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

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)

Confirmation: Weekly News and Notes

*Joe Dimino documented portions of a free concert by the Marcus Lewis Big Band.

*The Pitch’s Brock Wilbur described last week’s concert by The Smile as “jazz as interpreted from inside a space station.”

Now’s the Time: Brass & Boujee

Marcus Lewis’ Brass & Boujee ensemble performs at The Ship on Friday, June 30. The big band interprets Kendrick Lamar’s “Alright” in the embedded video.

Confirmation: Weekly News and Notes

*An article in The Community Voice about Anita Dixon’s current strategies for increasing the publicly funded music infrastructure suggests “(i)f you don’t know somebody who knows somebody, it’s hard to know live jazz in Kansas City still exists.”

*Nina Cherry endorses Marcus Lewis’ Big Band in Kansas City magazine.

*Pat Metheny is the subject of a Downbeat feature related to his win as Guitarist of the Year in the publication’s Readers Poll.

*Tweet of the Week: Tilted Chamber- @jeffshirleyjazz great show tonight at the Green Lady! #jazz #KansasCity #GreenLady

Confirmation: Weekly News and Notes

*Kevin Whitehead considered Bobby Watson’s new album Back Home in Kansas City for NPR.  A critic in New York analyzed a Watson concert in Schenectady.

*Fans named Norman Brown’s “Back at Ya” the Song of the Year in the Jazz Music Awards.  Christian McBride & Inside Straight, a band featuring the Kansas City based drummer Carl Allen, won the title of Best Mainstream Artist.

*Laura Spencer created an audio feature about the Hannover Jazz Orchestra’s visit to Kansas City for KCUR.  Members of the ensemble visited a television station.

*A sculpture inspired by Charlie Parker will be displayed at Kansas City’s new airport.

*Joe Dimino chatted with John Stein and shared footage of a performance by the Marcus Lewis Quintet.

*Tweet of the Week: Lipid Scientist- Visiting Kansas City - just went to the Negro Leagues Museum and the American Jazz Museum. Now we are listening to Caribbean Jazz at the Blue Room. Bryan Alford Jazz Experience: (photo)

Now’s the Time: Marcus Lewis

Marcus Lewis will lead a quintet at Yardley Hall on Tuesday, October 25. The midday performance will strike a different tone from the music in the embedded video. The noon recital series aims to please the senior citizens who dominate the audiences. Yet the booking serves as an excuse to showcase “You’re Very Special,” the new single by Lewis’ vibrant big band.

Confirmation: Weekly News and Notes

*Smoke Sessions Records created a trailer for Bobby Watson’s forthcoming album Back Home in Kansas City.

*The Marcus Lewis Big Band shared a music video for its new song "You're Very Special".

*Nina Cherry lists a few unconventional venues in Kansas City magazine.

*Joe Dimino documented portions of performances by the Leslie Maclean Trio and the duo of Mark Lowrey and Arnold Young.

*Sean Jones chatted with Steve Kraske on KCUR’s Up To Date program.

*Melissa Aldana, Charles McPherson and Camille Thurman are among the artists praising Charlie Parker in a feature published by The New York Times.

*Tweet of the Week: Kadesh Flow- Bruh.... Sean fn Jones REALLY SAT IN WITH US LAST NIGHT and justcasually went tf off @jazzbonist @kemetcoleman

Now’s the Time: Marcus Lewis

Saxophonist Matt Otto is among the outstanding musicians who will perform in a band led by trombonist Marcus Lewis at the Blue Room on Friday, July 23. The embedded video captures one of their 2016 collaborations.

Confirmation: Weekly News and Notes

*Last night’s concert featuring students of UMKC’s jazz program streams on YouTube.

*Kansas City Magazine catches up with Eddie Moore.

*Tweet of the Week: American Wild Ensemble- Another Missouri Music at 200 video is out today, and we are very happy to share this collaboration between Marcus Lewis, Glenn North, and @AmWildEnsemble (link)

*From a press release: Kansas City Area Youth Jazz is pleased to announce that the application and audition process for 2022 Youth Jazz Fellowships is now open for submissions.  Kansas City Area Youth Jazz has two ensembles: the Leon Brady Ensemble (LBE) and the Bill Crain Ensemble (BCE)…. Interested candidates should contact (Chris) Burnett with your name, instrument, email address, mobile phone number at director@youthjazz.us.

Now's the Time: Marcus Lewis

Marcus Lewis performs at Ça Va, a champagne-themed Westport establishment, every Thursday this month. The trombonist will be joined by keyboardist Eddie Moore and drummer Zach Morrow on Thursday, November 11.

Now's the Time: The Marcus Lewis Big Band

Engaging visuals aside, my favorite moments of the Marcus Lewis Big Band’s newly uploaded virtual performance of “Ghetto Heaven” occur during the back-to-back solos of trombonist Jason Goudeau and saxophonist Stephen Martin.

Confirmation: Weekly News and Notes

*Ben Leifer, Herman Mehari and Logan Richardson are among Tony Tixier’s collaborators on the pianist’s new album I Am Human.

*A virtual performance of “Black in America” created by the Marcus Lewis Big Band for the Jazz Education Network streams at YouTube.

*Max Groove spoke to Joe Dimino.

*Tweet of the Week: DerekM07- I’m rooting for the chiefs just cause all the Jazz documentaries I been watching go Kansas City

*From a press release: Charlie "Bird" Parker's Grafton saxophone, one of Kansas City's most treasured jazz artifacts, will embark on a journey to Lake Buena Vista, Florida today for an extended stay at EPCOT® Theme Park at the Walt Disney World Resort. On Monday, Walt Disney Imagineering unveiled “The Soul of Jazz: An American Adventure,” a salute to cities across America that had a major impact on jazz music: Los Angeles, New Orleans, Chicago, New York City, and San Juan. And the American Jazz Museum and Mayor Lucas recently offered the crown jewel from the museum's collection to be added to the exhibit… This addition to the exhibit puts a national spotlight on Kansas City and is a huge opportunity for the American Jazz Museum at a critical time. Despite many public challenges throughout the museum's history, a refreshed board and new staff leadership have ushered in a new era of growth and transformation, after just one year with new Executive Director Rashida Phillips at the helm… The Grafton saxophone is scheduled to remain at EPCOT for six months.

Confirmation: Weekly News and Notes

*Pamela Hider-Johnson, a pillar of Kansas City’s jazz community, has died.

*Logan Richardson chatted with Dekel Bor.

*An attractive reissue of Charlie Parker’s The Mercury & Clef 10-Inch LP Collection is displayed in an unboxing video.

*Tweet of the Week: Marcus Lewis- New music! #bigband #vote#hiphop

Confirmation: Weekly News & Notes

*Eddie Moore, Hermon Mehari and Jackie Myers are among the musicians paying tribute to Charlie Parker in an episode of Eight One Sixty.

*Television news stations reported on area Charlie Parker celebrations here, here and here.

*The New York Times lists the best ways to observe the centennial of Charlie Parker’s birth.

*Marcus Lewis chatted with Joe Dimino.

*The Kansas City Star reports that Johnson County Community College is rescheduling its fall concerts.  The slate included an appearance by Larry Carlton.

*Tweet o’ the Week: Kansas City PBS- Just in case you haven't heard: On the centennial of Charlie "Bird" Parker's birth, we're taking a look back at the 21 years #Bird spent in #KansasCity and his lasting impression on present-day #KC jazz. Take our word for it, you don't want to miss this premiere! August 29!