Plastic Sax’s Favorite Albums of 2024

December 1, 2024 William Brownlee

The Top Ten Albums of 2024 by Artists from Elsewhere
1. Sunny Five- Candid
2. Nduduzo Makhathini- uNomkhubulwane
3. Fred Hersch- Silent, Listening
4. أحمد (Ahmed)- Wood Blues
5. Nala Sinephro- Endlessness
6. Tord Gustavsen Trio- Seeing
7. Andrew Cyrille, Kit Downes and Bill Frisell- Breaking the Shell
8. Peter Evans- Extra
9. Samara Joy- Portrait
10. The Messthetics and James Brandon Lewis- The Messthetics and James Brandon Lewis

The Top 25 Kansas City Jazz Albums of the Past 25 Years

October 13, 2024 William Brownlee

Despite enduring constant turbulence during the first 25 years of the new millennium, Kansas City’s jazz musicians never ceased creating timeless art. The following list highlights a fraction of the vital recordings released since 2000. The recency bias on display reflects Plastic Sax’s founding in 2007 as well as the uptick in the quantity and quality of releases in recent years. A corresponding non-jazz albums ranking is here.

1. Peter Schlamb- Tinks (2004)
2. Logan Richardson- Shift (2016)
3. Bobby Watson- Back Home in Kansas City (2022)
4. Hermon Mehari- Asmara (2022)
5. Bob Bowman- Songs for Sandra (2014)
6. Pat Metheny- Orchestrion (2010)
7. Ahmad Alaadeen- And the Beauty of It All (ASR 2007)
8. Karrin Allyson- Imagina: Songs of Brasil (2008)
9. Steve Cardenas- Panoramic (2002)
10. Mike Dillon- Inflorescence (2023)

11. Deborah Brown- Songbird (2003)
12. Adam Larson- With Love, From Kansas City (2022)
13. Myra Taylor- My Night to Dream (2001)
14. Matt Otto and Ensemble Ibérica- Ibérica (2017)
15. The People’s Liberation Big Band of Greater Kansas City- The People’s Liberation Big Band of Greater Kansas City (2010)
16. Kevin Mahogany- Pride & Joy (2002)
17. Micah Herman- The Ship, Vol. 1: The Studio Sessions (2011)
18. EMAS Quartet- EMS (2022)
19. Eddie Moore and the Outer Circle- Kings & Queens (2016)
20. Rod Fleeman Trio- Saturday Afternoon Live at Green Lady Lounge, Volume 3 (2024)

21. Alaturka- Tamam Abi (2010)
22. Betty Bryant- Lotta Livin' (2024)
23. Everette DeVan- For the Love of You (2014)
24. Gregory Hickman-Williams- Passages (2006)
25. Marcus Lewis Big Band- Brass and Boujee (2018)

Now’s the Time: Karrin Allyson

September 19, 2024 William Brownlee

The new season of the Folly Jazz Series opens with the return of Karrin Allyson on Saturday, September 21. She chatted with Steve Kraske about the homecoming concert.

Grading the 2024-25 Folly Jazz Series

September 8, 2024 William Brownlee

A spate of recent announcements continued a familiar pattern. Several prominent touring jazz artists will soon perform in Austin, Chicago, Denver, Milwaukee, Minneapolis and St. Louis while passing over Kansas City. In spite of those disappointments, the assessments that follow address only what’s presented in the invariably unadventurous bookings of the Folly Jazz Series rather than bemoan the absence of speculative alternatives.

Karrin Allyson
Saturday, September 21
Grade: A
The New York based Kansas City vocalist Karrin Allyson is touring in support of the fine new album A Kiss for Brazil. What’s not to like about her homecoming?

Benny Benack III, Stella Cole and Jabu Graybeal
Saturday, October 26
Grade: D
The grouping of Benny Benack III, Stella Cole and Jabu Graybeal should be a glorious night for people who miss Jerry Vale and Dinah Shore.

The Yellowjackets
Saturday, January 25
Grade: C
Based on the fluffy fusion band’s repeated bookings, The Yellowjackets must be money in the bank for the Folly Jazz Series.

säje
Friday, February 28
Grade: B
säje, the quartet of vocalists Erin Bentlage, Sara Gazarek, Johnaye Kendrick and Amanda Taylor, alternate between delicate chamber folk and deft vocalese.

Branford Marsalis
Saturday, March 15
Grade: A
Presumably performing with his longstanding quartet, Branford Marsalis’ appearance is the artistic apogee of the season.

Helen Sung with Bach Aria Soloists
Saturday, April 5
Grade: A
The pairing of jazz pianist Helen Sung and the Kansas City chamber music ensemble Bach Aria Soloists is inspired.

An assessment of the previous Folly Jazz Series engagements is here.

Album Review: Karrin Allyson- A Kiss for Brazil

June 2, 2024 William Brownlee

The kiss in the title of Karrin Allyson’s new album A Kiss for Brazil isn’t platonic. Allyson infuses ardent passion into the sultry sound. It’s familiar territory for the former Kansas City resident.

Allyson can probably sing Brazilian standards like “Wave” and “Manha de Carnaval” in her sleep. Accordingly, A Kiss for Brazil has a lived-in feel. Keyboardist and accordionist Vitor Gonçalves, guitarist Yotam Silberstein, bassist Harvie S and drummer Rafael Barata enhance the comfortable atmosphere.

The Brazilian star Rosa Passos duets with Allyson on the two most memorable tracks, gorgeous interpretations of Passos’ “Dunas” and Vinicius de Moraes’ “O Grande Amor”.

While it’s an impressive work of art, the romantic A Kiss for Brazil is also functional music. Allyson makes the intent clear on the scandalously steamy “The Island.” Listeners are meant to find partners, turn the lights down low and engage in the titular activity.

Now's the Time: Karrin Allyson

October 1, 2021 William Brownlee

Karrin Allyson returns to the Folly Theater on Saturday, October 9. She’ll be accompanied by pianist Miro Sprague, guitarist Rod Fleeman, bassist Bob Bowman and drummer Jerome Jennings.

Confirmation: Weekly News and Notes

September 29, 2021 William Brownlee

*Karrin Allyson ch ats with Steve Kraske on KCUR.

*Pat Metheny discusses the process of choosing new collaborators.

*Tweet of the Week: All Music TV- Wednesday night come see this book by Amiri Baraka brought to life when Logan Richardson Presents Blues People, inspired by this seminal book from author Amiri Baraka @mr_musichead Just Jazz Live Concert Series. Ticket link in bio!!!! Kansas City stand up!!! #justjazztv

Confirmation: Weekly News and Notes

January 13, 2021 William Brownlee

*Karrin Allyson participated in Dowbeat’s blindfold test.

*The Missourian reports a piano once owned by John William “Blind” Boone’s was recently discovered. (Via St. Louis Jazz Notes.)

*Tweet of the Week: American Jazz Museum- We're bringing you another Jazz @ Noon livestream this coming Friday at 12:00 pm! Head to http://americanjazzmuseum.org/support to make a suggested donation of $10. Be sure to mark your calendars and tell your friends about this Kansas City talent who's gracing The Gem Theater stage!

Confirmation: Weekly News & Notes

September 2, 2020 William Brownlee

*Brian Scarborough is featured in The Pitch.

*The legacy of the late LaVerne Barker is examined by Flatland.

*Jacob Wagner tells KCUR that “Kansas City's taken too long to recognize black creativity and African-American music that put us on the map” in a KCUR overview of Charlie Parker’s life.

*Aryana Nemati-Baghestani is interviewed by an in-house UMKC publication.

*The editorial board of The Kansas City Star ponders violence in the Jazz District.

*Bill Clinton is among the luminaries paying homage to Charlie Parker on the icon’s YouTube channel.

*Bret Primack interviewed Bobby Watson and Chuck Haddix.

*Joe Dimino documented a performance by five members of the Kansas City Jazz Orchestra. He also interviewed the participants.

*Alliance, a new album by Matt Otto, was released last week.

*The Mid-America Arts Alliance awarded $50,000 to the American Jazz Museum.

*A new mural adorns the exterior of the Mutual Musicians Foundation.

*Tweet o’ the Week: HypnoRaygun- Danny Embrey makes 99% of "real guitarists" look like beginners. He's unbelievable.

*From a press release: Due to restrictions imposed by Kansas City, MO and the CDC, and our concern for our patrons, staff, volunteers, crew, and artists, the Folly (Theater) has made some changes in our current Jazz Season. We have decided to postpone Karrin Allyson from October 17th to January 22. David Benoit will be moved to December 10th of 2021.

*From a press release: Craft Recordings is proud to announce the release of the compact disc edition of The Savoy 10-Inch LP Collection. The collection, which spotlights Charlie Parker’s groundbreaking bebop sessions for the legendary jazz label (spanning 1944 to 1948), is already available on vinyl and digital formats. The CD edition features 28 tracks from the four legendary Savoy 10-inch LPs, presented with newly restored and remastered audio and a deluxe 20-page booklet… The compact disc edition… (is) set for a November 6th release date.