Booker T. Jones

April 2023 Recap: A Monthly Exercise in Critical Transparency

Screenshot of the Irish National Opera’s trailer for Werther by There Stands the Glass.

Top Ten Albums of April

1. Tilo Weber- Tesserae

My review.

2. Zsófia Boros- El último aliento

My review.

3. El Michels Affair and Black Thought- Glorious Game

Roots-y.

4. Adam Larson- With Love, From New York City

My review.

5. Tee Grizzley and Skilla Baby- Controversy

Detroit lions.

6. Thomas Adès- Dante

Hell, purgatory and paradise.

7. Danish String Quartet- Prism V

Bach, Beethoven and Webern.

8. YoungBoy Never Broke Again- Don’t Try This at Home

Untold riches.

9. Brandee Younger- Brand New Life

Starting over.

10. Kiko El Crazy- Pila’e Teteo

Dembow frenzy.


Top Ten Songs of April

1. Shirley Collins- “High and Away”

Storm’s a-brewin’.

2. Margo Price and Particle Kid- “Hands on the Wheel”

I feel like going home.

3. Smokey Robinson- "Beside You"

Cruisin’.

4. Stik Figa featuring Blu and The Expert- "Uknowhut?"

What?

5. Killer Mike featuring El-P and thankugoodsir- "Don't Let the Devil"

Nobody speak.

6. MC Yallah- "No One Seems to Bother"

The truest type of world music.

7. Thundercat and Tame Impala- "No More Lies"

Truth.

8. Armani White and A$AP Ferg- “Silver Tooth”

Novocain.

9. NLE Choppa- "Talk Different"

Money changes everything.

10. Jessie Ware- “Begin Again”

Age of Aquarius.


Top Ten Concerts of April

1. Jean-Yves Thibaudet at the Folly Theater

My Instagram photo.

2. Adam Larson, Matt Clohesy and Jimmy Macbride at Westport Coffee House

My Instagram clip.

3. Willi Carlisle and Betse & Clarke at Knuckleheads

My Instagram photo.

4. John Mellencamp at the Midland theater

My Instagram clip.

5. Drew Williams, Seth Davis and Brian Steever at Westport Coffee House

My Instagram clip.

6. Booker T. Jones at the Folly Theater

My review.

7. Joseph Genualdi at Grant Recital Hall

My Instagram photo.

8. Anne-Marie McDermott’s master class at Grant Recital Hall

My notes.

9. Thomas Lacy at Southminster Presbyterian Church

My Instagram clip.

10. Nate Nall, Matt Hopper and Joey Panella at the Market at Meadowbrook

My Instagram photo.

The previous monthly survey is here.

Concert Review: Booker T. Jones at the Folly Theater

Original image of Booker T. Jones neglecting his organ by There Stands the Glass.

A conspicuous hole in my concert-going ledger was filled at the Folly Theater on Friday, April 21.  To the best of my recollection, I’d never previously attended a performance featuring Booker T. Jones.

The recordings of very few living legends have given me more pleasure than the impeccably funky discography of Jones.  Watching him revive several of his essential contributions to soul, blues, rock and pop was thrilling.

The concert could have been better.  I didn’t care for the guitarist’s solos.  And two days earlier the peerless tandem of Matt Clohesy and Jimmy Macbride may have permanently spoiled my capacity to appreciate all other bassists and drummers.

Joining a few hundred baby boomers with the purchase of the least expensive ticket ($32.50) was a sound investment even if the only magical moments occurred during Jones’ elegant introduction to “Time Is Tight.”

Set list: Hang ‘Em High, Soul Dressing, Born Under a Bad Sign, Mannish Boy, Hey Joe, Melting Pot, Green Onions, Hip Hug-Her, Ain’t No Sunshine, Bright Lights Big City, Summertime, Soul Limbo, Everything Is Everything, Time is Tight, I’ve Been Loving You Too Long