Force Majeure cover
Released

The effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on live music is going to take a long, long time to feel distant enough to fully dismiss, but it’s still remarkable to consider some of the work that was able to permeate the lockdowns and restrictions just by giving some restless artists a new context to create in. Bassist Dezron Douglas and harpist Brandee Younger chose to broadcast their own Harlem house-bound musical transmissions through a recurring weekly livestream that found solace in reflective yet lively-played standards from Joe Raposo (“Sing”) to the Coltranes (John’s “Equinox”; Alice’s “Gospel Trane”) to Kate Bush (“This Woman’s Work”), strength in the reinforcement of Black-led art, and connection to an audience that only proved distant in the physical sense. Essential work in every sense of the term.

Nate Patrin

Suggestions
REVERENCE cover

REVERENCE

Muriel Grossmann
Godbluff cover

Godbluff

Van der Graaf Generator
Compulsion cover

Compulsion

Andrew Hill
Amaryllis cover

Amaryllis

Mary Halvorson
Funky Donkey, Vols. 1 & 2 cover

Funky Donkey, Vols. 1 & 2

Luther Thomas, Saint Louis Creative Ensemble, Human Arts Ensemble
Adnos I-III cover

Adnos I-III

Éliane Radigue
1961 cover

1961

Jimmy Giuffre, Paul Bley, Steve Swallow
Pedernal cover

Pedernal

Susan Alcorn Quintet