Two momentous year-end jazz critics polls- The 20th Annual Francis Davis Jazz Critics Poll and El Intruso’s The 18th Annual International Critics Poll- were published during my recent sojourn in Japan. Details about the Kansas City artists who received representation follow.
Hosted by The Arts Fuse, the 20th Annual Francis Davis Jazz Critics Poll focuses on albums. Carl Allen’s Tippin' placed at #61 among the 576 releases receiving votes in the New Albums ranking. Anat Fort’s The Dreamworld of Paul Motian featuring guitarist Steve Cardenas, received a single nod.
Brittany Davis’ Black Thunder received one vote in the Vocals category while Pete Fucinaro’s Little Window and Henry Scamurra’s Urban Forum each received a single vote in a tally of debut albums.
Even though it was released on October 25, 2024, Charlie Parker’s Bird in Kansas City placed at #23 among the 208 titles receiving votes in the reissue category. Here’s my ballot.
The Argentine jazz periodical El Intruso’s ambitious referendum has a more progressive orientation. Hermon Mehari (one vote as best trumpeter) and Pat Metheny (one vote as best guitarist) were the sole musicians with Kansas City affiliations to be acknowledged. My ballot can be found by searching for “Plastic Sax.”
Four of the eight artists highlighted here wouldn’t have been mentioned in the polls without the participation of Plastic Sax. Either the sounds made by Kansas City artists aren’t reaching ears beyond the metropolitan area or they’re failing to make a lasting impression on jazz journalists.