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.

Festival Review: Boulevardia 2023

Original image by There Stands the Glass.

I recently suggested in a piece for KCUR that Boulevardia is “Kansas City’s biggest multigenre music festival.”  Music, not beer, is my priority, and much of Boulevardia’s programming isn’t to my taste.

Yet I found plenty to enjoy at Boulevard Brewing Company’s two-day festival.  The sound, lighting and layout were superlative.  Thoughtful details like free yard games and a small army of volunteers produced a cheerful atmosphere.

The scheduling on five stages forced difficult choices- I missed another chance to see Post Sex Nachos- but I’m very pleased with my experience.  I caught at least 15 minutes of more than two dozen sets. Here’s a ranking of my ten* favorite performances.

1. Cimafunk

Nonplussed by Cimafunk’s recordings, I harbored low expectations for the band. What a stunning surprise!  Every member of the Afro-Cuban artist’s electrifying ensemble possessed as much charisma as their leader.  Cimafunk is the best show band I’ve encountered this millennium.

2. Steddy P

I’ve known the man who raps as Steddy P for 15 years.  Just as our relationship has had its ups and downs, his set at Boulevardia was a study in extremes.  The creative entertainer overcame sound issues to win over everyone present.

3. Big Freedia

Nice for what!  My face still hurts from broadly smiling throughout Big Freedia’s over-the-top spectacle.

4. The Salvation Choir

The Salvation Choir, my favorite band in Kansas City, were relatively subdued.

5. Peter Schlamb’s Electric Tinks

Peter Shlamb, arguably Kansas City’s most exciting musician, was joined by saxophonist Matt Otto, keyboardist Matt Villinger and drummer Ryan J. Lee. 

6. The Beths

The Beths were the festival’s primary draw for many of my friends and associates.  The New Zealand band’s straightforward indie-rock isn’t my thing, but the quartet’s endearingly goofy banter won me over.

7. Kat King

The fizzy indie-pop of Kansas City’s Kat King is radio-ready.

8. The Kansas City Latin Jazz Orchestra

Pablo Sanhueza’s Kansas City Latin Jazz Orchestra thrived in direct sunlight.

9. Katy Guillen & The Drive

Katy Guillen & The Drive’s roots-rock exemplifies the Boulevardia aesthetic.

10. Grand Marquis

I’ve been taking Kansas City’s Grand Marquis for granted. The longstanding bar band plays hearty jump blues with heaping helpings of Dixieland and vintage soul on the side.

*Where’s Jason Isbell?  Isbell is the equal of John Mellencamp, Bob Seger and Bruce Springsteen in their primes. Yet unwilling to tear myself away from Cimafunk’s set, I didn’t secure a spot at the front for Friday’s headliner.  Even after pushing my way into the middle of the throng, I couldn’t escape the intolerable bellowing of people flush with ignorant oil.  Frustrated, I headed home thirty minutes into Isbell’s set.

The Top Kansas City Albums of 2022

The Top 25 Kansas City Albums of 2022

1. Joyce DiDonato- Eden

Concert review.

2. Bobby Watson- Back Home in Kansas City

Review.

3. Hermon Mehari- Asmara

Review.

4. Steve Cardenas- Healing Power: The Music of Carla Bley

Review.

5. SleazyWorld Go- Where the Shooters Be

6. Adam Larson Trio- With Love, From Chicago

Review.

7. Mister Water Wet- Significant Soil

8. Kevin Morby- This Is a Photograph

9. Blackstarkids- Cyberkiss

Concert review.

10. Making Movies- Xopa

11. LeVelle- My Journey Continues

Review.

12. Krista Kopper and Evan Verploegh- For the Trees

Review.

12. Matt McBane and Sandbox Percussion- Bathymetry

13. Daniel Velasco and Ellen Sommer- Flauta Andina - 20th Century Andean Music for Flute and Piano

15. Huerco S.- Plonk

16. Arnold Young and the Roughtet- Fear Is the Mind Killer

Review.

17. Mister Water Wet- Top Natural Drum

18. Rod Fleeman Trio- Saturday Afternoon: Live at Green Lady Lounge

19. Matt Villinger’s All Night Trio- All Faded

Review.

20. Dutch Newman- This Too Shall Pass, Pt. 2

21. Poor Bishop Hooper- Psalm 119

22. Katy Guillen & The Drive- Another One Gained

23. Isaac Cates & Ordained- Amazed

24. The Creepy Jingles- Take Me at My Wordplay

25. The Greeting Committee- Dandelion

The Top 10 Kansas City EPs of 2022

1. Adam Larson Trio- With Love, From Kansas City

Review.

2. Samantha Fish and Jesse Dayton- The Stardust Sessions

3. Jackoffs- Prime Specimen

Review.

4. Flora- Emerald City

5. Stik Figa and Conductor Williams- Valley of Dry Bones

6. Eddie Moore- Intuition

Review.

7. Atticus vonHolten- A Highway Tore Through Me

8. Blob Castle and Daniel Lima- Contempoétnico

9. Piss Kinks- A Tisket, A Tasket

10. Jake Wesley Rogers- Love

Links to previous annual surveys begin here.