Experimental saxophonist Rob Magill is on a cacophonous bill headlined by the Maryland based grindcore band Entrail Asphyxiation at Howdy on Thursday, September 26. Based on his powerful 2023 outing at Farewell, Magill will hold his own amid the array of extreme music.
Now’s the Time: Kevin Cheli
Percussionist Kevin Cheli resumes his extensive series of collaborations with guitarist Seth Davis at Farewell on Wednesday, December 27. Scott R. Looney and Aaron Osborne will join them. Night Mode and Nate Hofer round out the bill.
Now’s the Time: Maria Elena Silva
Maria Elena Silva’s appearance at the Firehouse Gallery in June was part of one of Plastic Sax’s favorite concerts of 2023. Her current tour in support of the impressive jazz-adjacent album Dulce stops at Farewell on Friday, November 24. The Jorge Arana Trio and representatives of the Extemporaneous Music and Arts Society round out the bill.
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.)
Concert Review: Rob Magill and Marshall Trammell at Farewell
Original image by Plastic Sax.
Farewell, a scrappy rock club near the Truman Sports Complex, hosted three differing sets of improvised music on Tuesday, July 11. More than fifty people passed in and out of the venue, but it’s unclear how many of them paid the $10 cover charge to hear the varied sounds.
The touring duo of saxophonist Rob Magill and drummer Marshall Trammell were the featured attraction. While the comparison is unfair to the tandem, I experienced their ferocious thirty minute set as an elegy to Peter Brötzmann. The German saxophonist who died last month specialized in the bracing form of free jazz rendered by the duo.
Joined by Alex Mallett on bass, keyboard and electronics, the trumpeter and electronic artist Alber opened the evening with a groovy update on acid jazz. The best moments evoked the ambience of a trendy cafe in Alber’s native Italy.
Three representatives of the Extemporaneous Music and Arts Society performed last. Flanked by bassist Krista Kopper and multi-instrumentalist Aaron Osborne, drummer Evan Verploegh annihilated eardrums one moment and whispered through his fingertips the next.
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: Maria Elena Silva
Jeff Parker is among the notable improvisors who contributed to Maria Elena Silvas’ 2021 album Eros. The genre-bending artist performs at Farewell on Saturday, April 1. Torches Mauve is one of the evening’s two opening acts.
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.