’s dispensaries. I got off with a relatively modest chiding from the indelible talent.

William Brownlee

May 27, 2024

May 2024 Recap: A Monthly Exercise in Critical Transparency

William Brownlee

May 27, 2024

Screenshot of the trailer for Welsh National Opera’s production of Giacomo Puccini’s “Il trittico” by There Stands the Glass.

The Top Ten Albums of May

1. Brad Mehldau- After Bach II
Variations.

2. Sexyy Red- In Sexyy We Trust
Dazzling party album #1.

3. Grupo Frontera- Jugando a Que No Pasa Nada
Dazzling party album #2.

4. Sisso and Maiko- Singeli Ya Maajabu
My review.

5. Vince Staples- Dark Times
Gloom.

6. Mdou Moctar- Funeral for Justice
My review.

7. Borderlands Trio- Rewilder
Feral improv.

8. André Schuen- Schubert: Winterreise
Harrowing lieders.

9. Jessica Pratt- Here in the Pitch
Far-out freak-folk.

10. Childish Gambino- Atavista
Everybody’s working for The Weeknd.

The Top Ten Songs of May

1. Carly Pearce- "Fault Line"
(Un)happy hour.

2. Amyl and The Sniffers- "U Should Not Be Doing That"
Can’t stop.

3. Yahritza y Su Esencia featuring Michelle Maciel- “Nivel Dios”
Quite possibly the best band in America.

4. Nduduzo Makhathini- "Water Spirits: Izinkonjana"
Dolphin dance.

5. Kendrick Lamar- "euphoria"
King Kendrick is back.

6. Chief Keef featuring Lil Gnar- "Jesus"
Show me the way.

7. Beres Hammond- "Let Me Help You"
Sweet relief.

8. La Luz- "Always in Love"
Forever.

9. Yaya Bey- "iloveyoufrankiebeverly"
Before I let go.

10. Randy Travis- "Where That Came From"
Digging up bones.

The Top Ten Performances of May

1. Kate Kalina at Southminster Presbyterian Church
My Instagram clip.

2. Jeffrey Osborne at Ameristar Casino
My Instagram clip.

3. Alber’s “Born at Sea” at Charlotte Street Foundation
My Instagram snapshot.

4. Steve Cardenas, Forest Stewart and Brian Steever at Westport Coffee House
My review.

5. Alon Goldstein’s “Schumann and His World” at White Recital Hall
My Instagram snapshot.

6. Nick Luby and Susan Zhang at Meadowbrook Park
My review.

7. Bachathon XLV at Grace and Holy Trinity Cathedral
My Instagram snapshot.

8. The Kansas City Symphony’s Mobile Music Box at Meadowbrook Park
My Instagram clip.

9. Jackie Myers, Matt Otto and Bob Bowman at Market at Meadowbrook
My Instagram snapshot.

10. Heidi Shea at St. John’s United Methodist Church
My Instagram clip.

The previous monthly recap is here.