Through My Ears — Gloria's Summer 2026

Welcome to Gloria's new blog column, posted around once a month, in which she offers some recommendations and insights into the music she's been listening to. This is Through My Ears.

What the summer has looked like for me musically. The album reviews are very short, but they are all worth checking out!

Just Dropped

(my favorite new releases)

Inferno by Boards of Canada

It's been thirteen years since Boards of Canada released a new album, and this was well worth the wait. It's a little weird and absolutely spellbinding.

Where the Echoes Bloom by Alia

I mean this as a compliment, but it sounds like the kind of music aliens would make if they were inspired by tiki bars and film scores from Earth from the 1950s-60s.

FATHERS by FATHERS (Nate Smith, Keifer, CARRTOONS, and Kenny Beats)

Such a groovy little jazz record, put out by an absolute supergroup of musicians.

Still Spinning

(old(er) albums on constant rotation)

Untitled (Black Is) by Sault

A really stunning album that blends spoken word, hip hop, Afrobeats, gospel, and funk, among other genres. This album came out in 2020, when a lot of the world was in protest against systemic racism; the lyrics reflect emotions that were present at that time, from resilience to rage.

Tuff Times Never Last by Kokoroko

This album is so intimate, immersive, and warm. It weaves together group harmonies and a rich blend of Afrobeat, soul, and funk into a deeply personal ode to their roots.

Pet Sounds by the Beach Boys

A quintessential summer album. If you haven't listened to the Beach Boys in a while, no matter how good you remember them being, they are better. Those harmonies are pure comfort.

Live and In-Person

(quick concert reviews)

Yebba

Date: June 1, 2026 

Venue: Union Transfer

Opener: Astyn Turr

Really an incredible performance. Yebba's voice is so soulful and captivating, and the band and her backup singers were so tight. Some artists remind you that your voice truly is an instrument, and she is one of them.

Yebba

Wild Nothing

Date: June 15, 2026 

Venue: Underground Arts

Opener: Deakin

This was a cool show! They performed their debut album Gemini in full as part of a "sixteenth anniversary" tour—an odd number until you learn the backstory. A planned tenth anniversary tour got derailed by COVID, then a fifteenth anniversary attempt got pushed back when Jack Tatum had a baby, so sixteenth anniversary it was, lol. Deakin of Animal Collective opened, rounding out a genuinely fun night of dream pop.

Wild Nothing

Derya Yıldırım & Grup Şimşek

Date: June 19, 2026

Venue: PhilaMOCA

I discovered Derya Yıldırım & Grup Şimşek last year, and was blown away by their blend of traditional Anatolian folk with modern psychedelic rock. This show lived up to my every expectation. The music was captivating, but hearing Yıldırım speak about her inspiration made it even more powerful, much of it rooted in the displacement of growing up in the Turkish diaspora in Germany. You could feel that pull to preserve tradition while living far from its source throughout the performance.

Derya Yıldırım & Grup Şimşek

Book release for Cosmic Music: The Life, Art and Transcendence of Alice Coltrane by Andy Beta

Date: July 23, 2026

Venue: Solar Myth

There are a lot of events celebrating John Coltrane this year in Philly for "Coltrane 100," as it would have been his 100th birthday in September. However, this event was solidly focused on Alice, his wife. This was mostly a book release, so the first part was a talk with the author, Andy Beta. His book focuses on how Alice Coltrane was a brilliant musician in her own right, a huge driving factor in how John Coltrane got his work done, and the archivist of his work. She apparently was also a guru who opened an ashram in California after moving out of their Strawberry Mansion home. I'm fuzzy on the details since I didn't read the book yet, but really what a varied life! The book talk ended with a performance from Surya Botofasina, a spiritual student at her ashram, who frequently collaborates with Carlos Niño. You could feel his connection with the divine throughout the performance. Seriously, it was breathtaking; even if you don't believe in god, you would have felt it.

Allah-Las

Date: July 24, 2026

Venue: Underground Arts

Opener: Rahill

Allah-Las brought exactly the vibe you'd hope for from a surf-pop, psych-rock band: laid-back but with a polished sound that never lost its cool. Watching the members trade instruments throughout the set made their chemistry the real highlight of the show. It all seemed so effortless and was the perfect soundtrack for a summer night.

Allah-Las

Jill Scott

Date: July 29, 2026

Venue: The Met

Opener: Arnetta Johnson

This was, hands down, my favorite concert of 2026. Every detail felt intentional, from the opener down to the smaller details like the sets and projections used in the performance. Scott moved effortlessly between new songs off To Whom This May Concern, older fan favorites, and storytelling that pulled the whole room in. Her love for Philly radiated through the performance. Fittingly, the performance ended with her being honored with a key to the city.

Newport Jazz Festival 

Date: July 31-August 2, 2026

Artists seen: 

Friday: Angine De Poitrine, Mohini Dey, Yebba, Chief Adjuah, Robert Glasper with Bilal and Ari Lennox, Vulfpeck

Saturday: Butcher Brown, Maya Delilah, John Scofield and Dave Holland, Nate Smith, Snarky Puppy, Gotts Street Park, Gary Clark Jr., Jonathan Batiste Trios, Sonny Miles on a Trane feat. Kamasi Washington and Chief Adjuah

Sunday: Nduduzo Makhathini, Marquis Hill, SML, Flea and the Honora Band, Thundercat, Herbie Hancock

My partner and I left for Newport Jazz Fest on Thursday evening with one single-day pass between us—my pass for Friday—but somehow we managed to get there every day. On the way up, he got off the waitlist for Friday, then I found two reasonably priced resale tickets for Saturday. By the end of Saturday, we still didn't have Sunday tickets. A local radio station was running day trips there and had a booth at the festival. I asked if they had any extra tickets and if it would be possible for us to get two. And they had extras and gave them to us! That alone was such a cool part of the experience. It's a really amazing weekend full of music; it's great for both seeing acts that you love and discovering new artists. Nate Smith was the musical director this year, so a lot of amazing drummers were featured. I legitimately can't pick a highlight of the weekend.

Flea at Newport Jazz Fest

SML at Newport Jazz Fest

Through My Ears — Gloria's May 2026

Welcome to Gloria's new blog column, posted at least once a month, in which she offers some recommendations and insights into the music she's been listening to. This is Through My Ears.

Iron & Wine

What the May has looked like for me musically.

Just Dropped

(my favorite new releases)

People of the Moon by Nu Genea

Absolutely blown away by Nu Genea's newest album. This album weaves together an expansive fusion of genres and languages into something so beautiful and cohesive. The central idea and title of the album, People of the Moon, are meant to represent the dormant dimension of self-expression that lies within all of us. Surrender to the beat of this album and let it inspire your self-expression. 

Distracted by Thundercat

This is such a fun album that I find myself putting it on continually. It's a well-paced and polished blend of pop, funk, soul, and soft rock. There is an awful lot of collaboration on this album, too, including some Record Club alumni like WILLOW and Tame Impala, as well as a completed posthumous collaboration with Mac Miller. Even with all the collabs, it still feels very "Thundercat." His signature blend of vulnerability and humor is apparent in the lyrics, and the bass is outstanding.

Trying Times by James Blake

In undergrad, I took an illustration class. For one of our first assignments, the professor gave us two words and asked us to create two connected pieces that show them using only black dots on a white field. The words that I was assigned were "Effervescent" and "Elegant." This album feels effervescent and elegant to me in a way that my illustration did not accurately capture. It's a tight R&B album that explores a wide range of human emotions; it's an absolutely beautiful listen.

Still Spinning

(old(er) albums on constant rotation)

La Lom EP by LA LOM

A short little EP that will make you feel ready for summer. LA LOM stands for Los Angeles League of Musicians, and listening to this feels like what I'd imagine California in the 1960s felt like. The whole thing is just dripping in sunny, vintage vibes. Put this on, grab your sunglasses, and be transported.

Elios by Parbleu

This album is so good. It stopped me in my tracks when I first heard it playing in a record store. I actually Shazam-ed three songs from this before asking the guy at the desk where I could find it in the store. He said he was playing the only copy, but that if I wanted it, it was mine. Beautiful. Sold. The band describes themselves as a "multicultural fever dream," and I don't think I can give you a better description than that one.

Selected Ambient Works 85-92 by Aphex Twin

Absolutely hypnotic. One thing that I like about this style of music is how the repetition really lets you appreciate the smaller changes and other sounds as they start to weave in. It helps to highlight every little change. Synthesizers help to create ethereal loops on this that build and build into something that feels organic and alive.

Live and In-Person

(quick concert reviews)

Iron & Wine

Date: May 11, 2026 

Venue: Union Transfer

Openers: Improvement Movement

I hate even calling Improvement Movement openers. I was introduced to them last year when I saw them perform at Capital Groove in Hartford and was blown away by their intricate vocal harmonies. They did not disappoint this night either; they are stunning in a way that I am not totally sure translates to a recording. Their soft sound paired well with Iron & Wine, and the group even performed a few songs with them later that night. Iron & Wine were lovely as expected—just poetic Americana.

Improvement Movement

Iron & Wine

Brock Lanzetti Ogawa 

Date: May 19, 2026 

Venue: Black Squirrel Club

A lot of Snarky Puppy / ex-Snarky Puppy members seem to be making it into this column this year, haha. Zach Brock (violin), Bob Lanzetti (acoustic and electric guitars), and Keita Ogawa (percussion) are all former Snarky Puppy members who formed their trio during the COVID pandemic. It was pouring outside the night of this concert. The doors were open to the outside and you could feel some of the warm rain carried in on the wind while sitting on the old church pews inside this former steam plant turned venue. It was a perfect scenario for listening to this very uplifting music.

Brock Lanzetti Ogawa

Joe Farnsworth Quartet

Date: May 23, 2026

Venue: Jazz Showcase, Chicago 

This was a very classic jazz concert at a classic Chicago venue. Everyone in this quartet was so tight; however, the saxophone player, Sarah Hanahan, was really just outstanding. Her technical skills are exemplary, but more than that, the joyful energy she exudes is palpable even from the audience.

Joe Farnsworth Quartet

The Roots Picnic

Date: May 30-31- 2026

Venue: Fairmount Park 

Artists/DJs whose entire sets I saw:

Day 1: De La Soul, Brandy, Jay-Z and the Roots

Day 2: DJ Cash Money, Corinne Bailey Rae, Joe Kay (Soulection), Adam Blackstone, Kehlani, DJ Jazzy Jeff, Erykah Badu

The Roots Picnic was in a new location this year, the Belmont Plateau section of Fairmount Park. I used to walk through this area daily on my way to work, and it was one of the quietest parts of my day in 2017/2018, so seeing this part of the park filled with so many people (80,000 people attended) was overwhelming. The whole festival was a little overwhelming and disorganized, but the music made it worth it. The standout performance was Jay-Z's set with the Roots. He opened with a sharp freestyle, then went into pieces spanning his catalog. There were so many guest performances in his set, including Jazmine Sullivan, Meek Mill, Beanie Sigel, Memphis Bleek, Freeway, and Bilal. Erykah Badu's set the next night was another standout performance. She has such a distinct presence and took the audience on a musical journey with songs from throughout her career in the set. Her energy was lower than the performance the previous night, but maybe that is a good way to end a Sunday night. Aside from the headliners, performances from De La Soul, Brandy, and Kehlani really stand out in my memory of the weekend. There is such a cultural aspect to this festival; the weekend really is a stunning snapshot of Black music today.

De La Soul

Jay Z and the Roots

Erykah Badu

Through My Ears — Gloria's April 2026

Welcome to Gloria's new blog column, posted at least once a month, in which she offers some recommendations and insights into the music she's been listening to. This is Through My Ears.

Snarky Puppy

My recap of April.

Just Dropped

(my favorite new releases)

Something is a shell . EP by SOFIA ISELLA

The first time I heard Sofia Isella, I was scrolling on social media and saw her performing "Above the Neck," covered in dirt and mud on a stage. And the juxtaposition of her conventional beauty with grime worked so well with the poetry of her lyrics. Her lyrics on this album confront the patriarchy, pornography, objectification, sexual violence, desire, and religious hypocrisy in a way I have not seen so approachably done before. I'm just obsessed with this piece of art.

Little Miss Sunshine by Eaves Wilder

This album feels both very fresh and very familiar. It's such a cool vibe; Wilder has the voice of a fairy, and that saccharine, wistful voice soars beautifully over a late-'90s/early-'00s alt-rock background. I find that many of the lyrics and melodies stick in my head for days, but they are not at all unwelcome.

Honora by Flea

What a surprise of an album! It's definitely a jazz album, but I really can't think of anyone else with a similar sound. It plays around with different textures, and the other artists featured on here add their own flair. Flea plays both the trumpet and the bass on this album, and that got me thinking of Flea's musical origins. He started as a trumpet player. Flea went to high school with Hillel Slovak, the original guitarist for the Red Hot Chili Peppers, and while they were still in school, Slovak asked him to learn bass so he could join his band. Imagine doing a favor for a friend and becoming one of the great modern bass players. Wild. Check it out, it's such a good album, and I always love a cover of "Wichita Lineman."

Still Spinning

(old(er) albums on constant rotation)

Twin Fantasy by Car Seat Headrest

When I'm in a weird mental space, I find myself returning to albums that I know every note of. Will Toledo made the album Twin Fantasy twice, first in 2010, and then again in 2018, once they had the budget to make a more polished version. I tend to gravitate to the 2018 version. I love everything about this album, especially the spoken word, which might be a hot take. But the words are so beautifully laced with anxiety, self-doubt, limerence, and humor; so much of it sounds like you are listening to a friend talk.

Novela by Céu

This is such a gorgeous album. It's soft, sultry, neo-soul, with an almost timeless quality. This just came out in 2024, but the first time I heard this, it was on vinyl, and I was sure it was something from the 1960s or '70s; it has that feeling of what you'd imagine being played in a dimly lit tiki bar while you whisper into someone's ear, your eyes lowered, and your hand gently on their back. Céu is a Brazilian artist, so I can't speak to the Portuguese lyrics on this, but I can't imagine understanding them would change my assessment. Right? You can understand the feel of what she is saying even if you don't know the language.

Lumin Rain by Arc De Soleil

When I heard the first notes of this album last summer, I so confidently thought that it was Khruangbin, haha. Arc De Soleil is based in Stockholm but was born in Sri Lanka, and it feels like he draws influence from everything in between. It's a dreamy, psychedelic rock with a mainly Middle Eastern influence. I go back and forth with how I feel about the vocals on this, but the guitar work on this album more than makes up for it. It's outstanding. Listening to Lumin Rain feels like you're floating somewhere between a desert and a dream, watching the heat rise off sunbaked sand. It's hypnotic.

Live and In-Person

(quick concert reviews)

Carlos Nino and Friends

Date: April 1, 2026

Venue: Solar Myth

Saul Williams' hot, spoken-word, leftist poetry danced over a background of cool jazz led by Carlo's Nino on percussion. Williams started out talking about how entertainment for escapism the backbone of capitalism, and it went harder from there. He wasn't wrong about anything he talked about, but low-key did go out for some escapism on this Wednesday night. As he was spitting bars about the exploitation of people in the coffee and sugar industries of my overwhelming thought was, "this man never gets a mental break. He is always thinking and always spiraling." He did a two-night residency, and at the end of the show he said, "Come back tomorrow, I'm sure to be mad about entirely new things by then." A fair assessment in 2026.

Moonchild

Date: April 3, 2026

Venue: Ardmore Music Hall

I'm still not over this concert, it was just so good. I was really curious to see how Moonchild would translate into a live show, given the highly produced sound on their albums, but this concert did not disappoint. They utilized a lot of different instruments that really showcased the musical talent of everyone on stage. There was an insanely positive energy throughout the space. Ardmore is such an intimate venue, and I think that really added to the show's overall vibe.

Robert Plant

Date: April 4, 2026

Venue: The Met

Robert Plant is one of the classic rock artists who genuinely feels like he has kept experimenting artistically as he ages. This was a very folk- and blues-driven concert where Plant showcased mostly new material. He was joined on stage by vocalist Suzi Dian, whose voice wove beautifully with his. He did a few Led Zeppelin classics, much to the delight of the audience, but his sound is so distinct that you would know exactly who you are listening to even if he didn't.

Snarky Puppy

Date: April 17, 2026

Venue: Union Transfer

Snarky Puppy is breathtaking to see live. They have such a high level of musicianship, which plays out on stage both through the louder, high-energy moments and in their quieter moments of intricate improvisation. They played entirely from their latest album, Somni (with the exception of the encore) at this show. This album was such an impressive project centered around the theme of dreams. On the recorded album, they are backed by the Metropole Orkest. Still, Snarky Puppy captured the same level of intensity and complexity with a much smaller group of musicians on stage (ten vs. about 110). It's one of the best new albums I heard last year, and it was a real, um, dream to see it played live.

Soulive

Date: April 25, 2026

Venue: Ardmore Music Hall

Soulive is a soul-jazz trio that reminds you how good it feels to be at a live show. The musical chemistry between them was palpable; everyone was so locked in on their instruments, making it seem like playing was effortless and just so fun.

Through My Ears — Gloria's January Through March

Welcome to Gloria's new blog column, posted at least once a month, in which she offers some recommendations and insights into the music she's been listening to. This is Through My Ears.

Our boy, Marshall Allen

What the past few months have looked like for me musically.

Just Dropped
(my favorite new releases)

To Whom This May Concern by Jill Scott

Oh, what an album! Jill Scott blends funk, soul, and poetry on To Whom This May Concern. The rhythms are infectious, and the whole thing flows so well. The standout song for me is "Norf Side." I listened to her ode to North Philly on repeat when I first heard this album.

Garip by Altın Gün

Altın Gün is a psychedelic Turkish band based out of Amsterdam. They are among my favorite bands, and this may be one their best works to date. They definitely play to the strengths of their Anatolian roots with beautiful string progressions. That paired with airy synths and guitars makes this a really stand out listen.

Girlfriend by Grace Ives

It just came out on March 20th, and I've been kind of obsessed with this album since then. It's really refreshing indie pop—it reminds me of the 2010s when I was more excited about indie pop in general. It's effervescent but still emotional. I think I read that one of the songs was based on a ringtone, and honestly, that tracks.

Still Spinning
(old(er) albums on constant rotation)

SCORPIO by Madison McFerrin

Madison McFerrin is Bobby McFerrin's daughter and an absolutely stunning musician in her own right. McFerrin blends R&B with soul to talk about heartbreak and self-discovery on this album. I loved her first album, but this really is a masterpiece. I find myself consistently putting this on. I saw her at Underground Arts last year, and she has such a good energy!

Eastern Soul by Tsvia Abarbanel

Abarbanel's vocals soar above a combination of traditional Yemenite compositions mixed with a little bit of R&B/ Funk. It's eleven minutes of pure magic.

Searching by Ronald Langestraat

Langestraat recorded this cozy little jazz album from start to finish in a living room on a four-track tape recorder in 1984. Something about it makes it the perfect backdrop for both late-night conversations and early morning coffee. In January, this is what I'd put on the record player if it were snowing out and I was next to a fireplace with someone warmly chatting indoors. But I think this would work just as well with a bottle of rosé on the patio on an April evening. If you, like me, are inclined towards yearning, you'll love the lyrics too, haha.

Live and In-Person

Quick concert reviews

Everything Yes 

Date: January 7, 2026

Venue: Milkboy

Openers: Atomic Fizz

This was such a fun show to start 2026 with. It was high-energy jazz fusion, with a really good vibe from both the opening act, Atomic Fizz, and Everything Yes. There was a furry who was jamming at this show too, and the band was delighted by this, which added to the joy of their performance.

Between Two Drummers

Date: January 10, 2026

Venue: Blue Note, NYC

This show was part of Michael League (Bandleader of Snarky Puppy)'s month-long residency at Blue Note in NYC.  The rhythm section for this show was just mind-blowing. You could feel the musical chemistry of the group as they performed throughout the night. What was really wild is that everything they played that night was specifically composed for this show, which is something that League likes to do. He talked a little about their newest album, Somni, and said they took a month to compose it, which was kind of a luxurious amount of time for Snarky Puppy, since usually the album comes together in about a week.

Philadelphia Orchestra

Date: January 24, 2026

Venue: Kimmel Center

I really wanted to see this performance of Mussorgsky's Pictures at an Exhibition because it was one of my favorite pieces that we played in my high school band. I felt like I could still pick up my bass clarinet and join them on stage, haha. It was phenomenal. Mussorgsky was not formally trained in music, but was inspired by a posthumous exhibit of his friend's watercolors. He once said of this composition that, "Ideas, melodies, come to me of their own accord. Like roast pigeons in the story, I gorge and gorge and overeat myself. I can hardly manage to put it all down on paper fast enough."

Marshall Allen's Ghost Horizons

Date: February 14, 2026

Venue: Solar Myth

Marshall Allen, Record Club alumni and Philly legend! This was an imaginative jazz show, but what made it really special is that Allen had recently won an award (man, I should have taken notes, but I think it was from the National Endowment for the Arts for best album for an unsigned jazz artist), and his son presented the award to him on stage before the show.

Raphael Roginski

Date: February 18, 2026

Venue: Solar Myth

Roginski is a Polish jazz guitarist; his style for this show was very dreamy. I was hypnotized when he played. During this show, he played works that were interpretations of John Coltrane's music and Langston Hughes's words. I loved it, but I ended up buying his album Žaltys, which is named after this snake/revered household spirit in Lithuanian folklore, and has a different vibe. A lot of the texture on this album relies on the kanklės, a plucked string instrument. My mom has three, and I haven't really heard it in any other context, haha.

The Heavyweights ft. Cory Henry, Eric Krasno, and Robert "Sput" Searight

Date: March 6, 2026

Venue: Brooklyn Bowl, NYC

Awesome show! Awesome energy for everyone in the band. Cory Henry is so vivacious; it's a joy to watch him play the organ. But everyone on the stage was so locked in and so talented. Probably the best show I've seen so far in 2026. Actually, definitely the best show I've seen so far in 2026.

George

Date: March 19, 2026

Venue: Solar Myth

No one in this band is named George, but they write songs named after different Georges, Georgias, or even Georgist economics. Cool. The saxophone player was great; she switched between baritone and soprano saxes throughout the night. The bandleader and drummer was locked in. The woman on vocals switched between Lebanese and a made-up beep-boop kind of language that reminded me of Magma. And there was just one other woman who was adding... vibes? I don't really know, but I do know you'd probably notice if she were missing. It was a cool way to spend a Wednesday evening.

Shabaka

Date: March 25

Venue: Solar Myth

A+ show, I'm so glad I made it to this, even if I was a little late. I really couldn't believe that there were only two guys up on stage, the sound was so full and vibrant from a combination of saxophones, flutes, loop machines, percussion, Shabaka's hypnotic rapping, and maybe like bird recordings? I don't really remember, but the songs were complex, and the energy was impeccable. Thank you, Zach, for taking time out of your trip to come with me to this show. It added to the night!

let's hear your thoughts in the comments!