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Confirmation: Weekly News and Notes

January 20, 2021 William Brownlee
Original image by Plastic Sax.

Original image by Plastic Sax.

*Lonnie McFadden promotes Lonnie’s Reno Club at Kansas City magazine.

*Tweet of the Week: Peter Sokolowski- RIP to the great big-band arranger/composer Sammy Nestico, who wrote many albums for Count Basie and charts for Sinatra and nearly every other singer who can swing.

*From a press release: ...Recently relocating to Kansas City after spending 15 years in New Orleans, (Mike) Dillon and producer Chad Meise would track a trilogy of albums: 'Shoot The Moon,' 'Suitcase Man' and '1918.' In collaboration with his longtime record label Royal Potato Family, they would offer the records exclusively via Bandcamp just days after they were mixed and mastered. In 2021, those albums now receive the full vinyl treatment, as well as complete digital release across all streaming outlets.

Tags Kansas City, jazz, Lonnie's Reno Club, Lonnie McFadden, Mike Dillon, Count Basie Orchestra

Confirmation: Weekly News and Notes

December 23, 2020 William Brownlee
Original image by Plastic Sax.

Original image by Plastic Sax.

*The Kansas City Star acknowledges the "short shrift" The Star and The Times gave to Kansas City jazz giants including Charlie Parker during the city’s jazz heyday.

*KCUR’s Gina Kauffman relates the story of the creation of Andrea Lewis’ new Christmas album.

*I shared tracks by Mike Dillon and Flutienastiness on an episode of Eight One Sixty on 90.9 The Bridge.

*Joe Dimino interviewed Chris Burnett and Bill Crain.

*Ça Va, a Kansas City establishment that often hosted live jazz, has closed.

*Tweet of the Week: Mayor Q- While we talk reconciliation here, also note something The Star mentioned as an oversight—not telling the positive stories of the Black experience in Kansas City over a decades. To share and repeat a tale of pain alone is to miss the greatness of our community.

Tags Kansas City, jazz, Charlie Parker, Andrea Lewis, Mike Dillon, Flutienastiness, Chris Burnett, Bill Crain

Plastic Sax’s Favorite Albums of 2020

November 29, 2020 William Brownlee
Original image by Plastic Sax.

Original image by Plastic Sax.

The pandemic failed to forestall a strong slate of new albums by Kansas City’s jazz musicians.  A ranking of the year’s top live performances is missing for sadly obvious reasons.

Favorite Albums by Kansas City Artists

1. Bobby Watson- Keepin' It Real (My review.)

2. Molly Hammer- I'm Feeling Mellow

3. Mike Dillon- Rosewood (My review.)

4. Steve Cardenas- Blue Has a Range (My review.)

5. Pat Metheny- From This Place (My review.)

6. Brian Scarborough- Sunflower Song (My review.)

7. Guitar Elation- Double Live at Green Lady Lounge (My review.)

8. Matt Otto- Alliance (My review.)

9. Flutienastiness- This Is Me (My review.)

10. Purna Loka Ensemble- Metaraga


Favorite Albums by Artists From Elsewhere

1. Jyoti- Mama, You Can Bet!

2. Jennifer Curtis and Tyshawn Sorey- Invisible Ritual

3. Ambrose Akinmusire- On the Tender Spot of Every Calloused Moment

4. Bill Frisell- Valentine

5. Kaja Draksler Octet- Out For Stars

6. Jeremy Pelt- The Art of Intimacy, Vol. 1

7. Angelica Sanchez and Marilyn Crispell- How to Turn the Moon

8. Sara Serpa- Recognition

9. Rudresh Mahanthappa- Hero Trio

10. Brad Mehldau- Suite: April 2020


I conducted the same exercise at Plastic Sax the each of the last ten years. Expanded rankings of my favorite albums of 2020 by Kansas City musicians are published at my nondenominational music site There Stands the Glass.

Tags Kansas City, jazz, Bobby Watson, Molly Hammer, Mike Dillon, Steve Cardenas, Pat Metheny, Brian Scarborough, Guitar Elation, Matt Otto, Flutienastiness
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