Bram Wijnands entertains at KC Bier Co. on the afternoon of Sunday, January 4. The stride pianist’s collaboration with the Kansas City Jazz Orchestra at the Folly Theater was a highlight of 2025.
Confirmation: Weekly News and Notes
Original image by Plastic Sax.
*A brief television news report examines the state of the Jazz District.
Concert Review: Marilyn Maye at the Folly Theater
Original image by Plastic Sax.
Frank Sinatra. Lena Horne. Tony Bennett. Mel Tormé. Bobby Short. Of the prominent twentieth century vocalists in the saloon singer and torch song traditions, Marilyn Maye is the last legend standing. The ninety-seven-year-old’s homecoming concert at the Folly Theater on Sunday, December 21, provided a life-affirming experience for an audience of about 750. (I paid $39 for a balcony seat.)
Accompanied by pianist Tedd Firth, guitarist Rod Fleeman, bassist Gerald Spaits and drummer Ray DeMarchi, Maye focused on material she performed during her 76 appearances on the late-night television program The Tonight Show.
A screen above the stage during portions of the two-set show displayed video and photographic excerpts featuring Maye, Steve Allen, Jack Paar and Johnny Carson. Yet the wildly charismatic star didn’t rely on visual aids. Maye’s jokes remain funny and her voice is still strong.
Renditions of vintage material including “Cabaret,” “The Way We Were” and “Hello Dolly” were culled from Maye’s commercial peak fifty years ago. Yet Maye is anything but a has-been. Having outlived her peers and most of her core audience, Maye is an exemplar of artistic excellence and a heroic role model.
Now’s the Time: Mark Slimm Trio
What are you doing New Year’s Eve? Given the strong slate of locally based talent, the absence of a gig by a touring jazz artist isn’t a problem in Kansas City. A trio led by organist Mark Slimm entertains holiday revelers from 10:30 p.m. to 2:30 a.m. at Green Lady Lounge on New Year’s Eve.
Confirmation: Weekly News and Notes
Original image by Plastic Sax.
*Footage of Marilyn Maye’s concert at the Folly Theater was shared by Joe Dimino.
The Top Stories and Trends of 2025 in Kansas City Jazz
Original image of 18th Street in Kansas City’s Jazz District by There Stands the Glass.
1. Fucinaro and Scamurra
The Kansas City saxophonists Pete Fucinaro and Henry Scamurra released strong debut albums in 2025. The ongoing youth movement represented by Fucinaro’s Little Window and Scamurra’s Urban Forum is a compelling reason for optimism.
2. Festival Revival
The KC Blues and Jazz Festival brought Stanley Clarke, Karl Denson and Bill Frisell to a baseball stadium in Kansas City, Kansas, on October 4. The event was the area’s first large-scale jazz event featuring touring artists since 2017.
3. Musical Chairs
Dr. Dina Bennett resigned as the Executive Director of the American Jazz Museum. Turnover at the institution is concerning.
4. Detour Ahead
The planned transformation of a portion of 18th Street into a pedestrian walkway made access to Jazz District landmarks including the American Jazz Museum and the Gem Theater difficult for much of the year. (See above photo.)
5. Evergreen
Green Lady Lounge remains the focal point of live jazz in Kansas City. Green Lady Lounge hosts more than three times the combined number of jazz performances at the Blue Room, the Ship and Westport Coffee House, the second, third and fourth most significant presenters of jazz in Kansas City.
6. Nevermore
Corvino is the most prominent of several establishments to either completely close or cease featuring live jazz in 2025.
7. Alt Jazz
Sonic experiments that are largely unwelcome in conventional venues thrive in hidden recesses including house parties, a bookstore, an underground cinema and a repurposed church.
8. Best Year Ever
No Kansas City jazz musician had a bigger year than Jackie Myers. Her relentless performance schedule included tours and festival placements. Myers’ ambitious album What About the Butterfly was reviewed by DownBeat magazine, a distinction among Kansas City artists shared only by Carl Allen in 2025.
9. Disinformation Campaign
Visit KC continues to insist that Kansas City is home to “more than 40 jazz clubs” as it promotes next year’s World Cup matches. The convention bureau’s dissembling is outlandish.
10. Persistence
Plastic Sax published 32 album reviews, two book reviews, nine concert reviews, six editorials and 45 gig previews featuring Kansas City musicians in 2025.
Last year’s recap is here.
Now's the Time: BCR
BCR, the Kansas City collective originally inspired by the cosmic jazz of Sun Ra’s Arkestra, has delighted freaks and confused straights for more than forty years. BCR returns to the Ship on Friday, December 26.
Confirmation: Weekly News and Notes
Original image by Plastic Sax.
*Marilyn Maye promoted her upcoming concert on KCUR.
The Top Jazz Performances of 2025
Original image of Shanté Clair and Krista Kopper at Grand Avenue Temple by Plastic Sax.
The Top Performances of 2025 by Kansas City Musicians
1. Nick Hmeljak, Henry Scamurra, Isaiah Petrie, Jordan Faught and Jaylen Ward at Westport Coffee House
Plastic Sax review.
2. Drew Williams, Ben Tervort and Brian Steever at the Stray Cat Film Center
Instagram clip.
3. Bram and Lucy Wijnands with the Kansas City Jazz Orchestra at the Folly Theater
Plastic Sax review.
4. Vanessa Thomas, Kara Smith, Michael Pagán and Steve Rigazzi at the Blue Room
Instagram clip.
5. Henry Scamurra, Isaiah Petrie, Spencer Reeve and Jade Harvey at the Prairie Village Jazz Festival
Instagram clip.
6. The Extemporaneous Music and Arts Society’s “3 Expressions of Light and Sound” at Charlotte Street Foundation
Instagram clip.
7. Matt Villinger, Peter Schlamb, Sebastian Arias and Matt Robertson at the Blue Room
Instagram clip.
8. Steve Cardenas, Forest Stewart and Brian Steever at Westport Coffee House
Plastic Sax review.
9. Deborah Brown and George Colligan at Upcycle Piano Craft
Instagram clip.
10. David Chael, Danny Embrey, Gerald Spaits and Brian Steever at Green Lady Lounge
My Instagram clip.
The Top Performances of 2025 by Touring Musicians
1. Christian McBride and Brad Mehldau at Muriel Kauffman Theatre
Plastic Sax review.
2. Terence Blanchard at Muriel Kauffman Theatre
There Stands the Glass review.
3. Branford Marsalis Quartet at the Folly Theater
Plastic Sax review.
4. Samara Joy at the Folly Theater
There Stands the Glass review.
5. Devin Gray at the Ship
There Stands the Glass review.
6. Alexander Adams, Jeff Goulet (and Seth Davis) with Kristen Kopper and Shanté Clair at Grand Avenue Temple
Instagram clip.
7. Cory Weeds (with Chris Hazelton) at Westport Coffee House
Plastic Sax review.
8. Béla Fleck, Edmar Castañeda and Antonio Sánchez at Helzberg Hall
Plastic Sax review.
9. Helen Sung (with Bach Aria Soloists) at the Folly Theater
Plastic Sax review.
10. Pete Escovedo at the Folly Theater
Plastic Sax review.
Last year’s survey is here.
Now's the Time: The Project H
Bandleader Ryan Heinlein recently announced that The Project H’s appearance at The Ship on Thursday, December 11, will be the final performance of the Kansas City band. The embedded video was filmed in 2015.
Confirmation: Weekly News and Notes
Original image by Plastic Sax.
*Tim Whitmer was featured on KCUR’s Up To Date. The program also highlighted area jazz musicians’ cultural exchange in China.
*Bobby Watson was included in a roundup of notable locally based artists.
*Dave Scott and Drew Williams chatted with Joe Dimino.
*The man behind Plastic Sax highlighted tracks by Pete Fucinaro, Eddie Moore and Jackie Myers on the December 9 edition of 90.9 The Bridge’s Eight One Sixty program.
Album Review: The Tim Whitmer Goodtime Quartet featuring Rod Fleeman- Happy Holidays
The same qualities that occasionally threaten to make the music of Tim Whitmer offputting- relentless cheerfulness and giddy sentimentality- have produced an instant seasonal classic. Happy Holidays is imbued with the benevolent spirit associated with Christmas.
Whitmer, a Kansas City institution, is joined by guitarist Rod Fleeman, saxophonist Mike Herrera, bassist Chase McRoy and drummer Ray DeMarchi on original compositions and holiday standards. Whitmer’s trademark glee is ideally suited to the material.
The band plays in the genial bluesy Kansas City tradition throughout the live session. Sustaining his remarkable career renaissance, Whitmer sounds better than ever as he exhibits his stride piano mastery. Even so, Fleeman steals the show.
The guitarist’s delightful original composition “It’s Christmas Time Again (At Last)” is followed by his transcendent solo reading of “The Christmas Song.” A wonderful gift for Kansas City jazz enthusiasts, Happy Holidays is a swinging bundle of yuletide joy.
(The album release show for Happy Holidays is 6:30 p.m. - 9:30 p.m. Wednesday, December 17, at Black Dolphin.)
Now’s the Time: Drew Williams
Stray Cat Film Center hosts performances by Drew Williams and Torches Mauve on Thursday, December 4. The event is an album release show for Williams’ Demons Hate Fresh Air. Williams interprets a Thom Yorke song in the embedded video.
Confirmation: Weekly News and Notes
Original image by Plastic Sax.
*Stephen Wilson, the owner of Upcycle Piano Craft, counts Tim Whitmer and Green Lady Lounge among his favorite musicians and venues in Kansas City.
*Tim Whitmer spoke to Joe Dimino about his new Christmas album.
*The author of Plastic Sax featured two Kansas City jazz musicians on the KKFI radio program Wednesday Midday Medley last week.
Album Review: Gerald Spaits Quartet- Sunday Night Live at Green Lady Lounge
Sunday Night Live at Green Lady Lounge is representative of one of the primary reasons I’m glad to live in the Kansas City area. Access to impeccable improvised music seven nights a week- even on a traditionally off night for entertainment- is a tremendous boon to my quality of life.
On Sunday, November 23, for instance, I heard bassist Gerald Spaits, saxophonist David Chael, guitarist Danny Embrey and drummer Brian Steever play cultivated jazz at Green Lady Lounge. The quartet is a genuine supergroup in Kansas City’s jazz community.
The partnership fulfills expectations on Sunday Night Live at Green Lady Lounge. Sophisticated playing is augmented by memorable original compositions such as “Public Works” and “This Must Be.” Even more than the other top releases of 2025, the album reflects the robust state of the music in Kansas City.
Now’s the Time: Laura Anglade and the Ben Rosenblum Trio
The Canadian vocalist Laura Anglade and the New York based trio led by pianist Ben Rosenblum perform together at Upcycle Piano Craft on Tuesday, December 2. Anglade’s recent appearance on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert is featured in the embedded video.
Confirmation: Weekly News and Notes
Original image by Plastic Sax.
*A blogger reviewed Samara Joy’s concert at the Folly Theater.
*Happy Holidays, the new album by Tim Whitmer’s Good Time Quartet featuring Rod Fleeman, is available on streaming services. The release party will be held at Black Dolphin on Wednesday, December 17.
*Joe Dimino shared footage of a performance by Mire Pral.
Plastic Sax’s Favorite Albums of 2025
The Top Ten Albums of 2025 by Kansas City Artists
1. Carl Allen- Tippin’
Plastic Sax review.
2. Brittany Davis- Black Thunder
Plastic Sax review.
3. Hermon Mehari and Tony Tixier- Soul Song
Plastic Sax review.
4. Pete Fucinaro- Little Window
Plastic Sax review.
5. Henry Scamurra- Urban Forum
Plastic Sax review.
6. Seth Andrew Davis and Krista Kopper- Popular Mechanics
Plastic Sax review.
7. Drew Williams- Demons Hate Fresh Air
Review forthcoming.
8. Jackie Myers- What About the Butterfly
Plastic Sax review.
9. Gerald Spaits- Sunday Night Live at Green Lady Lounge
Plastic Sax review.
10. Eddie Moore- What Makes Us
Plastic Sax review.
The Top Ten Albums of 2025 by Artists from Elsewhere
1. Linda May Han Oh- Strange Heavens
2. Sylvie Courvoisier and Mary Halvorson- Bone Bells
3. Gerald Clayton- Ones & Twos
4. Charles Lloyd- Figure in Blue
5. Patricia Brennan- Of the Near and Far
6. Vijay Iyer and Leo Wadada Smith- Defiant Life
7. Anouar Brahem- After the Last Sky
8. Ches Smith- Clone Row
9. Trio of Bloom- Trio of Bloom
10. Camila Nebbia, Marilyn Crispell and Lesley Mok- A Reflection Distorts Over Water
Last year’s listings are here.
Now’s the Time: Samara Joy
Samara Joy returns to the Folly Theater on Saturday, November 22. The vocalist’s 2023 performance at the concert hall was magnificent.
Confirmation: Weekly News and Notes
Original image by Plastic Sax.
*Joe Dimino interviewed Brian Baggett.
*A man laments the location of a new parking lot being built on the east side of Paseo Boulevard in the Jazz District in a television news report.
*Corvino, a restaurant that once regularly hosted live jazz performances, will close at the end of the year.