Album Review: Marquis Hill- Composers Collective: Beyond the Jukebox

Abstaining from hand-wringing about the (un)popularity of jazz takes a great deal of willpower. It’s a relief, consequently, when musicians directly address the worrisome topic on their recordings.

Marquis Hill’s potent new album Composers Collective: Beyond the Jukebox contains several spoken word interludes about the common perception of jazz as an irrelevant form of art. The vitality of the music refutes the notion.

Beyond the Jukebox demonstrates several ways in which jazz can be meaningful to broad audiences in 2024. Joined by luminaries including Gerald Clayton, Caroline Davis, Joel Ross and Jeff Parker, the trumpeter bounces between straight-ahead jazz, grown-and-sexy R&B and contemporary jazz informed by hip-hop.  

The important message remains a secret. Liberty Hall was at fifteen percent capacity when Hill performed with Junius Paul and Makaya McCraven in Lawrence, Kansas, nine weeks ago.

June 2024 Recap: A Monthly Exercise in Critical Transparency

Screenshot of the trailer for Opéra national de Paris’ production of Gaspare Spontini’s La Vestale by There Stands the Glass.

The Top Ten Albums of June
1. Bilal- Live at Glasshaus
With Common, Robert Glasper, Burniss Travis and Questlove.

2. Linda Thompson- Proxy Music
There Stands the Glass review.

3. Nduduzo Makhathini- uNomkhubulwane
South African spiritual jazz.

4. Kaitlin Butts- Roadrunner!
Oklahoma!

5. Marsha Ambrosius- Casablanco
A chaotic pileup of jazz, hip-hop and R&B.

6. William Parker- Heart Trio
With Cooper-Moore and Hamid Drake.

7. Tarbaby- You Think This America
Orrin Evans, Eric Revis and Nasheet Waits.

8. Rod Fleeman- Live at Green Lady Lounge, Volume 3
Plastic Sax review.

9. Charli XCX- Brat: and it’s the same but there’s three more songs so it’s not
Impudent pop.

10. Peso Pluma- Éxodo
Extravagant excess.

The Top Ten Songs of June
1. Staples Jr. Singers- "I've Got a Feeling"
A good old feeling.

2. Menahan Street Band- "Tropical Man (TV Mix)"
My song of the summer.

3. Spice- "2085 Tea"
“Look back pon tings.”

4. Heems featuring Vijay Iyer and Sid Vashi- "Manto"
Partition blues.

5. Kaytranda featuring Channel Tres- "Drip Sweat"
Steam bath.

6. Nikka Costa- “Dance ‘N Forget”
She would die 4 U.

7. Leigh-Anne- "Nature"
U.K. pop reggae.

8. Val Fleury- "Technically"
Facts.

9. 42 Dugg featuring Sexyy Red- "N.P.O."
Ha ha!

10. Silverada- "Doing It Right"
She’s actin’ single, he’s drinkin’ doubles.

The Top Ten Performances of June
1. Makaya McCraven at Liberty Hall
Plastic Sax review.

2. Nick Shoulders at Third Place Lounge
There Stands the Glass review.

3. Flatland Cavalry at Grinders KC
Instagram clip.

4. Adam Larson at the Blue Room
Plastic Sax review.

5. Lionel Richie and Earth, Wind & Fire at the T-Mobile Center
There Stands the Glass review.

6. Yo-Yo Ma at Parade Park
Instagram clip..

7. Deanna Ray Eberhart at Ward Parkway Presbyterian Church
Instagram clip.

8. Galaxxu and the Extemporaneous Music and Arts Society at Charlotte Street Foundation
Instagram clip.

9. Rod Fleeman at Green Lady Lounge
Instagram clip.

10. Yo-Yo Ma, Joel Thompson and Ralph Yarl at Helzberg Hall
Instagram snapshot.

The previous monthly recap is here.