Stephen Martin, Matt Otto and Bobby Watson are the featured saxophonists in the Kansas City Jazz Orchestra’s tribute to Charlie Parker at the Folly Theater on Saturday, August 29. Martin takes the first solo in a reading of “Boplicity” in the embedded video.
Confirmation: Weekly News and Notes
Original image by Plastic Sax.
*Bobby Watson chats about music and sports on a podcast.
*The Pitch acknowledged Zoh Amba’s recent appearance at the Truman.
*Joe Morris, Wadada Leo Smith and Fred Tompkins are among the musicians performing in the 2026-27 season of St. Louis’ New Music Circle.
*Saturday, August 29, is the 106th anniversary of the birth of Charlie Parker. Related events transpire in the Jazz District and at venues including the Folly Theater.
Confirmation: Weekly News and Notes
Original image by Plastic Sax.
*Ravi Coltrane, Nicole Glover, Kassa Overall and Joshua Redman are among the artists performing at New York City’s Charlie Parker Jazz Festival this month.
Confirmation: Weekly News and Notes
Original image by Plastic Sax.
*The retro-soul band the Freedom Affair headlines The Prairie Village Jazz Festival on September 12.
*A television news feature notes the annual celebration of the birth of Charlie Parker.
*Kansas City magazine relays an optimistic vision for the latest public investments in the Jazz District.
*Michael Pagán would like Plastic Sax readers to know that he’s “humbly proud to announce the publication and release of my dad's collection of lead sheets in fake book/PDF format: The Ricardo Pagán Fake Book. There are over 275 tunes written in his hand between 1960-1990. The book is free - please PM me with your email address if you'd like a copy.”
*From a press release: Internationally acclaimed saxophonist, composer, and visionary Logan Richardson returns to his hometown for an extraordinary evening of music, storytelling, and artistic exploration in A Living Score: Searching for Charlie Parker on Saturday, August 8, 2026, at 7:30 p.m. at the historic Gem Theater... “This is far more than a concert. It is an exploration,” describes Richardson. He explains the performance is a search through sound, memory, place, and possibility inspired by some of Kansas City's most celebrated cultural icons, including Charlie Parker, Ben Webster, Big Joe Turner, Burt Bacharach, and even Walt Disney.
Confirmation: Weekly News and Notes
Original image by Plastic Sax.
*Norman Brown chats with WBGO’s Pat Prescott.
*Joe Dimino interviewed Brian Haas about the musician’s latest collaboration with Mike Dillon.
*A television news report is intended to highlight Jazz Appreciation Month.
*From a press release: Spotlight: Charlie Parker 2026 will return this June for its 14th annual, summer‑long celebration honoring legendary jazz icon Charlie “Bird” Parker on what would have been his 106th birthday. The annual program celebrates Parker’s enduring legacy and global impact on jazz through concerts, jam sessions, historic tours, lectures, exhibits, panel discussions, workshops, and performances… Event details will be released throughout the summer at KC Jazz Alive.
Poll Tax
Screenshot of the 20th Annual Francis Davis Jazz Critics Poll by Plastic Sax.
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.
Confirmation: Weekly News and Notes
Original image by There Stands the Glass.
*A television news outlet suggests The Phoenix may be haunted.
*The New York Times reports that Charlie Parker 78s are spun at The Hot Club of New York.
*Bram Wijnands’ live accompaniment to a vintage horror film is among the upcoming events recommended by In Kansas City magazine.
Confirmation: Weekly News and Notes
Original image by Plastic Sax.
*A television news outlet covered activities marking the 105th birthdate of Charlie Parker.
Confirmation: Weekly News and Notes
Original image by Plastic Sax.
Now’s the Time: Bobby Watson
Bobby Watson oversees a big band at Jay McShann Pavilion on Thursday, August 21. A bit of additional information about the “Celebrating Charlie Parker” event is available here.
Confirmation: Weekly News and Notes
Original image by Plastic Sax.
*Lonnie McFadden promoted his Charlie Parker tribute with the Kansas City Jazz Orchestra to KCUR and Kansas City magazine. The concert is August 23 at the Folly Theater.
*The Steely Dan tribute band Glamour Profession headlines the Prairie Village Jazz Festival on September 6.
*The fall lineup of the Maronde Professional Recital Series opens with an homage to Charlie Parker on September 30.
*Joe Dimino shared footage of a recent Jazz Ensemble Directors Reading Band event.
*A representative of KC Jazz Alive asked Plastic Sax to advise its readers that the Live Jazz KC calendar is “fully back in operation.”
Confirmation: Weekly News and Notes
Original image by Plastic Sax.
*From Kansas City Jazz Alive: We're thrilled to welcome you to the 105th birthday party of legendary jazz icon, Charlie Parker, also known as “Bird.” This series of events makes up our month-long “Spotlight: Charlie Parker.” This year's celebration features captivating jam sessions, soulful tributes, enlightening history tours, engaging lectures, fascinating exhibitions, insightful panel discussions, enriching workshops, and mesmerizing showcase performances.
Brigadoon
Original image by Plastic Sax.
“Almost Like Being in Love,” the standard once interpreted by the Kansas City trailblazer Charlie Parker, originally appeared in Brigadoon. The musical is set in an enchanted realm that’s almost entirely cut off from the rest of the world.
The results of two new surveys- The 73rd Annual Downbeat Critics Poll and the 20th Annual Francis Davis Critics Poll: 2025 Midyear- suggest Kansas City is the jazz equivalent of Brigadoon.
Just as few locally based artists make an impression on the international landscape, visits from the most recognized musicians are rare. Yet in spite of its solitude, superior jazz is performed nightly in Kansas City.
Only one album by a Kansas City based artist is among the 441 new releases receiving at least a single vote in the Francis Davis endeavor. Carl Allen’s Tippin’ came in at #24 with nine votes. Here’s my ballot.
Aside from Allen, the Branford Marsalis Quartet is the sole act with an album placing in the top 100 albums of the Francis Davis poll that has performed in Kansas City during the past 24 months. Not coincidentally, Allen joined Marsalis’ band at the Folly Theater that night. Marsalis’ Belonging landed at #7 in the poll.
Six acts associated with Kansas City- three living and one locally based- appear in DownBeat’s primary listings. (The poll’s individual voter ballots aren’t available.) The results of local interest are:
Hall of Fame: Bob Brookmeyer, 29th place
Historical Album of the Year: Charlie Parker- Bird in Kansas City, 13th place
Large Ensemble of the Year: Count Basie Orchestra, 23rd place
Alto Saxophonist of the Year: Bobby Watson, 30th place
Guitarist of the Year: Pat Metheny, 5th place
Composer of the Year: Pat Metheny, 17th place
Blues Artist of the Year: Samantha Fish, 13th place
Kansas City is also represented in DownBeat’s secondary Rising Star category:
Rising Star- Large Ensemble of the Year: People’s Liberation Big Band, 17th place
Rising Star- Trumpeter of the Year: Hermon Mehari, 18th place
Rising Star- Alto Saxophonist of the Year: Logan Richardson, 6th place
Rising Star- Baritone Saxophonist of the Year: BJ Jansen, 19th place
Rising Star- Organist of the Year: Chris Hazelton, 19th place
Rising Star- Vibraphonist of the Year: Mike Dillon, 7th place
Rising Star- Vibraphonist of the Year: Peter Schlamb, 13th place
Jazz lovers in Kansas City eager to engage with the outside world will relish poring over the results of the endlessly fascinating polls. While music discovery is “almost like being in love” for me, many locals prefer familiar sounds in their sequestered Brigadoons.
In much the same way, some of the civic boosters who repeat the old saw about Kansas City being a cradle of jazz neither know nor care about the global state of the music. And given the high quality of improvised music made in isolation locally, perhaps their blissful ignorance is warranted.
Confirmation: Weekly News and Notes
Original image by Plastic Sax.
*Legends Field is slated to host the KC Blues and Jazz Festival on October 3 and 4. The lineup: Stanley Clarke (misspelled on the official flyer), Karl Denson’s Tiny Universe, Shemekia Copeland, Bill Frisell (with Greg Tardy, Thomas Morgan and Rudy Royston), Roosevelt Collier, Harrell Davenport, Brody Buster, OJT, High Society and Jackie Myers (also misspelled on the flyer). Two-day passes are $71.50-$136.50. Single day passes are $25-$60.
*Chalis O’Neal is the subject of a feature story published by The Kansas City Star.
*The most recent episode of Kansas Public Radio’s Live at Green Lady Lounge program spotlights the new band led by guitarists Matt Hopper and Jeff Shirley.
*A television news outlet reports on an attempt to fill several empty storefronts in the Jazz District.
*From a press release: In a must-see concert to cap the month-long Spotlight: Charlie Parker celebration, renowned Kansas City trumpeter Lonnie McFadden will lead the Kansas City Jazz Orchestra in a vibrant tribute to Parker’s musical genius on Saturday, August 23 at 7 p.m. at… the Folly Theatre… Tickets, starting at $28, are available… here.
Confirmation: Weekly News and Notes
Original image by Plastic Sax.
*Justin Wilson, an accomplished producer of Kansas City jazz recordings, has died.
*An appearance by Anat Cohen is among the highlights of the Kansas City Jazz Orchestra’s 2025-26 season.
*Dan White told Steve Kraske about his Jazz KC Portraits photo exhibit at the Harry S. Truman Presidential Library and Museum.
*Michael Pagán chatted with Joe Dimino.
*Trent Austin is among the business owners concerned about the potential impact of tariffs on their musical instrument businesses in a KCUR feature.
*From a press release: Spotlight: Charlie Parker 2025 celebrates the jazz icon’s 105th birthday with jam sessions and musical tributes, tours, lectures, exhibits, panel discussions, workshops, and concerts... The month-long celebration will take place in August 2025 at various locations, including The Folly Theater, 18th & Vine Jazz District, including the American Jazz Museum and the Gem Theater, and Kansas City-area jazz clubs. Details are available here.
Kansas City Cachet
Original image by Plastic Sax.
The most compelling jazz has always been rebellious, adventurous and innovative. Yet a debilitating perception pervasive in Kansas City and beyond posits jazz as a moldering art form best applied as relaxing background music.
The refutation of this notion is among the reasons I treat the annual publication of the Francis Davis Jazz Poll and the El Intruso’s Periodistas Internacionales jazz poll as a holiday. Sifting through the data published January 10 is a powerful affirmation of the artistic vitality of jazz.
I’m honored to be consulted in the enterprises. Sunny Five’s caustic Candid is my selection for the top album in both polls. The attack of the avant-garde all-stars aligns with my ongoing affinity for punk rock. The improvisatory onslaught was all too necessary in 2024.
The polls can be used as barometers of Kansas City’s current stature in the jazz universe. The 19th Annual Francis Davis Jazz Poll focuses on recordings. Six of the approximately 600 albums released in 2024 receiving votes are connected to the Kansas City area.
Tell the Birds I Said Hello: The Music of Herbie Nichols, an exquisite trio recording featuring Kansas City guitarist Steve Cardenas, came in at #67. Pat Metheny’s solo guitar statement Moodial finished at #70. Charles McPherson’s excellent Reverence is ranked #107.
In a separate vocal category, Betty Bryant’s delightful Lotta Livin’ is graded at #16. Although attention was lavished on it locally, the latest archival Charlie Parker release Bird in Kansas City placed at a humble #24 in the reissue division. I gave it a nod on my ballot.
Where the Francis Davis poll is open to critics favoring both conventional and anarchic styles, El Intruso’s 17th Annual International Critics Poll 2024 is intended to reward “creative music, jazz and beyond, free improvisation, art-rock, and experimental music.”
Albums are just one of many classifications at stake in El Intruso’s referendum. No Kansas City musicians were among the finalists in any section, but Seth Andrew Davis, Marvin Gruenbaum, Pat Metheny, Aryana Nemati and Peter Schlamb were recognized.
Amusingly, El Intruso puts faces to the names of voters. Anyone who has imagined what a typical jazz critic looks like will have their suspicions confirmed as they scroll through the individual selections of the electors. A goofy photo antithetical to the spirit of rebellion accompanies the ballot of the man responsible for Plastic Sax.
The Top Stories and Trends of 2024 in Kansas City Jazz
Original image of Matt Hopper, Joseph Panella and Nate Nall by Plastic Sax.
1. Ten dollars, please
The cover charge at Green Lady Lounge and its sister club Black Dolphin was boosted to $10. The impact of Kansas City’s most popular jazz venue commanding the meaningful entry fee surely altered the perception of the music’s worth.
2. Better angels
The release of Bird in Kansas City, an assortment of essential scraps, accorded Charlie Parker the kind of attention living jazz musicians in Kansas City can only dream about.
3. Extempore
The burgeoning clout wielded by the Extemporaneous Music and Arts Society included a public radio audio feature and a tireless performance schedule. The collective also presented more touring improvising musicians than any other music venue or arts organization in Kansas City in 2024.
4. Heaven Can’t Wait
7th Heaven, the Kansas City music retailer most closely aligned with jazz, shuttered after 50 years in business.
5. Rolling
Dozens of Kansas City based jazz musicians released an unprecedented number of albums in 2024. Plastic Sax’s favorite albums list represent just a portion of worthy new recordings.
6. Blind Boone Remembered
Bill McKemy launched the Nameless and Unremembered podcast. The endeavor examines the “hidden stories of American music.”
7. Road Trip, Part One
The inaugural edition of the Lee's Summit Jazz Festival was encouraging and the Prairie Village Jazz Festival continues to thrive. Jazz Winterlude at Johnson County Community College, brings in one touring act each year. The three suburban undertakings account for all of the Kansas City area’s non-academic jazz festivals.
8. Road Trip, Part Two
Dozens of prominent touring jazz artists passed over Kansas City in favor of gigs in Bentonville, Denver, Iowa City, Joplin, St. Louis, Tulsa and Wichita.
9. Mythbuster
A massive crowd for Yo-Yo Ma’s last-minute appearance in Parade Park decimated the long-cited trope that suburbanites are unwilling to enter the Jazz District.
10. Big Fish, Small Pond
Plastic Sax continues to be the preeminent source for analysis and news concerning Kansas City jazz.
Last year’s recap is here.
Confirmation: Weekly News and Notes
Original image by Plastic Sax.
*Andrew Ouellette was featured in the Hannibal Courier Post.
*Gennaro Caggiano was interviewed by Joe Dimino.
*Chuck Haddix and Steve Kraske consider the latest collection of rare Charlie Parker tracks.
*Jazzwise’s review of a solo Pat Metheny concert in London references the guitarist’s immersion in “the Kansas City jazz scene that had few guitarists.”
*From a press release: The year 2024 marks the 60th birthday of the beloved drummer, composer, and bandleader Matt Wilson. His acclaimed ensemble, the Christmas Tree-O, featuring multi-reed legend Jeff Lederer and revered bassist Paul Sikivie, also celebrates their new album Tree Jazz: The Shape of Christmas to Come… The band will be performing in Wichita as part of their national tour on December 6 and 7 at 8 PM at Walker's Jazz Lounge.
Confirmation: Weekly News and Notes
Original image by Plastic Sax.
*Chuck Haddix told The Pitch’s Nick Spacek about the backstory of the new Charlie Parker album Bird in Kansas City.
*From a press release: Kansas City Jazz Orchestra continues the 2024-25 season with.. Bright Size Life, featuring guitarist Rod Fleeman, Saturday, November 16, at the Folly Theater. Rod Fleeman is a founding member of The Kansas City Jazz Orchestra and has appreciated Pat Metheny’s virtuosity since he first saw the guitarist play in the early 1970s…
Album Review: Charlie Parker- Bird in Kansas City
Responding to the announcement of Bird in Kansas City in a social media post last month, a civic booster expressed hope that the October 25 release would be issued on vinyl. (It is.) If the enthusiast hopes to secure the 13-track Charlie Parker set as a treasured collector’s item, he’ll be entirely satisfied. If he’s seeking a superior audiophile experience, however, he’s bound to be disappointed by the album.
Captured in Kansas City in 1941 (two tracks), 1944 (four tracks) and 1951 (seven tracks), the previously discarded scraps were never intended for public consumption. The sonic quality of Bird in Kansas City is little better than the Dean Benedetti bootlegs.
Parker’s brilliance obviously transcends the limitations of scratchy documentation. Bird in Kansas City’s two 1941 tracks with Jay McShann are a hoot. Even though he had yet to achieve full flight, Bird soars higher than his peers on the 1944 sessions. Bird’s aggressive attack on 1951 interpretations of “Cherokee” and “Body and Soul” display the fury of a rebel hellbent on disrupting jazz convention.
The latter tracks make the release of Bird in Kansas City the most substantive music-related event of the year in Kansas City. In addition to providing new insights into the evolution of Parker’s genius, the set is mandatory listening for every self-respecting Kansas Citian.