Original image by Plastic Sax. *From a press release: Parkville, Missouri will host their first annual Juneteenth Jazz and Blues Festival from 3pm to 9:30pm on Saturday, June 8, at English Landing Park. This free and open to the public event will raise funds for the Banneker School Restoration Foundation Project… The Banneker School Foundation and Historic Site in Parkville, Missouri, is restoring a one-room schoolhouse where African American children were educated from 1885 to 1905… Four bands will perform at the Saturday, June 8, Juneteenth Jazz and Blues Festival. The times and groups are ..read more

Christopher Burnett is a paragon of taste. His new album Originals is characterized by sprightly melodies and amiable swing. The stately jazz is ideally suited for background music at an elegant dinner party or as the center of attention in a ritzy supper club. The saxophonist is joined by prominent Kansas City musicians including vibraphonist Greg Carroll, bassist Gerald Spaits, guitarist Will Matthews and pianist Roger Wilder. The funky guitar effect on the alternate take of “Yesteryears” closing the album is the only deviation from the immaculately polite tone. One last thing: Burnett is t ..read more

Vocalist Jenna Bauer presents The Young Person's Guide to Live Music at Greenwood Social Hall on Sunday, April 21. She’ll be joined by several of Kansas City’s most accomplished musicians at the child-friendly show ..read more

Original image by Plastic Sax. *Mark Edelman was named a 2024 Jazz Hero by the Jazz Journalists Association. *Calvin Keys, a guitarist who once lived in Kansas City, has died. *A television news outlet took note of a recent “life-threatening” shooting in the Jazz District ..read more

Original image of Seth Andrew Davis, Kelley Gant and Aaron Osborne at 7th Heaven by Plastic Sax. Plastic Sax diligently attempts to track the activities of representatives of the Extemporaneous Music and Arts Society. The multitude of recordings and performances is both thrilling and exhausting. That’s one reason the author of this site was pleased to examine the collective from a different perspective. The audio feature he created for KCUR streams here ..read more

The legendary drummer Ra Kalam Bob Moses will perform with members of the Extemporaneous Music and Arts Society at Charlotte Street Foundation on Wednesday, April 17. Details are available here ..read more

Original image by Plastic Sax. *Joe Dimino shared footage of Matthew Whitaker’s concert at the Folly Theater. *Proponents of the Jazz District decry the failed April 2 tax initiative that might have brought a baseball stadium downtown in a KCUR report ..read more

The title of Wobble, the 15-minute, seven-track EP released by Drew Williams in February, isn’t a reference to twerk culture. Instead, the adventurous saxophonist and composer created a study in unbalanced electronic glitchiness. Looped ambience swirls in, out and around saxophone tones. The vociferous “Squeal” is almost certainly one of the year’s most exciting statements by a locally based musician. A set of corresponding videos provides a second means of experiencing the work ..read more

An audience in Mission Woods, Kansas, will be transported to Europe on Saturday, April 6. The duo of trumpeter Hermon Mehari and pianist Allessandro Lanzoni will perform the sort of elite Continental chamber jazz documented on its 2021 album Arc Fiction at the 1900 Building. Passports aren’t necessary ..read more

Original image by Plastic Sax. *Eddie Moore is featured in a University of Kansas publication. Joe Dimino uploaded footage of Moore’s piano trio performing at Johnson County Community College. *Hermon Mehari’s appearance at the 1900 Building is among KCUR’s April concert recommendations. *From a press release: Kansas City Jazz Alive is thrilled to announce two exciting events in April... On April 27th, join us for a walking tour of one of Kansas City's most historic neighborhoods, the 18th & Vine Jazz District… On April 30th, International Jazz Day, discover how Kansas City has influenced ..read more