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Plastic Sax’s Favorite Performances of 2023

November 12, 2023 William Brownlee

Original image of Artemis at the Gem Theater by Plastic Sax.

Top Ten Performances by Kansas City Artists
1. Mike Dillon, Brian Haas and Nikki Glaspie at the Brick
Plastic Sax review.

2. Hermon Mehari at the Folly Theater
Plastic Sax review.

3. Adam Larson, Matt Clohesy and Jimmy Macbride at Westport Coffee House
Instagram clip.

4. Rod Fleeman at Green Lady Lounge
Instagram clip.

5.  Pat Metheny’s Side-Eye at Muriel Kauffman Theatre
Plastic Sax review.

6. Drew Williams, Alex Frank, Ben Tervort and Brian Steever at Westport Coffee House
Plastic Sax review.

7. Cynthia van Roden at the Market at Meadowbrook
Instagram snapshot.

8. Chalis O’Neal at the Blue Room
Instagram clip.

9. Alan Voss, Benjamin Baker, Forest Stewart and Evan Verploegh at Swope Park Pavilion
Plastic Sax review.

10. Rich Hill, Arnold Young and Rob Whitsitt in Volker Park
Instagram clip.

Top Ten Performances by Artists from Elsewhere
1. Samara Joy at the Folly Theater
Plastic Sax review.

2. Devin Gray and Maria Elena Silva at the Firehouse Gallery
Plastic Sax review.

3. Bill Frisell, Greg Tardy, Gerald Clayton and Johnathan Blake at the 1900 Building
Plastic Sax review.

4. Artemis at the Gem Theater
Plastic Sax review.

5. CRAG Quartet and Joshua Gerowitz at the Bunker Center for the Arts
Instagram clip.

6. Miguel Zenón Quartet at the Folly Theater
Plastic Sax review.

7. Henrique Eisenmann and Eugene Friesen at the 1900 Building
Plastic Sax review.

8. Robert Stillman at the Midland Theater
There Stands the Glass review.

9. Jack Wright and Ron Stabinsky at Charlotte Street Foundation
Instagram clip.

10. Rob Magill and Marshall Trammell at Farewell
Plastic Sax review.



(Last year’s survey is here.)

Tags Kansas City, jazz, Mike Dillon, Hermon Mehari, Adam Larson, Rod Fleeman, Pat Metheny, Drew Williams, Alex Frank, Ben Tervort, Brian Steever, Cynthia van Roden, Chalis O'Neal, Alan Voss, Rich Hill, Arnold Young, Rob Whitsitt, Blue Room, The Market at Meadowbrook, Westport Coffee House, Muriel Kauffman Theatre, Green Lady Lounge, Folly Theater, The Brick, Firehouse Gallery #8, 1900 Building, Gem Theater, Bunker Center for the Arts, Midland Theater, Charlotte Street Foundation, Farewell

Now’s the Time: Gregory Porter

September 7, 2023 William Brownlee

Gregory Porter performs at Muriel Kauffman Theatre on Sunday, September 10. KCUR's preview of the concert suggests Porter’s work evokes the late Kansas City vocalist Kevin Mahogany.

Tags Kansas City, jazz, Muriel Kauffman Theatre, Kevin Mahogany

Now's the Time: Dave Koz

July 6, 2023 William Brownlee

Smooth jazz standout Dave Koz performs at Muriel Kauffman Theatre on Saturday, July 15. The saxophonist is backed by a band featuring guitarist Cory Wong in the embedded video. Koz will be joined by Candy Dulfer and Eric Darius in Kansas City.

Tags Kansas City, jazz, Muriel Kauffman Theatre

Concert Review: Pat Metheny’s Side-Eye at Muriel Kauffman Theatre

June 18, 2023 William Brownlee

Original image by Plastic Sax.

Pat Metheny’s first concert in Kansas City, Missouri, since 2012 was sublime.  Joined by keyboardist Chris Fishman and drummer Joe Dyson, the Lee’s Summit native exhibited a satisfying sampling of his vast repertoire at Muriel Kauffman Theatre on Thursday, June 16.

Acoustic contemplation and smooth jazz tranquility were balanced by wailing fusion and contributions from a downscaled version of Metheny’s futuristic Orchestrion.  Greasy organ jazz and straight-ahead swing were countered by a stunning bout of cacophonous skronk.

While chatter amid the audience of more than 1,200 occasionally marred the pristine sound, the significance of Metheny’s overdue return to Kansas City overcame the minor nuisance.  Metheny only spoke to introduce his bandmates, but words weren’t necessary to show Kansas City what it’s been missing.

Tags Kansas City, jazz, Pat Metheny, Muriel Kauffman Theatre