Album Review: Tyshawn Sorey and Adam Rudolph- Archaisms II

I first encountered Ennio Morricone’s “Algeri: 1 Novembre 1954” on John Zorn’s 1986 tribute album The Big Gundown. The terrifyingly insistent theme has haunted me ever since. 

As part of my self-directed study in the history of the Arab diaspora, I recently watched the excruciatingly intense 1966 Italian film The Battle of Algiers. I leapt from a couch upon discovering Morricone’s doom-laden composition in its original context. 

The tone of Morricone’s agitated score echoes in Archaisms II. Recorded live at Roulette last year, the album captures a quintet led by Adam Rudolph and Tyshawn Sorey in pursuance of an elevated consciousness that seems aligned with violent uprisings.

February 2024 Recap: A Monthly Exercise in Critical Transparency

Screenshot of Lise Davidsen in the trailer for the Metropolitan Opera’s new production of Giuseppe Verdi’s “La forza del destino.”

The Top Ten Albums of February 

1. Heems- Lafandar
My review.

2. Lee “Scratch” Perry- King Perry
My review.

3. Hera Hyesang Park- Breathe
The soprano’s imaginative song cycle.

4. Kali Malone- All Life Long
A secular service.

5. Joel Ross- nublues
Blue notes.

6. James Brandon Lewis Quartet- Transfiguration
The saxophonist with Aruán Ortiz, Brad Jones and Chad Taylor.

7. Ben Allison, Steve Cardenas and Ted Nash- Tell the Birds I Said Hello: The Music of Herbie Nichols
My review.

8. Arcangelo- Handel: Theodora
A revelatory new recording of the 1750 oratorio.

9. Vijay Iyer, Linda May Han Oh and Tyshawn Sorey- Compassion
Piano trio nonpareil.

10. DJ Harrison- Shades of Yesterday
My review.

The Top Ten Songs of February 

1. Little Simz- “Mood Swings”
Schizophrenic.

2. GloRilla- “Yeah Glo!”
Glow-up.

3. Terrace Martin- “Kill Bill”
Smooth jazz revival.

4. Scott H. Biram- “Inside a Bar”
Set ‘em, Joe.

5. Sierra Ferrell- “I Could Drive You Crazy”
Insane earworm.

6. Ducks Ltd.- "On Our Way to the Rave"
Another jangle-pop miracle.

7. Thee Sinseers- “Hold On”
Little bit o’ soul.

8. Hatis Noit featuring Armand Hammer- "Jomon (Preservation Rework)"
Ancient to the future.

9. Gabito Ballesteros and Natanael Cano- "Proyecto X"
Trippy corrido tumbado.

10. Logan Richardson- “Black to the Point”
My album review.

The Top Ten Performances of February 

1. Militarie Gun, Pool Kids, Spiritual Cramp and Spacing at recordBar
My review.

2. Folk Alliance International Conference, Day One (Willi Carlisle, Justin Adams and Mauro Durante, Freedy Johnston)
My review.

3. Jeremy Denk at the Folly Theater
My review.

4. Folk Alliance International Conference, Day Three (Jolie Holland, Ensemble Sangineto, Mitsune)
My review.

5. Folk Alliance International Conference, Day Two (Trond Kallevåg, Louisa Stancioff, Humbird)
My review.

6. Jackie Myers, Rich Wheeler and Jeff Harshbarger at the Market at Meadowbrook
​​My Instagram snapshot.

7. Desmond Mason, Angela Ward, DeAndre Manning and Jaylen Ward at the Blue Room
My Instagram clip.

8. The Kansas City Wind Symphony at Village Presbyterian Church
My Instagram snapshot.

9. Pinnacle Winds at St. Peter & All Saints Episcopal Church
My Instagram clip.

10. Mire Pral at the Market at Meadowbrook
My Instagram clip.

The previous monthly recap is here.

November 2022 Recap: A Monthly Exercise in Critical Transparency

Screenshot of the trailer of Dutch National Opera’s production of Steef de Jong’s “Operetta Land” by There Stands the Glass.

Top Ten Albums of November

1. Hermon Mehari- Asmara

My review.

2. Sault- (God)

Universal gospel.

3. Tyshawn Sorey- The Off-Off Broadway Guide to Synergism

With Greg Osby, Aaron Diehl and Russell Hall.

4. Sault- 11

Exalted soul.

5. SleazyWorld Go- Where the Shooters Be

The new king of Kansas City.

6. Charles Lloyd- Trios: Trios: Sacred Thread

With Julian Lage and Zakir Hussain.

7. Sault- Earth

Global grooving.

8. Sault- Today & Tomorrow

Holistic psych-rock.

9. Julie Campiche Quartet- You Matter

The Swiss harpist’s post-Logan Richardson improvisations.

10. Nicholas Payton- The Couch Sessions

With Buster Williams and Lenny White.

Top Ten Songs of November

1. Drake and 21 Savage- “Major Distribution”

Middlemen.

2. SpotemGottem- "Block Got Hot"

Tunechi 2.0.

3. Tiwa Savage and Asake- "Loaded"

Rich.

4. E-40- "In the Air Where It's Fair"

Flying high.

5. Brockhampton- “Big P—y”

The unseemly implosion of the boy band is disheartening.

6. Okay Kaya- “Jazzercise”

Workout.

7. Randy Houser- “Out and Down”

Neon tears.

8. Gorillaz- "Baby Queen"

Aging princess.

9. Young Dolph- "Get Away"

“Hell right here on earth.”

10. Nas- "Once a Man, Twice a Child"

The wisdom of elders.

Top Ten Performances of November

1. Mspaint at Nightjar

My Instagram clip.

2. Keefe Jackson, Jakob Heinemann and Adam Shead at Black Dolphin

My Instagram photo.

3. Crystal Gayle at Ameristar Casino

My review.

4. Rod Fleeman at Green Lady Lounge

The guitarist is Plastic Sax's 2021 Person of the Year.

5. Damien Snead’s “Our Song, Our Story: The New Generation of Black Voices” at the Folly Theater

My review.

6. UMKC Conservatory’s production of Jules Massenet’s Chérubin at White Recital Hall

My Instagram photo.

7. Harmony Zhu at the Folly Theater

My review.

8. Ulysses Quartet at Keystone United Methodist Church

My Instagram photo.

9. Aryana Nemati at the Blue Room

My Instagram clip.

10. Jazz Disciples at the Blue Room

My Instagram photo.

Last month’s survey is here.