The American Jazz Museum closes August with three performances by pianist Harold O'Neal. The pianist with deep Kansas City roots performs at the Jay McShann Pavilion on Thursday, August 29, with Dan Thomas at the Blue Room on Friday, August 30, and with Logan Richardson at the Blue Room on Saturday, August 31.
Now’s the Time: Ernest Melton
The shape-shifting Kansas City saxophonist Ernest Melton performs at the fashionable dance club In the Lowest Ferns on Thursday, August 1, and leads the weekly jam session at the Blue Room on Monday, August 5. Melton tackles Jimi Hendrix in the embedded video.
Concert Review: The Adam Larson Quartet at the Blue Room
Original image by Plastic Sax.
Adam Larson lamented that his children prefer the music of the Epic Sax Guy to that of their father during the interview portion of the Blue Room’s noon jazz series on Thursday, June 6. Assuming a sardonic tone of exasperation, Larson joked “I’m the epic sax guy!”
In fact, each member of Larson’s quartet displayed heroic artistry at the Blue Room. Pianist Roger Wilder and drummer John Kizilarmut may never have sounded better. The Chicago based Clark Sommers conjured bassist Jimmy Garrison on an excerpt of “A Love Supreme”.
Propulsive renditions of the classics “Conception”, “Punjab” and “Light Blue” were rendered with astounding sophistication. Larson’s kids will eventually recognize what dedicated jazz fans already know: during June 2024, Larson and his colleagues were truly epic jazz guys.
Now’s the Time: Will Matthews
Will Matthews headlines the Blue Room on Friday, April 26. The guitarist is featured in an interpretation of Glenn Jones’ 2018 song “You & Me” at the Blue Room in the embedded video.
Now’s the Time: Redhot & Blue of Yale
In the parlance of the American Jazz Museum administration, the Blue Room is “dark” this January. Yet at least one event will take place at the institution’s venue this month. The a cappella group Redhot & Blue of Yale performs at the Blue Room on Tuesday, January 9. Details are here.
Now’s the Time: Logan Richardson
Logan Richardson, arguably Kansas City’s most intriguing musician, returns to the Blue Room on Saturday, December 30. The embedded video is a visual interpretation of a track from his 2023 album Holy Water.
Now’s the Time: Rodney Whitaker
Rodney Whitaker performs at the Blue Room on Friday, November 17. The bassist will share the stage with musicians including drummer Carl Allen.
Plastic Sax’s Favorite Performances of 2023
Original image of Artemis at the Gem Theater by Plastic Sax.
Top Ten Performances by Kansas City Artists
1. Mike Dillon, Brian Haas and Nikki Glaspie at the Brick
Plastic Sax review.
2. Hermon Mehari at the Folly Theater
Plastic Sax review.
3. Adam Larson, Matt Clohesy and Jimmy Macbride at Westport Coffee House
Instagram clip.
4. Rod Fleeman at Green Lady Lounge
Instagram clip.
5. Pat Metheny’s Side-Eye at Muriel Kauffman Theatre
Plastic Sax review.
6. Drew Williams, Alex Frank, Ben Tervort and Brian Steever at Westport Coffee House
Plastic Sax review.
7. Cynthia van Roden at the Market at Meadowbrook
Instagram snapshot.
8. Chalis O’Neal at the Blue Room
Instagram clip.
9. Alan Voss, Benjamin Baker, Forest Stewart and Evan Verploegh at Swope Park Pavilion
Plastic Sax review.
10. Rich Hill, Arnold Young and Rob Whitsitt in Volker Park
Instagram clip.
Top Ten Performances by Artists from Elsewhere
1. Samara Joy at the Folly Theater
Plastic Sax review.
2. Devin Gray and Maria Elena Silva at the Firehouse Gallery
Plastic Sax review.
3. Bill Frisell, Greg Tardy, Gerald Clayton and Johnathan Blake at the 1900 Building
Plastic Sax review.
4. Artemis at the Gem Theater
Plastic Sax review.
5. CRAG Quartet and Joshua Gerowitz at the Bunker Center for the Arts
Instagram clip.
6. Miguel Zenón Quartet at the Folly Theater
Plastic Sax review.
7. Henrique Eisenmann and Eugene Friesen at the 1900 Building
Plastic Sax review.
8. Robert Stillman at the Midland Theater
There Stands the Glass review.
9. Jack Wright and Ron Stabinsky at Charlotte Street Foundation
Instagram clip.
10. Rob Magill and Marshall Trammell at Farewell
Plastic Sax review.
(Last year’s survey is here.)
Now’s the Time: Amina Figarova
Amina Figarova fronts an auspicious band at the Blue Room on Saturday, September 23. The daring New York based pianist will be joined by saxophonist Wayne Escoffery, flutist Bart Platteau, bassist Martin Masakowski and drummer Donald Edwards.
Confirmation: Weekly News and Notes
Original image by Plastic Sax.
*KCUR’s free music recommendations include jazz performances at the Blue Room and Nighthawk.
*Reed Jackson reviewed a new music concert at Farewell.
*Joe Dimino interviewed David Cunningham.
Now’s the Time: Glass Cactus
Glass Cactus, a band led by the Nebraska based trombonist Shawn Bell, performs at the Blue Room on Friday, May 26.
Confirmation: Weekly News and Notes
Original image by Plastic Sax.
*Angela Hagenbach spoke to Nick Spacek in advance of last weekend’s A Tribute to Black Composers concert.
*A blogger assessed a performance of improvised music at the Bunker Center for the Performing Arts.
*Northeast News published a press release about an extended jam session at the Blue Room on April 27.
*Joe Dimino filmed portions of Artemis’ concert at the Gem Theater.
*An editorial in The Kansas City Star proposes “18th & Vine International Airport” as the new name for the city’s airport.
*Tweet of the Week: Farewell- Extemporaneous Music and Arts Society presents a show with New Mexico’s La Practica, the EMAS Electro-Acoustic Ensemble, and Iris Appelquist on April 5.
Confirmation: Weekly News and Notes
Original image by Plastic Sax.
*Paula Saunders, Amber Underwood and Angela Ward anticipate a cultural exchange in Chile in a television news report.
*Hermon Mehari looks forward to his performance in the Folly Jazz Series in a Kansas City magazine feature.
*Following a month-long stoppage, The Blue Room reopens with a jam session led by Matt Villinger on Monday, January 30.
*The Pitch relays an update from Chaz on the Plaza.
*Jakob Baekgaard composed an overview of Mary Lou Williams’ career for All About Jazz.
*Portions of the Miguel Zenón Quartet’s concert at the Folly Theater were captured by Joe Dimino.
*Tweet of the Week: Green Lady Lounge- In 2022, Green Lady Lounge & Black Dolphin musicians earned $942,582.81 in performance pay & credit card tips from fans. By the merit of their performances & demand from fans, these Kansas City jazz musicians showed their success & robust viability in the free market.
Now’s the Time: Miguel Zenón
One of Charlie Parker’s most vital acolytes performs at the Folly Theater on Friday, January 20. Alto saxophonist Miguel Zenón has become an established component of the jazz pantheon since his appearances at the Blue Room in 2014 and as a member of the SFJazz Collective at the Folly Theater in 2018.
Plastic Sax's Favorite Performances of 2022
Original image of Bob Bowman and Peter Schlamb by Plastic Sax.
Top Performances by Kansas City Artists
1. Logan Richardson + Blues People at the Ship
2. Adam Larson, Clark Sommers and Dana Hall at Westport Coffee House
3. Black Crack Revue at Westport Coffee House
4. Steve Cardenas, Forest Stewart and Brian Steever at recordBar
5. Arnold Young and the RoughTet at the Ship
6. Bob Bowman and Peter Schlamb at Second Presbyterian Church
7. Evan Verplough and Ben Baker at World Culture KC
8. Rod Fleeman at Green Lady Lounge
9. Alter Destiny at Charlotte Street Foundation
10. Drew Williams, Ben Tervort and Brian Steever at Westport Coffee House
Top Performances by Artists from Elsewhere
1. Nduduzo Makhathini at the Blue Room
2. Ohma at the Midland theater
3. Livia Nestrovski and Henrique Eisenmann at the 1900 Building
4. High Pulp at recordBar
5. Phillip Greenlief at Bushranger Records
6. Terence Blanchard at Atkins Auditorium
7. Keefe Jackson, Jakob Heinemann and Adam Shead at Black Dolphin
8. Esthesis Quartet at the Blue Room
9. Kind Folk at the Black Box
10. Bill Summers and Forward Back at Dunbar Park
Now's the Time: Matt Chalk
Matt Chalk’s homecoming concert at the Blue Room on Friday, November 25, promises to be a momentous occasion. Once a notable teen prodigy, the saxophonist has refined his sound even further while living in Europe in recent years.
Now’s the Time: Esthesis Quartet
Esthesis Quartet, a touring group consisting of flutist Elsa Nilsson, pianist Dawn Clement, bassist Emma Dayhuff and drummer Tina Raymond, play two sets at the Blue Room on Monday, October 17. Esthesis Quartet performs the opening track of its new self-titled debut album in the embedded video.
Album Review: Morgan Faw and the Flame- It Takes a Village
A pair of antithetical incidents involving Kansas City’s first family of jazz took place during Morgan Faw and the Flame’s album release show at the Blue Room on Monday, August 22. A guest appearance by Bobby Watson was- as is invariably the case- absolutely stupendous.
The lowlight of the evening was heartbreaking. An interpretation of Pamela Baskin-Watson’s composition “The Love We Had Yesterday” was spoiled by a buffoon who drowned out the tender ballad with oblivious yapping. Baskin-Watson was among the members of the audience of about 100 frustrated by the dullard.
The Watsons were among the many instructors, friends and family amid the festive audience of more than 100 that Faw thanked during an evening characterized by good cheer and reverence for tradition. (The performance was a central component of this year’s Spotlight: Charlie Parker initiative.)
Faw’s debut album It Takes a Village is filled with conventional hard bop tracks designed to please the saxophonist’s old-school mentors. Faw is joined by trumpeter Will Mallard, pianist Ebba Dankel, bassist Isaac Coyle and drummer Christian Napoleon on the project. It’s a brisk first step toward a promising destination.
Now’s the Time: Morgan Faw
Morgan Faw will showcase material from his new album It Takes a Village at the Blue Room on Monday, August 22. The saxophonist performs with the James Ward Band in the embedded video. Faw will return to the Blue Room alongside Houston Smith on Friday, August 26, in a concert billed as “Ode to Bird.”
Now’s the Time: Marcus Lewis
Saxophonist Matt Otto is among the outstanding musicians who will perform in a band led by trombonist Marcus Lewis at the Blue Room on Friday, July 23. The embedded video captures one of their 2016 collaborations.