Finnish Tango and Gamelan Grief

Finnish tango has been a big deal for decades.

That's just one of many things I learned as I camped out at the intimate world music stage at last weekend's Jazz Winterlude festival.  Correctly anticipating a line outside the door of the 100-person capacity Recital Hall, I arrived early with an empty bladder.

I refused to give up my seat for the next five hours.  The education I received made my social and physical discomfort seem immaterial. 

Accordionist Juha Silfverberg clued me in to the scene of his native Finland.

Ensemble Ibérica, a guitar trio led by Beau Bledsoe, played music of Spain, Portugal and Latin America with impressive precision. 

I'm ashamed to admit that I hadn't taken in a performance by Marimba Sol de Chiapas until Saturday.  Although I could have done without the patronizing  tone of the bandleader- "can you say Chiapas?"- the quartet made absolutely gorgeous music. 

Did you know that musicians in gamelan orchestras use hammers as mallets?  I didn't.  Gamelan Genta Kasturi made one hell of a racket.  The sonic assault was made even more overwhelming by the raucous Arturo Sandoval sound check that bled into the room. 

My head still hurts. 


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My notes about Terri Lyne Carrington's concert at the Jazz Winterlude festival are published at Plastic Sax.

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I mourned Keith Whitley's death in 1989.  That's one reason Jason Eady's Daylight & Dark instantly hit home with me.  Another reason is the reference to Kansas City on the opening track "OK City".  Refusing to drink 3.2 beer in an Oklahoma tavern during a pit stop on a southbound drive toward Texas, a man has an ill-fated encounter with whiskey.  RIYL: Gary Stewart, heartaches and hangovers, Alan Jackson.

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Listeners who are don't speak English and are unaware of the backstory of Against Me! might think that Transgender Dysphoria Blues is just another solid third-generation punk album.  But the lyrics- many of which take on self-referential gender issues- are great.  RIYL: The Clash, the new sincerity, F*cked Up.

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I admire how organizers of Plano's Suburbia Music Festival own it.  Besides, the lineup is truly impressive.

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I'm going to skate to one album and one album only.  Jennifer Holliday's The Song Is You is a completely over-the-top collection of standards.  And I can dig it.  RIYL: Eartha Kitt, gay cabaret, Luciano Pavarotti.

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I've always loved the Grammy Awards.  A ranking of yesterday's performances follows.  (Roomful of Teeth knocked me out during the non-televised segment.)  Kendrick Lamar/Imagine Dragons, Beyoncé/Jay-Z, Paul McCartney/Ringo Starr, Pink/Nate Ruess, John Legend, the Sound City all-stars, Carole King/Sara Bareilles, Macklemore & Ryan Lewis/Mary Lambert/Madonna, Lang Lang/Metallica, Daft Punk and company, Kacey Musgraves, Chicago/Robin Thicke, Lorde, The Highwaymen, Billie Joe Armstrong/Miranda Lambert, Ringo Starr, Taylor Swift, Gary Clark Jr./Keith Urban and Katy Perry.  Sorry, Katy- that was wack.

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Kansas City Click: My official picks are published here.

(Original image of a portion of Gamelan Genta Kasturi by There Stands the Glass.)

Album Review: Dhafer Youssef- Bird's Requiem

I'm going to spend Saturday afternoon listening to a Gamelan orchestra, a Finnish accordionist, a Spanish art music ensemble and a Mexican folk music collective at my local jazz festival.  And that's just how I like it.

That's why Bird's Requiem, the new album by Dhafer Youssef, makes me proud to be human.

The album sounds as if Peter Gabriel produced Pat Metheny at a studio in Beirut.  Bird's Requiem will appeal to people who appreciate Passion: Music for 'The Last Temptation of Christ', Metheny's collaborations with Naná Vasconcelos or Kansas City's Turkish jazz band Alaturka. 

A video of a live performance of "39th Gülay (To Istanbul)" and a multilingual EPK provide context.


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Steve Fromholz has died.

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And the winner of the latest episode of the KC Cypher Series is… J Lee.

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Hank Wiedel, the drummer for Connor Leimer, make me aware of the Kansas City-based singer-songwriter.  Here's a recent televised performance.  RIYL: Ed Sheeran, precocious teenagers, Teddy Geiger.

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The Grisly Hand posted a fine version of "The Shape I'm In" at Bandcamp.

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A new episode of Reach's GoodButta podcast pays tribute to Joc Max.  Reach is featured in a video for JB Hood's "Do You Believe."  (Via Tony's Kansas City.)

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"The Worst" is a music video by Kansas City rapper Rayne.  (Via Tony's Kansas City.)

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Beau Bledsoe posted footage of a performance with vocalist Victoria Bledsoe.

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Only the fussy production prevents me from being head over heels in love with Rosanne Cash's River & the Thread.  RIYL: John Hiatt, adulthood, Rodney Crowell.

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Consisting of two drummers and a saxophone, John Lurie's National Orchestra is every bit as good as longtime fans could hope on The Invention of Animals.  RIYL: Oliver Lake, being alone, Chico Freeman.

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The Step Brothers' Lord Steppington is ridiculously inconsistent.  RIYL: Action Bronson, old-school hip-hop, Eminem.  At least the packaging is dope.

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I survived Thee Silver Mt. Zion Memorial Orchestra's F**k Off Get Free We Pour Light On Everything.  Where's my t-shirt?  RIYL: Godspeed You! Black Emperor, hipster cred, Colin Stetson.

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I thought I'd heard all of Bob Seger's early work, but a recent Facebook comment by Peter Holsapple (!) made me aware of Mongrel.  Rock!

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I enjoyed Another Day, Another Time, a documentary of a folk concert commemorating the music of Inside Llewyn Davis.  The film's breakout star is clearly Rhiannon Giddens. 

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Robert Glasper leads a band in a Tiny Desk Concert.

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I'm not immune to the charms of material like "Let Me Teach You How To Eat", but I've never been a member of the Rev. Horton Heat fan club.  The new album Rev is RIYL: Social Distortion, dancing tattoos, Volbeat.

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The very fine Craig Handy & 2nd Line Smith is  RIYL: Dirty Dozen Brass Band, struttin' with some barbecue, Galactic.

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In This Moment documents a collaboration between saxophonist Mikolaj Trzaska and drummer Tim Daisy.  RIYL: Ken Vandermark, skronk, the Art Ensemble of Chicago.

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I saw guitarist Nir Felder perform in Terri Lyne Carrington's band last night.  He looks like he's 15.  His debut album Golden Age is RIYL: Nels Cline, jazz that's not really jazz, Todd Clouser.

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Kansas City Click: My official picks are (usually) published here.

(Original image by There Stands the Glass.)

Album Review: Paul Cebar- Fine Rude Thing

Albums like Fine Rude Thing, the new release by Milwaukee's Paul Cebar, provided the primary soundtrack of my mid-20s.  Cebar's sound is rooted in a divine combination of Creedence, Otis Redding and the Faces.  When my life started getting complicated, however, my taste for party-oriented roots music diminished.  It's a drag- Fine Rude Thing is a good time.  Perhaps I'll add regaining an undiluted enjoyment of cheerful bar bands to my list of long-term goals. 


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I reviewed a concert by Kenny G and the Kansas City Symphony at Helzberg Hall on Friday.

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From my friend Chris Doolittle: I don't know if you remember Symetrix from the late 80's and early 90's but a friend of mine, Eason Pritchard, is an old high school friend and the band's leader. His drummer and friend, Jerry Bayton, was diagnosed with multiple myeloma cancer… Eason asked me to help him finish these few songs he has been working on for a couple of years before Jerry left for treatment in New York earlier this month. This mission was accomplished. Now I am trying to spread the good word to all and especially my music friends about this release as all proceeds go to Jerry's treatment. There are only 3 songs and I play lead on the first two.

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Making Movies made a video for "Pendulum Swing."

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Kansas City pianist Mark Lowrey filmed a performance of a new composition.

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A video was made for D/Will's "Pure."

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My favorite album of the first three weeks of 2014 is the self-titled outing by the supergroup De La Tierra. RIYL: Sepultura, metal en Español, Deftones.

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NPR's coverage of GlobalFest is impressive.  And why didn't any of you jerks tell me about Brushy One-String?

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Fusion lives!  "Just Call Me Nige" is a track from Mehliana, a collaboration between Brad Mehldau and Mark Guiliana.

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A new album by Neneh Cherry will be released next month.  The advance track "Everything" is RIYL: Four Tet, the future, Dessa.

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I hadn't realized that Anthony Braxton was (the best kind) of hippie until I heard his fascinating speech at the 2014 NEA Jazz Masters Concert.  Braxton's segment begins a bit before the one-hour-17-minute mark here.

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I'm a Rick Rubin fanboy, but I have to call him out for whatever role he played in spoiling Jennifer Nettles' That Girl.  The new album might have been as impressive as Gwen Stefani's Love. Angel. Music. Baby. had Nettles' enormous voice not been allowed to overwhelm the mix.  RIYL: ibuprofen, Ethel Merman, epic production fails.

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"CS60" is a track from BadBadNotGood's forthcoming album.  RIYL: Jack DeJohnette's electronic albums, jazz with a young and enthusiastic audience, OFWGKTA.

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I don't want to be "that guy," but really, Jazz Fest?

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A$AP Ant "See Me" fails to impress me.

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I was excited to hear that Plague of Babylon was Iced Earth's "heaviest album in years."  It's not all that.  Legion of the Damned's Ravenous Plague is more like it. RIYL: Vader, punching walls, Morbid Angel.

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The trailer for Mary Chapin Carpenter's new orchestral album is appropriately overblown.

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I recently discovered Ausmuteants' 100 Ausmuteants Fans Can't Be Wrong?100,000,000 Bon Jovi Fans Can.  RIYL: T.S.O.L., the spirit of rock and roll, 999.

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Kansas City Click: My official picks are published here.

(Original image by There Stands the Glass.)

Album Review: Stephen Malkmus- Wig Out at Jagbags

I happened to listen to Trey Anastasio's 2012 album Traveler the same day I played Stephen Malkmus' new album Wig Out at Jagbags for the first time.  The only real difference between the two recordings is the Phish man's sincerity and the Pavement man's irony.  Both guys are obviously in thrall of the Grateful Dead.  ("Lariat" is my jam.)  I need a miracle- how about a co-headlining tour of the two oddly compatible men during the second half of 2014?

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I reviewed Allen Toussaint's concert at the Folly Theater on Saturday.

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I had an out-of-body experience on Sunday as a trio of women from the Midwest Chamber Ensemble played Claude Debussy's "Sonata for Flute, Viola and Harp" at a Lutheran church.  I also enjoyed hearing "Pendulum Quartet" by the young composer Joseph Kern.

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My review of a Steel Panther concert was referenced by the Huffington Post.

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Amiri Baraka has died.

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I didn't see the trippy video for Reggie B's "Hypnotized" until last weekend. 

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A&R veteran Peter Lubin's new essay about the Everly Brothers is loaded with invaluable insights.

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John Newman's new album Tribute  is solid British blue-eyed soul.  RIYL: Adele, pure pop for yesterday's people, Dusty Springfield.

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I like Leo Welch's Sabougla Voices even though it's reminiscent of those awkward albums that paired the likes of Howlin' Wolf with his young English devotees.  RIYL: boogie, unblinking musings about impending death, Mississippi.

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Wayne Kramer's picks are superior to Billy Bragg's choices in an entertaining "What's In My Bag" segment.

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Kid Ink's My Own Lane is one of the most cynical boardroom-constructed albums I've heard in some time.  The gambit- creating a watered-down version of the catchiest work of 2 Chainz/Tiga/Big Sean- works.  RIYL: Katy Perry, high school, Bruno Mars.

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The Tord Gustavsen Quartet has five American gigs booked in February.  I'm eyeing the Chicago and Portland dates as I listen to samples from the forthcoming Extended Circle album.

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Have I no shame!  I genuinely enjoy Martynas' self-titled crossover-classical/Euro-pop accordion album.  RIYL: cheese, hokum, watching TV at nursing homes.

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Even though Juana Molina's Son topped my album list in 2006, I simply wasn't prepared to listen to her new release Wed 21 until recently.  RIYL: Gal Costa, dreaming, Tom Zé.

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Matt Pryor's Wrist Slitter is shockingly good.  RIYL: Elvis Costello's first five albums, contemplating suicide, the Get Up Kids.

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Kansas City Click: My official picks are published here.

(Original image by There Stands the Glass.)

Album Review: Bruce Springsteen- HIgh Hopes

I introduced my friend J. to alcohol and Bruce Springsteen when we were juniors in high school.  J. could never get his fill of booze or Bruce after that fateful year.  He caught Springsteen over two dozen times as he drank himself to death.

We imbibed before a 1981 concert in support of The River at Kemper Arena, the first time either of us saw Springsteen perform.  The River was among the handful of Springsteen CDs I delivered to J. while he was on his deathbed three years ago. 

J. would have loved his hero's new album High Hopes.  "Harry's Place" is far too melodramatic and polished for my tastes, but I'm pretty sure it would have been J.'s favorite track.  It's easy for me to imagine J. singing along while pouring himself another cocktail. 

Listening to High Hopes objectively is extremely difficult, but it's almost certainly my favorite Springsteen album since 2002's The Rising.  The fresh versions of "American Skin (41 Shots)" and "The Ghost of Tom Joad" are excellent.  I like Tom Morello's contributions.  And- are you serious!- Springsteen covers songs by The Saints and Suicide.

"Got a special sin, mister, you can't quite confess," Springsteen groans on "Harry's Place." 

Well, J., this untoward confession will have to do for now.  I take responsibility for my role in killing you. 


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The Deli published a list of my ten favorite locally-released albums of 2013.

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Beama's Growing Pains is RIYL: Rich the Factor, thug life, Berner.

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Stik Figa raps over Keith Sweat's "Make It Last Forever."

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Kyle James' Finally Off Papers is RIYL: marijuana, molly, pills.

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The video for Sauce Remix's "Gunshots" is tough to watch.  (Via Tony's Kansas City.)

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I almost fell out of my seat at the Folly Theater in November when Kenny Barron mentioned that his former employer Yusef Lateef was still alive.  I had no idea.  Lateef died on December 23 at the age of 93.

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I have yet to process the death of Phil Everly.

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Jazz trumpeter Al Porcino has died.

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Jaimeo Brown's Transcendence was one of my year-end discoveries.  RIYL: Don Cherry, high concept, Charlie Haden.

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The Marc Cary Focus Trio's Four Directions is refreshing.  RIYL: pre-fame Robert Glasper, relevant piano trios, Herbie Hancock.

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Texas Monthly's lengthy profile of Guy Clark is worthwhile.  (Tip via There Stands the Glass reader Tom.)

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I appreciate Hopsin's Knock Madness in spite of myself.  RIYL: Eminem, constant references to genitalia, Tech N9ne.

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Drew Williams' Live at Pianos is RIYL: Gil Evans, brainy jazz, Matt Otto.

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Joe Boyd is featured in a "What's In My Bag" segment.  His picks, not surprisingly, are great.

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Anyone who appreciates the early solo work of T Bone Burnett will adore Cass McCombs' "Big Wheel".

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I can't wait to hear Sabougla Voices, a wild-and-wooly effort by blues man Leo Welch.  RIYL: R.L. Burnside, old men, John Lee Hooker.

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Snoop is back! 7 Days of Funk is the shiznit.  RIYL: Doggystyle, pre-laughingstock Snoop, Tha Doggfather.

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I started a Spotify "radio station" based on the Gap Band's "You Dropped a Bomb On Me" in the hopes that it would serve as a genial soundtrack for the low-key New Year's Eve celebration at my compound.  It turned out to be a stroke of genius.  The robot-generated playlist featured the likes of Barry White, Cheryl Lynn, Ice Cube, Heat Wave, LL Cool J, Newcleus and even Wham.  The multi-generational revelers were delighted. 

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Kansas City Click: My official picks are published here.

(Original image by There Stands the Glass.)

The Top Ten Kansas City Music Videos of 2013

The Grisly Hand's "Country Singles" joins Making Movies' "Tormenta" (2010), Hidden Pictures' "Anne Apparently" (2011) and SSION's "Earthquake" (2012) as the obvious choice for There Stands the Glass' top video of the year by a Kansas City-area artist.  I added current YouTube view counts to provide a bit of context regarding the relative popularity of each act.

1. The Grisly Hand- "Country Singles" (481 views)

2. Tiny Horse- "Ride" (877 views)

3. Tech N9ne- "Straight Out the Gate" (3,986,084 views)

4. Josh Berwanger- "Time Traveler" (1,414 views)

5. Krizz Kaliko- "Why Me" (276,203 views)

6. Cowboy Indian Bear- "Let It Down" (98 views)

7. Gee Watts- "Nasty" (45,963 views)

8. Minden- "What's More Than Appropriate?" (1,250 views)

9. The ACBs- "Television" (4,372 views)

10. Rich the Factor- "I'm Hustlin'" (121,029 views)

I conducted similar exercises in 2012, 2011 and 2010.