2 Chainz

November 2023 Recap: A Monthly Exercise in Critical Transparency

Screenshot of the trailer of Opernhaus Zürich’s production of Richard Wagner’s Götterdämmerung by There Stands the Glass.

Top Ten Albums of November

1. Bertrand Chamayou- Letter(s) to Erik Satie

Correspondence with John Cage.

2. Sullivan Fortner- Solo Game

Two sides of the pianist.

3. 2 Chainz and Lil Wayne- Welcome 2 Collegrove

Duffle bag boys.

4. Yuhan Su- Liberated Gesture

Good vibes.

5. DJ Manny- Hypnotized

Superior footwork.

6. Viktor Orri Árnason and Álfheiður Erla Guðmundsdóttir- Poems

Icy.

7. Thandi Ntuli and Carlos Niño- Rainbow Revisited

Sunshine.

8. Nitai Hershkovits- Call On the Old Wise

Wisdom of the elders.

9. Blockhead- The Aux

Underground all-stars.

10. Sarah Davachi and Quatuor Bozzini- Long Gradus

Deceptive drones.



Top Ten Songs of November

1.Tokischa- "Candy"

Not so sweet.

2. Danny Brown featuring Kassa Overall- "Jenn's Terrific Vacation"

An unexpected update of 2011’s “Fields”.

3. Rico Nasty, NCognita, Simon Said. and Raedio- "Lackin"

Complete.

4. Björk featuring Rosalía- "Oral"

“I just don’t know.”

5. Atmosphere- “Traveling Forever”

Never-ending tour.

6. 070 Shake featuring Ken Carson- "Natural Habitat"

Uncaged.

7. Larry June, Cardo and the Alchemist- "The Great Escape"

Free.

8. Majid Jordan- "Eyes Closed"

Smooth operator.

9. Yahritza Y Su Esencia and El Yaki- "Nos Equivocamos"

We were wrong.

10. Willi Carlisle- “When the Pills Wear Off”

Reckoning.



Top Ten Performances of November

1. András Schiff at Helzberg Hall

My review.

2. Juan Diego Flórez at the Folly Theater

My review.

3. Rafael Lozano-Hemmer’s Listening Forest at Crystal Bridges Museum (Bentonville)

My Instagram clip.

4. The Danielle Nicole Band and Katy Guillen and the Drive at the Uptown Theater

My Instagram snapshot.

5. DJ Lucas, Papo2oo4, Subjxct 5, Paris Williams, Lil Heavn and N1n4 Freakquency at Farewell

My review.

6. Kelly Hall Tompkins at the Folly Theater

My review.

7. UMKC Opera’s “The Magic Flute” at White Recital Hall

My review.

8. Jackie Myers, Rich Wheeler and Sebastian Arias at the Market at Meadowbrook

My Instagram snapshot.

9. The Extemporaneous Music and Arts Society’s “Intersect & Interdependence” at Charlotte Street Foundation

My Instagram clip.

10. East Hill Singers at Rolling Hills Presbyterian Church 

My Instagram snapshot.



The previous monthly survey is here.

November 2020 Recap: A Monthly Exercise in Critical Transparency

Screenshot of Levi Hernandez in Bard SummerScape Opera’s production of Antonín Dvořák’s Dimitrij by There Stands the Glass.

Screenshot of Levi Hernandez in Bard SummerScape Opera’s production of Antonín Dvořák’s Dimitrij by There Stands the Glass.

Top Five Albums

1. William Basinski- Lamentations

Pandemic vibes.

2. Susan Alcorn Quintet- Pedernal 

My review.

3. Nick Cave- Idiot Prayer: Alone at Alexandra Palace, 2020

A troubadour for end times.

4. Raheem DeVaughn- What a Time to Be In Love

Looks like another love T.K.O.

5. Megan Thee Stallion- Good News

Who shot ya?


Top Five Songs

1. Chris Stapleton- “You Should Probably Leave”

Tempted.

2. 2 Chainz- “Wait For You to Die”

Cold hard facts.

3. Future and Lil Uzi Vert- "Marni On Me"

Fancy.

4. Jazmine Sullivan- "Pick Up Your Feelings"

Grown folks music.

5. Mariza- “Foi Deus”

Amália Rodrigues lives.


Top Five Livestreams

1. Lakecia Benjamin- Jazzfest Berlin

2. Marilyn Maye- Gem Theater

3. OneBeat Marathon (Alexander Arkincheev, Ladama, Kyungso Park, etc.)

4. Sheila Jordan’s 92nd birthday celebration- Smalls

5. The St. Cecilia Festival- Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception (Opus 76 String Quartet, Sean Holland, Paul Turner, etc.


I conducted the same exercise in October, September, August, July, June, May, April, March, February and January.