Anja Lechner

October 2024 Recap: A Monthly Exercise in Critical Transparency

Screenshot of the trailer of the Metropolitan Opera’s production of Osvaldo Golijo’s Ainadamar by There Stands the Glass.

Top Ten Albums of October

1. Caroline Shaw- Leonardo da Vinci: Original Score
The ideal contemporary classical primer.

2. JD Allen- The Dark, the Light, the Grey and the Colorful
Merciless spiritual jazz.

3. The Necks- Bleed
Minimalist slow-core.

4. Anja Lechner- Bach Abel Hume
Solo cello.

5. Blackstarkids- Heaven on Urf
The conclusion of an ambitious concept album.

6. Anna Butterss- Mighty Vertebrate
Slinky post-jazz.

7. Drug Church- Prude
Mouthy hardcore.

8. Tord Gustavsen Trio- Seeing
My review.

9. Samara Joy- Portrait
Enchanted swing.

10. Marie Krüttli Trio- Scoria
My review.



Top Ten Songs of October

1. Tyler, The Creator- "Noid"
Distrust.

2. 070 Shake- "Winter Baby/New Jersey Blues"
Remembering the Ronettes.

3. Mike- "Pieces of a Dream"
Foggy.

4. Danny Brown- "Cheaters"
No rules.

5. Leikeli47- "450"
Mask off.

6. Shredders- “Shred Dogs 4 Lyfe”
Doomtree.

7. Maren Morris- “People Still Show Up”
Knock knock.

8. Sofía Valdés- "Already Yours"
Possessed.

9. Major Lazer and Vybz Kartel- "Nobody Move"
Frozen.

10. Geordie Greep- "Blues"
Art-rock absurdity.


Top Ten Performances of October

1. Dwight Frizzell’s Heliophonie at Charlotte Street Foundation
My review.

2. Drug Church at recordBar
My Instagram clip.

3. Rick Bartlett at Ricky B’s (Louisville)
My Instagram clip.

4. The Psychedelic Furs, The Jesus and Mary Chain and Frankie Rose at the Uptown Theater
My Instagram snapshot.

5. Chelsea Guo, Joseph Parrish and Francesco Barfoed at the Folly Theater
My Instagram snapshot.

6. Wayne Graham at Zanzabar (Louisville)
My Instagram clip.

7. Gil Shaham with the Kansas City Symphony at Helzberg Hall
My Instagram snapshot.

8. Jackie Myers, Rich Wheeler and Jeff Harshbarger at the Market at Meadowbrook
My Instagram snaphot.

9. Nola Richardson’s masterclass at Atonement Lutheran Church.
My Instagram snapshot.

10. Gerald Trimble & Jambaroque, Bayati Ensemble and Soundz of Africa at Unity on the Plaza
My Instagram clip.



The previous monthly recap is here.

October 2020 Recap: A Monthly Exercise in Critical Transparency

Screenshot of Galatea Ranzi in Zoroaster, Io, Giacomo Casanova.

Screenshot of Galatea Ranzi in Zoroaster, Io, Giacomo Casanova.

Top Five Albums

1. Anja Lechner and François Couturier- Lontano

My review.

2. Sturgill Simpson- Cuttin’ Grass Vol. 1 (The Butcher Shoppe Sessions)

The first trustworthy album from the stylistic chameleon.

3. Marilyn Crispell and Angelica Sanchez- How to Turn the Moon

My review.

4. Blackstarkids- Whatever, Man

My review.

5. Sa-Roc- The Sharecropper’s Daughter

Old-school raps and throwback R&B.

Top Five Songs

1. Bruce Springsteen- “Janey Needs a Shooter”

Tramps like us.

2. Channel Tres- "Skate Depot"

Before I let go.

3. Blackpink- "Pretty Savage"

Green light.

4. Charlie Wilson featuring Smokey Robinson- "All of My Love"

Cruisin’.

5. Metz- "Pulse"

My review.

Top Five Livestreams

1. Bang on a Can Marathon #4 (George Crumb, Tyshawn Sorey, Anna Webber, etc.)

2. Danny Embrey, Bob Bowman and Brian Steever- Black Dolphin

3. James Francies, Matt Brewer, Jeremy Dutton and Ben Heim- Yamaha Artist Services

4. Veronica Swift with Emmet Cohen, Javier Nero, Julius Rodriguez, Philip Norris and Kush Abadey- Smalls

5. Beethoven 250th Anniversary Celebration- UMKC Conservatory

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

Album Review: Anja Lechner and François Couturier- Lontano

Original image by There Stands the Glass.

Original image by There Stands the Glass.

I wondered if I was on my deathbed four hours after receiving a seasonal flu shot three days ago.  Thankfully, the alarming diminishment of my lifeblood quickly dissipated.  The tone of Lontano, the new album by German cellist Anja Lechner and French pianist François Couturier, matches the weary sense of resignation I experienced.  Fluttering between planes of existence, I was overcome by bittersweet reflections of my time on Earth.  A recent 82-minute concert by the duo exudes a similar otherworldliness even without the signature ethereal ECM Records ambiance enhancing Lontano.