Herbie Hancock, 86, has been among jazz’s most persuasive ambassadors for decades. Yet basking in the presence of the icon may not be the best reason to attend Hancock’s return to Muriel Kauffman Theatre on Thursday, August 6. The caliber of his band- trumpeter Terence Blanchard, guitarist Lionel Loueke, bassist James Genus and drummer Jaylen Petinaud- is explosive. The embedded video is pulled from a 52-year-old television appearance.
Now’s the Time: The Glenn Miller Orchestra
The Glenn Miller Orchestra returns to Muriel Kauffman Theatre on Thursday, June 11. The ghost band battles the Tommy Dorsey Orchestra in the embedded video.
Concert Review: Pat Metheny and Side-Eye at Muriel Kauffman Theatre
Original image by Plastic Sax.
A conversation with two strangers who sat next to me at Pat Metheny’s concert at Muriel Kauffman Theatre on Saturday, April 4, quickly turned to prog-rock. (Each of us paid $60.50 for seats in the upper balcony.) Although the men were less than half my age, they expressed a passion for bands rooted in the 1970s including Gentle Giant, King Crimson, Mahavishnu Orchestra and Rush.
Partly for that reason, I experienced Metheny’s performance as an extension of the extravagant prog-rock and jazz fusion traditions. The five human musicians- Lee’s Summit native Metheny, keyboardist Chris Fishman, bassist Jermaine Paul, percussionist and vocalist Leonard Patton and drummer Joe Dyson- played with explosive vigor. Automatonic vibraphones might be considered a sixth player.
The set list included readings of much-loved proggish anthems including “The First Circle” “Are You Going With Me?” and “Phase Dance.” Interpretations of material from the new album Side-Eye III+ such as “In On It” and “Make a New World” furthered the concept. Patches of greasy organ jazz, pastoral folk, skronky harmolodics and classical guitar were also heard during the 130-minute concert.
Much of the banter among the departing crowd speculated on precisely how the robotic vibraphones were triggered. Artificial intelligence is a reasonable explanation, but I’m partial to a quality I characterize as “Metheny magic.” On Saturday, the most wondrous aspect of that magic was Metheny’s ability to make prog-rock and jazz fusion more vital than ever.
Now’s the Time: Pat Metheny
Spoiler alert: don’t partake of the embedded fan footage if you’d prefer to take in Pat Metheny’s return to Muriel Kauffman Theatre on Saturday, April 4, without any expectations or biases. The surreptitiously filmed document divulges a taste of what’s in store for hometown fans.
The Top Jazz Performances of 2025
Original image of Shanté Clair and Krista Kopper at Grand Avenue Temple by Plastic Sax.
The Top Performances of 2025 by Kansas City Musicians
1. Nick Hmeljak, Henry Scamurra, Isaiah Petrie, Jordan Faught and Jaylen Ward at Westport Coffee House
Plastic Sax review.
2. Drew Williams, Ben Tervort and Brian Steever at the Stray Cat Film Center
Instagram clip.
3. Bram and Lucy Wijnands with the Kansas City Jazz Orchestra at the Folly Theater
Plastic Sax review.
4. Vanessa Thomas, Kara Smith, Michael Pagán and Steve Rigazzi at the Blue Room
Instagram clip.
5. Henry Scamurra, Isaiah Petrie, Spencer Reeve and Jade Harvey at the Prairie Village Jazz Festival
Instagram clip.
6. The Extemporaneous Music and Arts Society’s “3 Expressions of Light and Sound” at Charlotte Street Foundation
Instagram clip.
7. Matt Villinger, Peter Schlamb, Sebastian Arias and Matt Robertson at the Blue Room
Instagram clip.
8. Steve Cardenas, Forest Stewart and Brian Steever at Westport Coffee House
Plastic Sax review.
9. Deborah Brown and George Colligan at Upcycle Piano Craft
Instagram clip.
10. David Chael, Danny Embrey, Gerald Spaits and Brian Steever at Green Lady Lounge
My Instagram clip.
The Top Performances of 2025 by Touring Musicians
1. Christian McBride and Brad Mehldau at Muriel Kauffman Theatre
Plastic Sax review.
2. Terence Blanchard at Muriel Kauffman Theatre
There Stands the Glass review.
3. Branford Marsalis Quartet at the Folly Theater
Plastic Sax review.
4. Samara Joy at the Folly Theater
There Stands the Glass review.
5. Devin Gray at the Ship
There Stands the Glass review.
6. Alexander Adams, Jeff Goulet (and Seth Davis) with Kristen Kopper and Shanté Clair at Grand Avenue Temple
Instagram clip.
7. Cory Weeds (with Chris Hazelton) at Westport Coffee House
Plastic Sax review.
8. Béla Fleck, Edmar Castañeda and Antonio Sánchez at Helzberg Hall
Plastic Sax review.
9. Helen Sung (with Bach Aria Soloists) at the Folly Theater
Plastic Sax review.
10. Pete Escovedo at the Folly Theater
Plastic Sax review.
Last year’s survey is here.
Concert Review: Brad Mehldau and Christian McBride at Muriel Kauffman Theatre
Original image by Plastic Sax.
A popular meme pictures a man at a table displaying a sign with a provocative statement followed by the words “change my mind.” Were I inclined to share social media posts of that nature, my version would proclaim “Brad Mehldau and Christian McBride are the best musicians alive.”
The duo’s recital at Muriel Kauffman Theatre on Thursday, October 10, indicated the pianist and bassist perform at a markedly higher level than everyone else. An audience of more than 400 were on hand for the magnificent display of genius. (I paid $43.50 for the least expensive ticket.)
In spite of his explorations of other genres, McBride is a traditionalist at heart. Mehldau catered to McBride’s conservative inclinations on interpretations of works by Charlie Parker, John Coltrane, Burt Bacharach and Jule Styne.
McBride’s monumental solo reading of “Fly Me to the Moon” was countered by Mehldau’s unaccompanied rendition of Fred McDowell’s “Jesus on the Mainline.” Mehldau also got to be Mehldau in an exquisite take on his composition “Love is Fragile” that included a distressed allusion to “America the Beautiful.”
The balance of contrasting styles was perfect. Having recently read his autobiography, I know Mehldau loves playing standards. Of the three times I’ve seen Mehldau and the seven times I’ve caught McBride, neither giant has sounded better. Change my mind.
Now’s the Time: Christian McBride
A fortuitous confluence of personal favorites, a celebrity newsmaker and a concert date made posting the embedded video seem mandatory today. Jeffrey Osborne, the R&B luminary responsible for my fourth favorite concert of 2024, appears on Christian McBride’s latest big band album. Osborne and McBride revisited LTD’s 1977 hit “(Every Time I Turn Around) Back in Love Again” on Jimmy Kimmel’s program two days ago. McBride performs with Brad Mehldau at Muriel Kauffman Theatre on Thursday, October 9.
Plastic Sax’s Favorite Performances of 2023
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.)
Now’s the Time: Gregory Porter
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.
Now's the Time: Dave Koz
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.
Concert Review: Pat Metheny’s Side-Eye at Muriel Kauffman Theatre
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.