January 2020 Recap: A Monthly Exercise in Critical Transparency

Top Five Albums
1. Jeremy Pelt- The Art of Intimacy, Vol. 1
I usually can’t be bothered with new mainstream jazz albums, but this tender trio recording buckles my knees.

2. Bill Fay- Countless Branches
I’m only slightly embarrassed to admit to being profoundly moved by Fay’s loopy mysticism and sentimental folk-rock.

3. Jennifer Curtis and Tyshawn Sorey- Invisible Ritual
Avant-garde hoedown.

4. Diana Damrau- Richard Strauss
Wandering in darkness.

5. Majid Bekkas- Magic Spirit Quartet
Visionary gnawa.


Top Five Songs
1. Future and Drake- “Life is Good”
Turnt.

2. 070 Shake- “Guilty Conscious”
The pop of tomorrow sounds a lot like the pop of yesterday.

3. Sa-Roc- “Hand of God”
Sacred ground.

4. Eminem featuring Royce da 5’9” and Black Thought- “Yah Yah”
Bring da ruckus.

5. Moneybagg Yo featuring DaBaby- “Protect Da Brand”
Goon squad.


Top Performances
An extended period of mourning, a debilitating illness and the trip of a lifetime prevent me from listing five worthwhile shows.  I intend to make up for the uncharacteristic breach in February.

You can pick up where I left off in 2019 here.

(Original image by There Stands the Glass.)

Continental Drift

Jazz fans are familiar with the concept of big band battles.  I’m intrigued by the unofficial jazz clash between Europe and North America.  Based on my listening habits in recent months, my money’s on Europe.

Three new releases by European pianists illustrative the point.  Each is more imaginative and engaging than the efforts of most of their American counterparts.  Tigran Hamasyan is one of the most exciting musicians of the moment.  The Armenian pianist’s 29-minute For Gyumri possesses improvisational daring, melodic charm and a vast sonic range.

The septuagenarian Swedish pianist Bobo Stenson demonstrates that it’s still possible to make the conventional jazz trio format seem fresh on Contra la Indecisión.   Elliot Galvin, an impudent British talent, conveys funny jazz jokes on the deeply amusing The Influencing Machine.  I’m eager for Americans to rise to the challenge.


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I write weekly concert previews for The Kansas City Star.

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I’ll feature David George on my weekly KCUR segment tomorrow.

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I reviewed Cyrille Aimée’s concert at the Folly Theater for Plastic Sax.

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The Kansas City rock musician Billy Johnson has died.

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I barely survived Mary Chapin Carpenter’s morose headlining set at the Kansas City Folk Festival.  To paraphrase the eminent philosopher Chief Keef, that’s that stuff I don’t like.  To be fair, following the jubilant set of Los Texmaniacs and Flaco Jiménez’s party music would have been a challenge for anyone.  Kalyn Fay, an Oklahoman Cherokee singer-songwriter, was my find of the day.

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An in-store performance by the soul revivalist and roots-rock newcomer Liz Brasher thrilled me last week.  Here’s “Cold Baby”.

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Sa-Roc’s self-empowerment anthem “Forever” is persuasive.  RIYL: Lizzo, appreciating “exactly who you are,” Brother Ali.

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I realize it makes me little different than an awful 13-year-old boy, but the novelty of countertenor vocalists still amuses me.  Even so, I’m awed by Franco Fagioli’s Handel Arias.

(Original image by There Stands the Glass.)