The Top Albums of 2025

Since Debí Tirar Más Fotos was released on January 5, I’ve listened to the album by There Stands the Glass' 2020 Artist of the Year several times a week. Bad Bunny’s blend of vintage and futuristic sounds remained fresh, a trait that’s made Debí Tirar Más Fotos my favorite new album throughout the year. Selections two through ten in the following account battled for second place. Notable omissions including Cécile McLorin Salvant, SML and Morgan Wallen are represented in my ranking of the best songs of 2025. As always, there’s no overlap between the two listings.

1. Bad Bunny- Debí Tirar Más Fotos
Shake it like a Polaroid picture.

2. Rosalía- Lux
Her beautiful dark twisted fantasy.

3. Linda May Han Oh- Strange Heavens
My review.

4. Clipse- Let God Sort Em Out
So be it.

5. Sylvie Courvoisier and Mary Halvorson- Bone Bells
A perfect tandem.

6. Patricia Brennan- Of the Near and Far
Chamber jazz.

7. Billy Woods- Golliwog
Dank.

8. Gerald Clayton- Ones & Twos: Expanded Edition
My review.

9. John Glacier- Like a Ribbon
Icy.

10. Clarice Jensen- In holiday clothing, out of the great darkness
Bach-based drones.

11. Charles Lloyd- Figure in Blue
Hushed brilliance.

12. Armand Hammer- Mercy
Gold produced by the Alchemist.

13. Vox Clamantis- Pärt: And I heard a voice
My kind of praise and worship music.

14. Sylvie Courvoisier and Wadada Leo Smith- Angel Falls
Angels flying too close to the ground.

15. Karol G- Tropicoqueta
The rumors are true: I’m in the tank for the Columbian star.

16. Vijay Iyer and Leo Wadada Smith- Defiant Life
Resistance.

17. Mike- Showbiz!
No business.

18. Emily D’Angelo, Ben Bliss, Yannick Nézet-Séguin and the Metropolitan Opera- Tesori: Grounded
My review.

19. Military Gun- God Save the Gun
Bang! You’re dead.

20. Destroyer- Dan’s Boogie
Luxurious dissipation.

21. Tucker Wetmore- What Not To
My review.

22. Nick Shoulders- Refugia Blues
High and lonesome in the Ozarks.

23. Mister Water Wet- Things Gone and Things Still Here
The best album out of Kansas City in 2025.

24. Kelela- In The Blue Light
Live.

25. Carl Allen- Tippin’
My review.

26. Sō Percussion- 25x25
An eight-hour anniversary celebration.

27. Tyler, The Creator- Don’t Tap the Glass
Golf wang forever.

28. Nels Cline- Consentrik Quartet
My review.

29. Laura Jurd- Rites & Revelations
European folk-jazz fusion.

30. Anouar Brahem- After the Last Sky
ECM-core.

31. Camila Nebbia, Marilyn Crispell and Lesley Mok- A Reflection Distorts Over Water
Free trio.

32. Mike and Tony Selzer- Pinball II
Tilt.

33. Ches Smith- Clone Row
With Mary Halvorson, Liberty Ellman and Nick Dunston.

34. Sumac and Moor Mother- The Film
Horror show.

35. James McVinnie- Dreamcatcher
My review.

36. Olivia Dean- The Art of Loving
Pop life.

37. Salif Keita- So Kono
Transcendent.

38. Young Miko- Do Not Disturb
Ring the alarm.

39. Oren Ambarchi- Ghosted III
Haunting.

40. Juana Molina- DOGA
A lovely comeback.

41. Aruán Ortiz- Créole Renaissance
Solo piano.

42. claire rousay and Gretchen Korsmo- quilted lament
Meaningful ambience.

43. Cosmic Ear- Traces
My review.

44. Trio of Bloom- Trio of Bloom
Innovative power trio.

45. Grupo Firme- Evolución
Instant party.

46. Dijon- Baby
Princely.

47. Atmosphere- Jestures
My review.

48. Tim Berne- Yikes Too
My review.

49. Jeff Tweedy- Twilight Override
So many songs.

50. Al Foster- Live at Smoke
With Chris Potter, Brad Mehldau and Joe Martin.

November 2025 Recap: A Monthly Exercise in Critical Transparency

Screenshot of the trailer for English National Opera’s production of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s “Così fan tutte” by There Stands the Glass.

The Top Ten Albums of November 2025
1. Rosalía- Lux
A beautiful dark twisted fantasy.

2. SML- How You Been
Real good.

3. Camila Nebbia, Marilyn Crispell and Lesley Mok- A Reflection Distorts Over Water
Ripples.

4. Thomas Morgan- Around You Is a Forest
Duets with Ambrose Akinmusire, Bill Frisell, Henry Threadgill and more.

5. Young Miko- Do Not Disturb
Ring the alarm.

6. Juana Molina- DOGA
Buen perro.

7. Víkingur Ólafsson- Opus 109
Bach, Beethoven and Schubert.

8. Amirtha Kidambi’s Elder Ones- New Monuments: Live in Vilnius
Volcanic eruption in Lithuania.

9. De La Soul- Cabin in the Sky
Just shy of heaven.

10. John Scofield and Dave Holland- Memories of Home
A bit too domesticated.

The Top Reimaginings and Reissues of November 2025
1. Rufus Wainwright and the Pacific Jazz Orchestra- I’m a Stranger Here Myself: Wainwright Does Weill
An excellent concept executed to perfection.

2. Willie Nelson- Workin’ Man: Willie Sings Merle
Silver wings.

3. Chet Baker- Swimming by Moonlight: New Music from the Documentary ‘Let’s Get Lost’
Crossed off everybody’s list.

The Top Ten Songs of November 2025
1. Charli xcx featuring John Cale- "House"
A sensational shock.

2. Danny Brown featuring Quadeca- “Book of Daniel”
Old Testament.

3. Navy Blue featuring Earl Sweatshirt- "24 Gospel"
New Testament.

4. Boldy James, Nicholas Craven, 50 Gwuap, Taj and Dave Hill- "Trifecta"
Jackpot.

5. Maria Becerra, El Alfa and Xross- “Hace Calor”
Fiery.

6. RNB.FOEMOB featuring That Mexican OT- “Let Go of My Cup”
Lean.

7. By.Alexander featuring Hawa, Ghostface Killah and Rapsody- “The Decoupling of the Nuclear Family”
Tomorrow’s sounds today.

8. Sharp Pins- “Popafangout”
A trip to Itchycoo Park.

9. Colter Wall- "Memories and Empties"
Set ‘em up, Joe.

10. Julian Lage- "Opal"
Bejeweled.

The Top Ten Performances of November 2025
1. Samara Joy at the Folly Theater
My review.

2. OHMA at the 1905 (Portland)
My review.

3.  Hayden Pedigo and Jens Kuross at the Ship
My review.

4. David Chael, Danny Embrey, Gerald Spaits and Brian Steever at Green Lady Lounge
My Instagram clip.

5. Claire Rousay and Gretchen Korsmo at Holocene (Portland)
My review.

6. Cory Weeds, Chris Hazelton, David Rourke and Rudy Petschauer at Westport Coffee House
My review.

7. Adam Galblum and Matt Villinger at the Market at Meadowbrook
My Instagram clip.

8. Lena Khalaf Tuffaha at Arrupe Auditorium
My Instagram snapshot.

9. Matt Otto, Aaron Sizemore, DeAndre Manning and Mike Warren at the Music House
My Instagram snapshot.

10. Luke Tartar at Portland International Airport
My Instagram clip.

The previous monthly recap is here.

April 2025 Recap: A Monthly Exercise in Critical Transparency

Screenshot of the trailer for Houston Grand Opera’s production of Richard Wagner’s Tannhäuser by There Stands the Glass.

The Top Ten Albums of April 2025

1. Sumac and Moor Mother- The Film
End times.

2. Sherelle- With a Vengeance
British footwork.

3. Leif Ove Andsnes and the Norwegian Soloists’ Choir- Liszt: Via Crucis & Solo Piano Works
Sometimes it causes me to tremble.

4. Gerald Clayton- Ones & Twos
My review.

5. Salif Keita- So Kono
Hushed beauty.

6. Black Country, New Road- Forever Howlong
My review.

7. Marilyn Crispell, Thommy Andersson and Michala Østergaard-Nielsen- The Cave
Improvisation worthy of Plato.

8. Willie Nelson- Oh What a Beautiful World
Willie on Rodney.

9. The Mars Volta- Lucro sucio; Los ojos del vacio
My review.

10. Tucker Wetmore- What Not To
My review.

The Top Three Reissues, Repackagings and Reimaginings of April 2025

1. John Hicks- Steadfast
Forty-year-old solo piano.

2. Sun Ra- Nuits de la Fondation Maeght
The space bop motherlode.

3. Stanley Cowell- Musa: Ancestral Streams
A 1974 classic reemerges.

The Top Ten Songs of April 2025

1. Emma-Jean Thackray- "Thank You for the Day"
Blessings abound.

2. Sault- “L.U.”
Gospel truth.

3. Bon Iver featuring Dijon and Flock of Dimes- "Day One"
We miss the old Kanye.

4. Lorde- "What Was That"
Royal.

5. Carin León, Diego El Cigala and Chanela Clicka- "Te Quiero Y Me Miento"
Intercontinental fusion.

6. Christian Nodal- "Amé"
Love.

7. Mark Morton featuring Nikki Lane- “Down No More”
Straight and narrow.

8. Viagra Boys- "You N33d Me"
Needy.

9. Jane Remover featuring Danny Brown- "Psychoboost"
Hyperpop fantasia.

10. Mekons- "Before the Ice Age"
Warmth.

The Top Ten Performances of April 2025

1. Jake Heggie’s master class at Grant Recital Hall
My review.

2. Joseph Genualdi and Sean Chen at White Recital Hall
My review.

3. Les Arts Florissants with Théotime Langlois de Swarte at the Folly Theater
My Instagram clip.

4. Lauren Auge and Jacob Hofeling at St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church
My Instagram clip.

5. Electronic Music Midwest Festival at Kansas City Kansas Community College
My Instagram clips: day one and day two.

6. Helen Sung with Bach Aria Soloists at the Folly Theater
My review.

7. Opus 76 at Shawnee Mission South High School
My Instagram clip.

8. The Extemporaneous Music and Arts Society’s “3 Expressions of Light and Sound” at Charlotte Street Foundation
My Instagram clip.

9. Bob Bowman at Westport Coffee House
My Instagram clip.

10. Aaron Sizemore, Craig Akin and Taylor Babb at the Music House
My Instagram clip.

The previous monthly recap is here.

April 2024 Recap: A Monthly Exercise in Critical Transparency

Screenshot of the trailer for Garsington Opera’s production of Richard Strauss’ “Ariadne auf Naxos” by There Stands the Glass.

The Top Ten Albums of April

1. Oren Ambarchi- Ghosted II
Scary good.

2. Fred Hersch- Silent, Listening
The pianist’s best.

3. أحمد (Ahmed)- Wood Blues
Ahmed Abdul-Malik lives.

4. Bill Frisell- Orchestras
What a time to be alive!

5. Parsnip- Behold
Hocus pocus.

6. Meshell Ndegeocello- Red Hot & Ra: The Magic City
A one-way trip to Saturn.

7. José James- ​​1978
My bespoke catnip.

8. Kilian Herold- Serenade: Works for Clarinet and Strings by Krenek, Gál and Penderecki
In which I discovered Ernst Krenek.

9. Nia Archives- Silence Is Loud
The groovy poets’ department.

10. Skilla Baby- The Coldest
Detroit vs. everybody.

The Top Ten Songs of April

1. Fat White Family- “Visions of Pain”
“Águas De Março” fermented.

2. Arooj Aftab- "Raat Ki Rani"
Smooth operator.

3. Shabaka- "As the Planets and the Stars Collapse"
Astral projecting.

4. Staples Jr. Singers- “Lost In a World of Sin”
On bended knee.

5. Kamasi Washington featuring George Clinton and D Smoke- "Get Lit"
Hit it and quit it.

6. Mabel- "Vitamins"
Restorative.

7. Eliza Rose- "Lovesome"
Dream house.

8. Anitta- "Lose Ya Breath"
Steam bath.

9. Chino Pacas- “Tunechi”
Tha block is hot.

10. St. Vincent- “Big Time Nothing”
The best track on a disappointing album.

The Top Ten Performances of April

1. Véronique Gens and Susan Manoff at Wigmore Hall (London)
My Instagram snapshot.

2. Mozart’s “Missa Solemnis”, Peter Schipka, Choralschola der Wiener Hofburgkapelle, Wiener Sängerknaben and Wiener Staatsoper, at Wiener Hofmusikkapelle (Vienna)
My Instagram clip.

3. Georges Bizet’s “Carmen” at Wiener Staatsoper (Vienna)
My Instagram snapshot.

4. Joe Lovano, Marilyn Crispell and Carmen Castaldi at Wigmore Hall (London)
My review.

5. Franz Schubert’s Messe in C-Dur, Markus Landerer, conductor, at Stephansdom (Vienna)
My Instagram snapshot.

6. Mike, 454, Niontay and El Cousteau at recordBar
My Instagram clip.

7. Rodgers and Hammerstein’s “The Sound of Music” at Volksoper (Vienna)
My Instagram snapshot.

8. Steve Hackett’s “Genesis Revisited” at the Uptown Theater
My Instagram clip.

9. Eddie Moore, Ben Tervort and Jalen Ward at Yardley Hall
My Instagram snapshot.

10. Marvin Gruenbaum, John Blegen, Kent Brauninger and Nils Aardahl at the Market at Meadowbrook
My Instagram clip.

The previous monthly recap is here.

Concert Review: Joe Lovano, Marilyn Crispell and Carmen Castaldi at Wigmore Hall

Original image by There Stands the Glass.

I’ve addressed numerous items on my proverbial bucket list during a whirlwind visit to London. Yesterday, I sat in the top front seat of a red double-decker bus after taking in my first Premier League match. Attending a concert at the world’s premier venue for chamber music meant even more to me. Given my predilections, it’s apropos that I heard a jazz trio on my first visit to Wigmore Hall.

I relish the three albums the grouping of saxophonist Joe Lovano, pianist Marilyn Crispell and drummer Carmen Castaldi recorded for ECM Records. Hearing them in perfect clarity amid an audience of about 500 was dreamy. Suffering from jet lag, displeased with Lovano’s sartorial choices and unwilling to continually crane my neck to watch Crispell’s fingering from my $50 seat in the center of the room, I occasionally closed my eyes.

With torrents of improvised sound akin to spray from a fire hose, the musicians’ lack of inhibition often overwhelmed me. Once or twice, I was reluctant to open my eyes for fear I had somehow slipped out of my chair and had passed out on the floor of Wigmore Hall. Three days later, I’m still reeling.

May 2023 Recap: A Monthly Exercise in Critical Transparency

Screenshot of the trailer of Glyndbourne’s production of Don Giovanni by There Stands the Glass.

Top Ten Albums of May

1. Rudy Royston’s Flatbed Buggy- Day

Bumpy ride.

2. Billy Woods and Kenny Segal- Maps

The right direction.

3. Shirley Collins- Archangel Hill

Time out of mind.

4. Joe Lovano, Marilyn Crispell and Carmen Castaldi- Our Daily Bread

Holy communion.

5. Roomful of Teeth- Rough Magic

My review.

6. Atmosphere- So Many Other Realities Exist Simultaneously

Atmosphere finally made a good record.

7. Kassa Overall- Animals

Pigs on the wing.

8. Béla Fleck- As We Speak

With Zakir Hussain, Edgar Meyer and Rakesh Chaurasia.

9. Slowspin- Talisman

Hounds of love.

10. Rod Fleeman- Saturday Afternoon Live at Green Lady Lounge, Vol. 2

My review.

Top Ten Songs of May

1. Megan Maroney- “Kansas Anymore”

Getting out of Dodge.

2. Kevin Morby- “Going to Prom”

Time the revelator.

3. That Mexican OT featuring Paul Wall and Drodi- "Johnny Dang"

Ice.

4. Paris Texas- "Bullet Man"

Who shot ya?

5. SleazyWorld Go with Polo G- “Off the Court”

Trust the process.

6. Peso Pluma- "Bye"

I say hello.

7. Speakers Corner Quartet featuring Kae Tempest- "Geronimo Blues"

Stump speech.

8. Sparks- "Gee, That Was Fun"

Au revoir.

9. $uicideboy$- “Realism vs Idealism”

No limit.

10. Lil’ Keke- "Motion"

OG.

Top Ten Performances of May

1. Tim Bernardes at Mississippi Studios

My review.

2. Yujia Shen at Diastole Scholars Center

My review.

3. Off!, Upchuck and Weaponize Chomsky at recordBar

My Instagram clips are here, here and here.

4. Bonnie “Prince” Billy and Michael Hurley at Aladdin Theater

My review.

5. Hot Chip and Cadence Weapon at Wonder Ballroom

My Instagram clips are here and here.

6. Janet Jackson and Ludacris at T-Mobile Center

My Instagram image.

7. Stone & Sue at the Portland Farmers Market

My Instagram clip.

8. Rod Fleeman Trio at Green Lady Lounge

My Instagram clip.

9. Drew Williams Quartet at Westport Coffee House

My review.

10. Luke Tarter at Portland International Airport

Elton John melodies unnerved me amid flight delays.

The previous monthly survey is here.

Album Review: Marilyn Crispell and Angelica Sanchez- How to Turn the Moon

Original image by There Stands the Glass.

Instinct implores me to flee when I spot more than one piano on a stage.  Multiple pianos are almost always a terrible idea.  I was incensed when Jay McShann’s elegant simplicity was diluted by fellow keyboardist Ralph Sutton at a concert decades ago.  And I’m still traumatized by an ill-advised tribute to Phineas Newborn Jr. featuring pianists Donald Brown, Geoff Keezer, Harold Mabern, Mulgrew Miller and James Williams.

Less is almost always more, but I’m making an exception for How to Turn the Moon. The new album of piano duets features Marilyn Crispell in the right channel and Angelica Sanchez in the left channel.  Heard through speakers, the album alternates between dynamic blasts of righteous skronk and quiet meditations on entropy.  The distinct sound field revealed by headphones offers a far more nuanced experience.

The thoughtful interactions aren’t limited to 166 keys.  The musicians probe the guts of their pianos on “Space Junk” and sound as if they’re tormenting harpsichords on “Ancient Dream.”  While tracks including “Windfall Light” and “Free In Web” brush against jazz, most of the improvisations on How to Turn the Moon are entirely free from swing.  Crispell and Sanchez’s vanquishing of my fight-or-flight impulse may compel me to reconsider all of my ingrained musical biases.