Autumn 2025-Spring 2026: Influences & Impacts
Though the last half year has focused on the performance of lots of exciting music at home and abroad, much inspiration came from other art sources and focused listening to recordings. Here are lists of the resources that have impacted me most from the autumn of 2025 through the spring of 2026. Particular mention should be made of Fred Moten’s book, “In The Break: The Aesthetics Of The Black Radical Tradition,” which, among other things, led me to re-read “Invisible Man” by Ralph Ellison; to watch the documentary “Finally Got the News” directed by Rene Lichtman, Peter Gessner, and Stewart Bird; to check out Marvin Gaye’s album “I Want You” and re-listen to Billie Holiday’s “Lady in Satin”; and re-imagine the ideas of improvisation and ensemble.
IN ADDITION: Winter 2024-Summer 2025
ART EXHIBITIONS:
“100 Cats” by Richard Hull (Rainbo, Chicago: 04/01/26-04/30/26)
“Aritst’s Choice/Arthur Jafa: Less Is Morbid” (MoMA: 11/19/25-07/05/26) [link: https://press.moma.org/exhibition/artists-choice-arthur-jafa-less-is-morbid/]
“Ruth Asawa: A Retrospective” (MoMA: 10/19/25-02/07/26) [link: https://www.moma.org/calendar/exhibitions/5768]
“Contemporary Drawings from the Stenn Family Collection” (Art Institute of Chicago: 06/28/25-09/15/25) [link: https://www.artic.edu/exhibitions/10502/contemporary-drawings-from-the-stenn-family-collection]
Aaron Curry studio visit: 03/01/26
Fogg Museum permanent collection: 01/15/26
“Helen Frankenthaler: A Grand Sweep” (MoMA: 11/18/25-02/08/26) [link: https://www.moma.org/calendar/exhibitions/5846]
“Charles Gaines: Night/Crimes” (Art Institute of Chicago: 08/16/25-02/01/26) [link: https://www.artic.edu/exhibitions/10568/charles-gaines-night-crimes]
Richard Hull studio visit: 04/12/26
“Wifredo Lam: When I Don’t Sleep, I Dream” (MoMA: 11/10/25-04/11/26) [link: https://www.moma.org/calendar/exhibitions/5788]
“Mapping the 60s: Art Histories from the MUMOK Collections Focus #2” [mumok: 12/05/24-04/19/26) [link: https://www.mumok.at/en/exhibitions/mapping-the-60s-focus-2]
Mexico City Museum of Anthropology permanent collection: 02/12/26 [link: https://mna.inah.gob.mx/]
“Monuments” (The Brick: 10/23/25-05/03/26) [link: https://the-brick.org/]
“Monuments” (MOCA: 10/23/25-05/03/26) [link: https://www.moca.org/exhibition/monuments]
Museo Casa Estudio Diego Rivera y Frida, Mexico City: 02/11/26 [link: https://architectuul.com/architecture/house-diego-and-frida]
“Never Final! The Evolving Museum” (mumok: 03/28/25-05/03/26) [link: https://www.mumok.at/en/exhibitions/never-final]
“Robert Nickle: Collages” (Corbett vs. Dempsey: 03/13/26-04/25/26) [link: https://corbettvsdempsey.com/exhibitions/robert-nickle/]
“B. Ingrid Olson: All Lock No Key” (Corbett vs. Dempsey: 03/13/26-04/25/26) [link: https://corbettvsdempsey.com/exhibitions/b-ingrid-olson/]
”Tobias Pils: Shh” (mumok: 09/27/25-05/17/26 [link: https://www.mumok.at/en/exhibitions/tobias-pils]
Michael Rosenfeld Gallery booth, Expo Chicago: 04/10/26
“Lui Shtini: Capo Testa (Corbett vs. Dempsey: 01/16/26-02/28/26) [link: https://corbettvsdempsey.com/exhibitions/lui-shtini/]
“John Sparagana: Interference Patterns” (Benton Museum: 02/21/26-06/28/26) [link: https://www.pomona.edu/museum/exhibitions/2026/john-sparagana]
Teotihuacan Pyramids, Mexico City: 02/10/26 [link: https://lugares.inah.gob.mx/en/node/4528]
“What a Wonderful World: An Audiovisual Poem” (Julia Stoschek Foundation/Variety Arts Theater, Los Angeles: 02/06/26-03/20/26) [link: https://jsf.la/]
“The World of Tomorrow Will Have Been Another Present” (mumok: 05/23/25-05/17/26) [link: https://www.mumok.at/en/exhibitions/the-world-of-tomorrow-will-have-been-another-present]
Various Artists: “Brian Calvin, Maureen Gallace, Diane Simpson” (Corbett vs. Dempsey: 01/16/26-02/28/26) [link: https://corbettvsdempsey.com/exhibitions/brian-calvin-maureen-gallace-diane-simpson/]
Various Artists: studio visits with Ricky Swallow and Leslie Vance, talks with Conny Purtill and Rebecca Morris: 03/01/26
BOOKS:
“57 wyomings” (Black Square Editions: 2026), poems by Ken Taylor.
“aeromancy garage” (Dos Madres: 2020), poems by Ken Taylor.
“Beyond the Dream Syndicate: Tony Conrad and the Arts after Cage” (Zone Books: 2008), written by Branden W. Joseph, non-fiction.
“David Hammons: Bliz-aard Ball Sale” (Afterall Books: 2022), written by Elena Filipovic, non-fiction.
“Dawoud Bey & Carrie Mae Weems: In Dialogue” (GRAM: 2022), exhibition catalog.
“Fassbinder Thousands of Mirrors” [Semiotext(e): 2023], written by Ian Penman, non-fiction.
“The Friends of Eddie Coyle” (Picador: 2010), written by George V. Higgins, fiction.
“In The Break: The Aesthetics of the Black Radical Tradition” (University of Minnesota Press: 2003), written by Fred Moten, non-fiction.
“Invisible Man” (Vintage [second international edition]: 1995), written by Ralph Ellison, fiction.
“Jack Whitten: The Greek Alphabet Paintings” (Dia Art Foundation: 2023), exhibition catalog.
“Jack Whitten: The Messenger” (Museum of Modern Art: 2025), exhibition catalog.
“Jack Whitten: Notes from the Woodshed” (Hauser & Wirth: 2020), written by Jack Whitten, edited by Katy Siegel, non-fiction.
“Molly Zuckerman-Hartung: Comic Relief” (Inventory Press: 2021), exhibition catalog.
“odyssey: Jack Whitten sculpture” (The Baltimore Museum of Art: 2018), exhibition catalog.
“Please Wait by the Coatroom” (Black Sparrow Press: 2023), by John Yau, non-fiction.
“Rebecca Morris: 2001-2022” (Delmonico & D.A.P.: 2023), exhibition catalog.
“Ruth Asawa: Retrospective” (San Francisco Museum of Modern Art: 2025), exhibition catalog.
“self-portrait as joseph cornell” (Pressed Wafer: 2016), poems by Ken Taylor.
“variations in the dream of X” (Black Square Edtions: 2024), poems by Ken Taylor.
“Wilfredo Lam: The Imagination at Work” (Pace: 2022), exhibition catalog.
“Wilfredo Lam: When I Don’t Sleep, I Dream” (Museum of Modern Art: 2025), exhibition catalog.
FILMS/TELEVISION:
“The Alabama Solution” (HBO: 2025), directed by Andrew Jarecki and Charlotte Kaufman, documentary film.
“Blue Lights”: Season 1 (BBC: 2023), created by Declan Lawn and Adam Patterson, narrative TV series.
“Breakdown: 1975” (Netflix: 2025), directed by Morgan Neville, documentary film.
“Bugonia” (Focus Features: 2025), directed by Yorgos Lanthimos, narrative film.
“Carrie” (United Artists: 1976), directed by Brian De Palma, narrative film.
“Crossfire” (RKO: 1947), directed by Edward Dmytryk, narrative film.
“Devo” (Netflix: 2024), directed by Chris Smith, documentary film.
“Easy Riders, Raging Bulls” (BBC: 2003), directed by Kenneth Bowser, documentary film.
“Even Dwarfs Started Small” (Werner Herzog Filmproduktion: 1970), directed by Werner Herzog, narrative film.
“Finally Got the News” (Black Star Productions: 1970), directed by Rene Lichtman, Peter Gessner, and Stewart Bird, documentary film.
“The Five Obstructions” (Koch-Lorber: 2003), directed by Lars von Trier and Jørgen Lech, experimental film.
“The Friends of Eddie Coyle” (Paramount: 1973), directed by Peter Yates, narrative film.
“Girl with Hyacinths” (Terrafilm: 1950), directed by Hasse Ekman, narrative film.
David Hammons: Day’s End: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cjT53b6qXHw&t=31s
David Hammons: Day’s End Groundbreaking: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kYxnnR1WBmc
David Hammons: Interview w/Pablo Lloca in Madrid, 2000- Global Fax Festival Installation: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e4I4mU-5gyk
David Hammons Upclose and Personal: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D3UXvpBhIS4
Adam D. Weinberg and David Hammons discuss Day’s End: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N4si3OLbVEI
Gordon Matta-Clark’s Day’s End/David Hammons: Day’s End: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uecdwXKuUco
Preview: Day’s End by David Hammons: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vv3rVp3g9Ic
“Killer of Sheep” (Third World Newsreel: 1978), directed by Charles Burnett, narrative film.
“Little Boy” (2025), directed by James Benning, essay film.
“Michael Clayton” (Castle Rock: 2007), directed by Tony Gilroy, narrative film.
“One Battle After Another” (Warner Bros.: 2025), directed by Paul Thomas Anderson, narrative film.
“A Place of Rage” (Kali Films: 1991), directed by Pratibha Parmar, documentary film.
“Quarterback: Season 2” (Netflix: 2025), Showrunner: Joseph Zucco, limited documentary TV series.
“Scarface” (United Artists: 1932), directed by Howard Hawks, narrative film.
“The Sopranos: seasons 1-6” (HBO: 1999-2007), created by David Chase, narrative TV series.
“Slow Horses: Season 5″ (Apple: 2025), created by Will Smith, narrative TV series.
“Stanley Kubrick: A Life in Pictures” (Warner Bros.: 2001), directed by Jan Harlan, documentary film.
“Tout Une Nuit (A Whole Night)” [Paradise Films: 1982], directed by Chantal Akerman, experimental narrative film.
“Turn Every Page” (Sony Pictures Classics: 2022), directed by Lizzie Gottlieb, documentary film.
“Weapons” (New Line Cinema: 2025), directed by Zach Cregger, narrative film.
IN ROTATION: Autumn 2025-Spring 2026
Air, “Air Raid” (P.J.L).
Air, “Air Song” (P.J.L).
Air, “Air Time” (nessa).
Tony Allen, “Jealousy/Progress” (Afro Strut).
Tony Allen, “No Accommodation For Lagos/No Discrimination” (Afro Strut).
AMM, “Before driving to the chapel we took coffee with Rick and Jennifer Reed” (Matchless).
AMM, “Combine + Laminates / Treatise ’84” (Matchless).
AMM, “From a Strange Place” (P.S.F. Records).
AMM, “Generative Themes” (Matchless).
AMM, “Live in Allentown USA” (Matchless).
AMM, “Newfoundland” (Matchless).
Big Daddy Kane, “Long Live the Kane” (Cold Chillin’).
Black Sabbath, “Vol 4” (Warner).
Cachao, “Cuban Music in Jam Session” (essential media group).
John Cage, “Freeman Etudes: Books One and Two” [performed by Irvine Arditti] (Mode).
John Cage, “Freeman Etudes: Books Three and Four” [performed by Irvine Arditti] (Mode).
John Cage, “Music of Changes” [performed by David Tudor] (hat[now]ART).
Cornelius Cardew, “Piano Music 1959-70” [performed by John Tilbury] (Matchless).
Cornelius Cardew, “Works 1960-70” [performed by Tilbury, Duch, Davies] (+3DB Records).
D’Angelo and The Vanguard, “Black Messiah” (RCA).
Dog Faced Hermans, “Humans Fly/Every Day Timebomb” (Demon Radge).
Lee Dorsey, “Yes We Can …And Then Some” (Polydor).
Eric B. & Rakim, “Follow the Leader” (Uni).
Eric B. & Rakim, “Let the Rhythm Hit ‘Em” (MCA).
Eric B. & Rakim, “Paid in Full” (Island).
Marvin Gaye, “I Want you” (Tamla).
Dexter Gordon, “Dexter Blows Hot and Cool” (Fresh Sound).
Billie Holiday, “Lady in Satin” (Columbia).
Jaipur Kawa Brass Band, “Fanfare du Rajasthan” (Iris Musique).
Joy Division, “Heart and soul.” (Rhino).
George Lewis, “The George Lewis Solo Trombone Record” (Sackville).
Joe Newman with Zoot Sims, “Locking Horns” (Fresh Sound).
Pee Wee Russell, “Weary Blues” (Quadromania).
Erik Satie, “The Early Piano Works” [performed by Reinbert de Leeuw] (Philips).
Gil Scott-Heron, “The Revolution Will Not Be Televised …Plus” (Flying Dutchman).
Archie Shepp/Horace Parlan, “Trouble in Mind” (SteepleChase).
Zoot Sims, “The Modern Art of Jazz by Zoot Sims” (Dawn).
Zoot Sims, “That Old Feeling” (Chess).
Zoot Sims, “Zoot Sims Goes to Jazzville” (Dawn).
Zoot Sims, “Zoot (Sims) goes to town with Frankie Rosolino” (Vogue).
Zoot Sims – Bob Brookmeyer, “Morning Fun” (Black Lion).
Zoot Sims/Al Cohn/Tony Scott, “East Coast Sounds” (Jazzland).
Zoot Sims et Henri Renaud, “Jazz in Paris” (Gitanes).
Bessie Smith, “Volume 1: Queen of the Blues” (JSP Records).
Bessie Smith, “Volume 2: Empress of the Blues” (JSP Records).
Karlheinz Stockhausen, “Klavierstücke I-VIII & XI” [performed by David Tudor] (hat ART).
Swell Maps, “International Rescue” (Alive Records).
Swell Maps, “Jane from Occupied Europe” (Secretly Canadian).
Swell Maps, “The John Peel Sessions” (BBC/Mute).
Swell Maps, “Mayday Signals” (Easy Action).
Swell Maps, “A Trip to Marineville” (Secretly Canadian).
David Tudor, “Music for Piano” (Edition RZ).
David Tudor, “Piano Avant-Garde: Recordings 1956-1960” (hat ART).
Fats Waller, “Ain’t Misbehavin'” (Quadromania).
Fats Waller and his Rhythm, “The Middle Years Part 1 (1936-38)” (RCA/Bluebird).
Fats Waller and his Rhythm, “A Good Man Is Hard To Find: The Middle Years Part 2 (1938-40)” (RCA/Bluebird).
Dinah Washington, “Eight Classic Albums” (Real Gone Jazz).
Dinah Washington, “Seven Classic Albums” (Real Gone Jazz).
Christian Wolff, “Bread and Roses” (Wergo).
Christian Wolff, “Early Piano Music (1951-1961” [performed by John Tilbury & Christian Wolff] (Matchless).
Christian Wolff, “Early Piano Pieces” [performed by Steffen Schleiermacher] (hat[now]ART).
Christian Wolff, “Kompositionen 1950-1972” (Edition RZ).
Christian Wolff, “ten exercises” (New World).
Various Artists, “Burkina Faso: Rhythms of the Grasslands” (Nonesuch).
Various Artists, “Burkina Faso: Savanna Rhythms” (Nonesuch).
Various Artists, “Caprices: Sciarrino, Carter, Nunes, Boulez” [performed by Irvine Arditti] (aeon).
Various Artists, “Afro Baby: The Evolution of the Afro-Sound in Nigeria 1970-79” (Soundway).
Various Artists, “Mossi du Burkina Faso: Musiques de cour et de village” (Prophet).
Various Artists, “Nigeria 70: The Definitive Story of 1970’s Funky Lagos” (Afro Strut).
Various Artists, “The Original Sound of Burkina Faso” (Mr Bongo).