Monday, May 18, 2026

Music Week

May archive (in progress).

Music: Current count 45961 [45922] rated (+39), 12 [18] unrated (-6).

Good news is I'm back on a Monday Music Week schedule. Bad news is my brain is mush, and I have virtually nothing to say.

I suppose I could reiterate a couple things from last week:

  1. I completed my ballot for DownBeat's Critics Poll, and wrote up my notes. I thought I might write some more about that, but I haven't.

  2. I've been working on putting Robert Christgau's Deans List: 2025 up on his website, split into two chunks: essay and list. I have finished with these latter files, but I haven't updated the website yet. I thought I might write some more about this, but I haven't.

  3. I was also thinking about writing some sort of exec summary of my recent Loose Tabs file, but all I have so far is this lousy stub file.

  4. I have collected a few notes for some future Loose Tabs file. Even when my brain is mush, inertia still functions.

  5. There was probably something else I was thinking of, but I can't recall, other than that I'm unlikely to remember it either.

One thing I can note is that we have a substantial storm headed into Wichita soon. And I just had a premonition when the electricity clicked off. Back right now, so may be I'll just post this.

New records reviewed this week:

Steven Bernstein/Scotty Hard: ResoNation Trio/Ultra Resonance (2025 [2026], Royal Potato Family): Two LPs on one CD, the first a trio of Bernstein (trumpets), Scott Colley (bass), and Nasheet Waits (drums); the second where the same music was reprocessed by the producer ("all instruments replayed, rearranged, and redeployed by Scotty Hard"), with Jeremy Gustin credited for extra percussion. Both are interesting on their own, but a bit underwhelming run together. B+(***) [cd] [06-05]

Jane Ira Bloom/Brian Shankar Adler: Once Like a Spark (2025, Adhyâropa): Soprano saxophonist, steady stream of albums since 1980. Adler plays "a hybrid drum set that includes North Indian tabla, Argentine bombo legüero and an array of found objects. Seems like a perfect match. B+(***) [sp]

Dawn Clement: Dear Ms. Dearie (2025 [2026], Origin): Pianist, sings often, obviously the point on a tribute to Blossom Dearie (1924-2009, dropped her first name, also a pianist of some note, wrote four songs here). With Steve Kovalcheck (guitar), John Clayton (bass), and Jeff Hamilton (drums). B+(**) [cd] [05-22]

Braxton Cook: Not Everyone Can Go (2025, Nettwerk): American saxophonist, several albums since 2015, sings some, also plays guitar and keyboards. B+(*) [sp]

Chick Corea: Forever Yours: The Farewell Performance (2020 [2025], Candid): Pianist (1941-2021), debut 1966, early on played fusion with Gary Burton and Miles Davis, and continued with his popular Return to Forever and later with his Elektrik Band, but did much more, including the avant-garde Circle group (with Anthony Braxton), and a lot of conventional solo and trio work, which serves as a reminder that no matter what you think of his choices — and I've panned a lot of his records — he was unquestionably an extraordinary pianist. This collects two solo concerts from three months before his death. This offers a good summary, including a set of his "Children's Songs" and reflections on Monk and Powell (and Evans and Ellington and Mozart). B+(**) [sp]

George Cotsirilos: In the Wee Hours (2017-25 [2026], OA2): Guitarist, half-dozen albums since 2003, mostly trio or quartet. This one is solo, two originals and various standards (two from Ellington), recorded on nylon string acoustic guitars. B+(*) [cd] [05-22]

Sylvie Courvoisier Trio: Éclats - Live in Europe (2025 [2026], Intakt): Swiss pianist, debut 1997, mostly plays duos, this just her fourth Trio per Discogs. With Drew Gress (bass) and Kenny Wollesen (drums), picked from four sets in Germany and France. B+(***) [sp]

Theo Croker/Sullivan Croker: Play (2023 [2025], ACT Music): Trumpet and piano duo, young American players, one piece composed by Croker, the rest improvised. B [sp]

Amalie Dahl's Dafnie Extended: Live at Moldejazz (2025 [2026], Sonic Transmissions): Danish saxophonist, based in Oslo, group Dafnie comes from a 2022 quintet album with trumpet, trombone, bass, and drums, "extended" here to 12 pieces, adding baritone sax and flute, but mostly filling the middle with piano, accordion, and synths, and doubling down on bass and drums. B+(*) [bc]

Daoud: Ok (2025, ACT Music): French trumpet player, Discogs lists him as a hip-hop producer, last name Anthony, and shows one previous album. Lots of synths and percussion. B+(*) [sp]

Django Festival Allstars: Evolution (2026, Motéma): Group originally organized for the Django Reinhardt NY Festival in 2002, have released a couple previous albums, back for a 25th anniversary reunion, led by Dorado Schmitt (guitar), with Ludovic Beier (accordion), and Pierre Blanchard (violin), with a drumless rhythm section of Antonio Licusati (bass) and Francko Mehrstein (rhythm guitar). B+(*) [sp]

Gabriel Espinosa: The Brazilian Project (2022-25 [2026], Origin): Mexican bassist, not listed as playing here but is the composer, with arrangements by Rafael Rocha (trombone) and Bruno Santos (flugelhorn). Recorded in Rio de Janeiro, "enhanced by the Tallinn Studio Orchestra." B+(*) [cd] [05-22]

Christine Fawson: It Could Happen to You (2025 [2026], self-released): Standards singer, also plays trumpet. Has at least two previous albums, as well as a credit in Diva Jazz Orchestra. Great songs, done well. B+(***) [cd] [06-01]

Michael Formanek: New Digs (2025 [2026], Intakt): Bassist, own albums started appearing in 1990, as well as many groups and side-credits. One of his most successful groups has been Thumbscrew, a trio with Mary Halvorson (guitar) and Tomas Fujiwara (drums). They're the core here, augmented by John O'Gallagher (alto sax), Chet Doxas (tenor sax/clarinet), João Almeida (trumpet), and Alexander Hawkins (organ). This starts to get real interesting seven cuts in, which has sent me back to the beginning several times. B+(***) [sp]

David Friedman & Tony Miceli: Glow (2019 [2026], SteepleChase): Two vibraphonists, as was Samuels (1948-2019). Friedman's discography goes back to 1975, Miceli's nearly as far but picks up around 2005. Duets, a mix of standards and originals, including one song credited to Samuels and Friedman, another to Samuels alone. B [sp]

Gordon Grdina: Martian Kitties (2025, 577): Canadian guitarist, also plays oud, prolific, duo here with the drummer also on electronics. B+(**) [sp]

Gordon Grdina/Russ Lossing: Turnpike (2026, Attaboygirl): Oud and piano duets. The oud has a distinctive sound that dominates here. B+(**) [sp]

Gordon Grdina's Nomad Trio: Ash (2026, Attaboygirl): Third group album since 2020, with Matt Mitchell (piano) and Jim Black (drums). B+(**) [bc]

Sven-Åke Johansson With Pierre Borel/Seymour Wright/Joel Grip: Two Days at Café Oto (2025, Otoroku): Swedish drummer (1943-2025), recorded this April 8-9, shortly before his death on June 15. First album was 1972, Discogs credits him directly with 88 albums, 168 performance credits. Five pieces, one short and four in the 23:05-31.45 range. Grip (bass) and Johansson play on all five, Wright (alto sax) on four, Borel (alto sax) also on four (so three tracks have both). B+(***) [bc]

Aubrey Johnson: The Lively Air (2025 [2026], Greenleaf Music): Jazz singer, from Wisconsin, niece of Lyle Mays, studied in Boston, based in New York, fourth album since 2020, Mays' bandmate Steve Rodby produces (both were in Pat Metheny Group). Group includes Tomoko Omura (violin), Alex LoRe (woodwinds), Chris McCarthy (keyboards), bass, and drums. I should note that sometimes I'm blown away by the amount of technical skill, and even the breadth of creativity, even in albums I don't especially like. One cut I do love is her Joni Mitchell cover ("Help Me"). B+(**) [sp]

Audrey Johnson/Helen Sung/Dave Douglas: Lives of the Saints: Portraits in Song With Words by David Hadju (2025, Sunnyside): Voice, keyboards, and trumpet, also credited for the music along with Renee Rosnes. Hajdu has been music critic at The New Republic and The Nation, and has seven books, starting with a biography of Billy Strayhorn in 1996. His texts honor ten women: Ada Lovelace, Angelina Napoitano, Lena Hornse, Bessie Hall, Sophie Scholl, Hyapatia, Hedy Lamarr, Vivian Maier, Leonore Carrington, and his sister Barbara Ann Hajdu. The band I associate mostly with Douglas: Chet Doxas (clarinet/tenor sax), Marika Hughes (cello), Simón Willson (bass), Rudy Royston (drums), Samuel Torres (percussion). B+(*) [sp]

David Lord: Way Over the Rainbow (2025, Cloud Ear): Guitarist, from Wichita, four previous album since 2018 all volumes of Forest Standards. Mostly trio with bass (Dale Black) and drums (Charles Rumback), with guest spots for Jeff Parker (guitar on three tracks) and Sam Hake (vibes one). B+(*) [sp]

Andrew Moorhead: Mirage (2025 [2026], OA2): Pianist ("and mathematician"), has a previous album from 2023, this a trio with François Moutin (bass) and Ari Hoenig (drums). Original pieces, presented as "a suite of etudes," often rhythmic drills with considerable thought and appeal. B+(***) [cd] [05-22]

Azuka Moweta and His Anioma Brothers Band of Africa: Kenechukwu (2026, Palenque): Nigerian singer and bandleader, from Asaba in the Delta State. Sounds like near classic highlife. A- [sp]

Smithsonian Jazz Masterworks Orchestra: Ellington Masterworks (2024 [2026], MCG Jazz): Charlie Young is conductor and artistic direction, for "a live program of rare Duke Ellington compositions from 1940-68" — the only titles I recognize are "Jack the Bear" and "Ad Lib on Nippon," and few of the musicians ring a bell, but the Ellingtonia is unmistakable. B+(***) [cd] [06-12]

Vaiano's Paisanos: Vaiano's Paisanos (2026, Jalopy): Rachel Meirs (violin) and Van Burchfield (guitar), who have a previous duo album, expanded their Louisville-based folk ensemble here, to play a set of tunes from the NYC melting pot of the 1920s and 1930s, some from Europe, others from the Caribbean. B+(***) [sp]

Vaiano's Paisanos: Vaiano's Paisanos Presents Rachel Meirs & Van Burchfield (2025, Jalopy): Violin and guitar duo, their group name already conceived without the extra players of their eponymous group album. Same basic idea, a bit more minimal. B+(**) [bc]

Don Was and the Pan-Detroit Ensemble: Groove in the Face of Adversity (2025, Mack Avenue): Don Fagenson, took the name Don Was when founding the Detroit duo Was (Not Was), which released four albums 1981-90 (a fifth appeared in 2008; David Weiss performed as David Was). By then, Was had developed a reputation for producing records, winning six Grammys, and working around the industry, including as president of Blue Note Records. Band here includes saxophonist Dave McMurray and vocalist Steffanie Christi'an. Includes a cover of Curtis Mayfield's "This Is My Country." Nothing else that obvious, but if these aren't all funk covers, they're pretty classic. (Documentation sucks. Seems to be live.) B+(***) [sp]

Rich Willey: Laid Back Vol. 1 (2025 [2026], Boptism): Trumpet player, early credits go back to 1993 (with Mel Tormé, on trombone), has more recently released albums as Rich Willey's Boptimism Big Band and his Boptimism Funk Band. Splits the difference here, with a featuring credit for John Swana (EVI) and arrangements by Wally Minko. B+(*) [cd] [05-30]

Recent reissues, compilations, and vault discoveries:

Ray Charles: No One Does It Like . . . Ray Charles! (1962-65 [2025], Tangerine): A restored "lost album" from the mid-1960s, or alternatively a collection of "mid-1960s singles, B-sides, and non-LP tracks." I count six non-album singles here ("Hide Nor Hair," "No One," "Don't Set Me Free," "My Baby Don't Dig Me," "My Heart Cries for You," "Without Love"). None were really big hits, but several will be familiar from his comps, and they keynote a pretty consistent album, with touches of, yes, genius. A- [sp]

Duke Ellington: Copenhagen 1964 (1964 [2026], Storyville): After a few bars of "Take the 'A' Train," opens with a medley of early tunes, followed by a 14:52 "Harlem Suite," and new material from the then-unrelesed Far East Suite. Lots of good stuff, especially "Kinda Dukish," an intro for the piano player that explodes into "Rockin' in Rhythm." A- [bc]

Bill Evans: Portraits at the Penthouse: Live in Seattle (1966 [2025], Resonance): One of many recently unearthed live shots of the pianist and his trio, here with Eddie Gomez (bass) and Joe Hunt (drums). B+(**) [sp]

Benny Golson: Gone With Golson (1959 [2025], Craft): Tenor saxophonist (1929-2024), fifth album since 1957, three original compositions plus two standards, quintet with trombone (Curtis Fuller), piano (Ray Bryant), bass, and drums. B+(***) [sp]

Morphine: Bootleg Detroit [Deluxe Edition] (1994 [2025], Rykodisc/Rhino): Rock band formed 1989 in Massachusetts, principally Mark Standman (2-string bass) and Dana Coley (sax, mostly baritone, sometimes two at once), with one or two sets of drums. Five studio albums 1992-2000, the latter released after Standman died and the group disbanded. At that time, Rykodisc also released this live tape (2000), expanded here from 40 to 65 minutes. I like the sound. Not so sure about the songs. B+(**) [sp]

Lester Young: Lester Leaps In: Live at Birdland 1951-1952 (1951-52 [2025], Liberation Hall): Eight previously unreleased tracks from four "Jumpin with Symphony Sid" radio shots, with various piano, bass, and drums, plus some trumpet (Jesse Drakes). B+(***) [bc]

Old music:

Azuka Moweta and His Anioma Brothers Band: Ekobe Global (2025, Palenque): Nigerian singer and bandleader from Asaba, on the delta of the Niger River, second (of three so far) albums on this Colombian label (ignoring singles and remixes). Ekobe refers to a style with traditional Igbo instruments, and global is where they're headed. Hard to choose between the albums without spending a lot more time. B+(***) [sp]

Unpacking: Found in the mail last week:

  • Ballister + Luke Stewart: Clocking the Wheel (Aerophonic) [07-10]
  • Maya De Vitry: All My Faith (Mad Maker Studios) [07-24]
  • Charles Downs Quartet: Inner (ESP-Disk') [05-15]
  • Entropic Hop: The Quest for the Normal Is the Death of the Self (ESP-Disk') [05-15]

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