The Top Kansas City Albums, EPs and Reissues of 2024

I’m looking forward to returning to Mark Manning’s Wednesday MidDay Medley program on community radio station KKFI on Wednesday, November 27. Preparing to share music on the year-end best-of show compelled me to complete the following annual exercise. The agonizing process invariably means snubbing a few friends and elevating the art of talented antagonists in Kansas City’s various music communities. The songs I’ll feature on Wednesday MidDay Medley were selected partly for concise track lengths, clean edits and in deference to the predilections of my fellow guests.

The Top 25 Kansas City Albums of 2024

1. Blackstarkids- Saturn Dayz /Heaven on Urf
High concept.

2. Betty Bryant- Lotta Livin’
Plastic Sax review.

3. Willi Carlisle- Critterland
Feral folk.

4. SleazyWorld Go- More Than a Shooter
Shots fired.

5. Logan Richardson- The Science of Superstition
Plastic Sax review.

6. Charles McPherson- Reverence
Plastic Sax review.

7. Behzod Abduraimov- Shadows of My Ancestors
Prokofiev, Ravel and Saidaminova.

8. Danielle Nicole- The Love You Bleed
Medic!

9. Ben Allison, Steve Cardenas and Ted Nash- Tell the Birds I Said Hello: The Music of Herbie Nichols
Plastic Sax review.

10. Tech N9ne- COSM
Collabos.

11. Matt Otto, Xose Miguélez and Abe Rábade- The Landscape Listens
Plastic Sax review.

12. Waxahatchee- Tigers Blood
Comfort food.

13. Rod Fleeman- Saturday Afternoon Live at Green Lady Lounge, Volume 3
Plastic Sax review.

14. Pat Metheny- MoonDial
Plastic Sax review.

15. Loidis- One Day
Electro-propulsion.

16. Scott Dean Taylor and Seth Andrew Davis- Infidels
Plastic Sax review.

17. Lyric Opera of Kansas City, The Kansas City Symphony and The Lyric Opera of Kansas City Chorus- Moravec: The Shining
Redrum.

18. Sandbox Percussion- Bloom
Banging on cans.

19. Narrative Quartet featuring Adam Larson- Trust Fund Tinder Goblins Howling at the Moon
Plastic Sax review.

20. Karrin Allyson- A Kiss for Brazil
Plastic Sax review.

21. Joey Cool- Roller Coaster
Tech mime.

22. Michael Pagán- Paganova
Plastic Sax review.

23. Zachary Barthelman and Evan Verploegh- Sound/Color
Plastic Sax review.

24. Stan Kessler- Two’s Company
Plastic Sax review.

25. Alber- Born at Sea
Plastic Sax review.

The Top Ten Kansas City EPs of 2024

1. Peter Schlamb- Pliable Consciousness
Plastic Sax review.

2. Krystle Warren & The Academy- Extended Play
There Stands the Glass review.

3. Boldy James and Conductor Williams- Across the Tracks
Crazy train.

4. Midwestern- Reflections
There Stands the Glass review.

5. Conductor Williams- Conductor We Have a Problem, Pt. 3
Off the rails.

6. Burning Bush- Demo 2024
 Flames of fire.

7. Jorge Arana Trio- Merciélago
Dark shadows.

8. Drew Williams- Wobble
Plastic Sax review.

9. Rich the Factor- Souped Up Sofa
KC’s the town.

10. Treanne- 20/20
Focused.

The Top Five Kansas City Reissues of 2024

1. Charlie Parker- Bird in Kansas City
Plastic Sax review.

2. Coalesce- Live at BBC’s Maida Vale Studios
Furious 2009 session.

3. The Get Up Kids- Something to Write Home About: 25th Anniversary Deluxe Edition
Red letter days.

4. Jennifer Knapp- Kansas 25
A fresh rendering of the 1998 CCM classic.

5. Kevin Mahogany- Gem Theater Live
Plastic Sax review.

Last year’s list is here.

Opera Review: UMKC Conservatory’s Le Nozze di Figaro

Original image by There Stands the Glass.

A trigger warning was posted at the doors of White Recital Hall on Wednesday, November 20. The note advised that droit du seigneur is an essential plot point of “Le Nozze di Figaro.” In blending the threat of sexual violence with boisterous hilarity, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and librettist Lorenzo Da Ponte crafted the most popular work in the history of the form.

The opening night of UMKC Conservatory’s three-hour production was unremittingly delightful. Heidi Shea (Susanna) radiated stardom. I also appreciated the robust presence of Evan J. Nelson (Count Almaviva), the comedic acting of Madeline Friesen (Cherubino) and the lush voice of  Victoria Schmidt (Countess Almaviva).

A Mozart freak, I didn’t need to be warned about the opera’s harshest component. I was triggered, however, by the dismal attendance of about 125. I bought a $25 ticket as a member of the general public, but discounted ticket options are available. The production runs through Saturday, November 23. Wednesday’s performance streams here.

EP Review: Krystle Warren & The Faculty- Extended Play

Does behaving like an adult mean relinquishing fun? That’s the perception of a man who was seated near me at a barbershop today. He confessed that he no longer visits his favorite watering hole because he senses he’s aged out.

I didn’t tell him that I’m often the oldest person in the room in basements, bars and concert halls during musical performances. Am I embarrassing myself? Maybe. I prefer to think of my apparently undignified sprees as extended play.

Krystle Warren seems to feel the same way. While she has yet to reach my advanced age, the Paris based Kansas City native is old enough to relish the double entendre in the title of her new release Extended Play.

The eight songs on the 28-minute recording display the late-career maturity of her like-minded inspirations Joni Mitchell, John Lennon and Nina Simone. Warren understands that there comes a moment after which each new day seems like a gift.

Reflective songs like “When I Look Back” invoke the tired axiom about age and wisdom. Maturity clearly suits Warren. As for myself, I’m praying my extended play lasts until the moment I perish.

Album Review: The Body- The Crying Out of Things

I suffered night terrors as a child. The room would begin to spin as I lay in bed. Wobbly noise filled my head as the rotation accelerated. Disoriented with fear, I sensed that I’d been transported to an unworldly realm of evil. My night terrors were supplanted by matter-of-fact horrors as I grew older. The most off-kilter segments of The Body’s new noise album The Crying Out of Things simulate what I heard with uncanny accuracy. I don’t enjoy the sounds; pleasure is hardly the point. Instead, The Crying Out of Things is a necessary replication of madness.

The Ugly American

Street scene in San José, Costa Rica.

A modest restaurant attached to a budget motel near the airport in San José, Costa Rica, serves improbably excellent food. The graciousness of the servers compensates for the dreary decor. Cooks and waitstaff sang along to rock en español playing on a boombox during my first meal at the establishment.

I was spellbound as I heard them simulate raspy voices when the arresting "Un último vals" played. The new single by Joaquín Sabina served as my introduction to the veteran Spanish musician who seems to an amalgamation of Leonard Cohen, Neil Diamond or Tom Waits. A waiter told me Sabina is on a farewell tour that will soon take him to San José.

My newfound infatuation led to an awkward incident. Rather than songs by Sabina, a playlist of English-language rock hits typified by Loverboy’s execrable “Working for the Weekend” played when I returned to the establishment.

I objected. The manager told me she and her colleagues had been listening to Sabina all day and considered the likes of Loverboy and REO Speedwagon a welcome change of pace. I ended up getting my way, but I’ve felt awful about my sense of entitlement ever since.

October 2024 Recap: A Monthly Exercise in Critical Transparency

Screenshot of the trailer of the Metropolitan Opera’s production of Osvaldo Golijo’s Ainadamar by There Stands the Glass.

Top Ten Albums of October

1. Caroline Shaw- Leonardo da Vinci: Original Score
The ideal contemporary classical primer.

2. JD Allen- The Dark, the Light, the Grey and the Colorful
Merciless spiritual jazz.

3. The Necks- Bleed
Minimalist slow-core.

4. Anja Lechner- Bach Abel Hume
Solo cello.

5. Blackstarkids- Heaven on Urf
The conclusion of an ambitious concept album.

6. Anna Butterss- Mighty Vertebrate
Slinky post-jazz.

7. Drug Church- Prude
Mouthy hardcore.

8. Tord Gustavsen Trio- Seeing
My review.

9. Samara Joy- Portrait
Enchanted swing.

10. Marie Krüttli Trio- Scoria
My review.

Top Ten Songs of October

1. Tyler, The Creator- "Noid"
Distrust.

2. 070 Shake- "Winter Baby/New Jersey Blues"
Remembering the Ronettes.

3. Mike- "Pieces of a Dream"
Foggy.

4. Danny Brown- "Cheaters"
No rules.

5. Leikeli47- "450"
Mask off.

6. Shredders- “Shred Dogs 4 Lyfe”
Doomtree.

7. Maren Morris- “People Still Show Up”
Knock knock.

8. Sofía Valdés- "Already Yours"
Possessed.

9. Major Lazer and Vybz Kartel- "Nobody Move"
Frozen.

10. Geordie Greep- "Blues"
Art-rock absurdity.

Top Ten Performances of October

1. Dwight Frizzell’s Heliophonie at Charlotte Street Foundation
My review.

2. Drug Church at recordBar
My Instagram clip.

3. Rick Bartlett at Ricky B’s (Louisville)
My Instagram clip.

4. The Psychedelic Furs, The Jesus and Mary Chain and Frankie Rose at the Uptown Theater
My Instagram snapshot.

5. Chelsea Guo, Joseph Parrish and Francesco Barfoed at the Folly Theater
My Instagram snapshot.

6. Wayne Graham at Zanzabar (Louisville)
My Instagram clip.

7. Gil Shaham with the Kansas City Symphony at Helzberg Hall
My Instagram snapshot.

8. Jackie Myers, Rich Wheeler and Jeff Harshbarger at the Market at Meadowbrook
My Instagram snaphot.

9. Nola Richardson’s masterclass at Atonement Lutheran Church.
My Instagram snapshot.

10. Gerald Trimble & Jambaroque, Bayati Ensemble and Soundz of Africa at Unity on the Plaza
My Instagram clip.

The previous monthly recap is here.

Album Review- Marie Krüttli Trio- Scoria

Annoyed by the relative softness of a band opening for Drug Church at recordBar last week, I hiked several blocks to catch a bit of Kansas City’s premier Bill Evans acolyte at Voo Lounge. The swing associated with pianist Michael Pagán is the pinnacle of American elegance. The Berlin based Swiss pianist Marie Krüttli is also capable of playing pretty. Joined by bassist Lukas Traxel and drummer Gautier Garrigue, Krüttli balances beauty with coarseness on the new album Scoria. Not beholden to American jazz tradition, Krüttli’s trio possesses a rhythmic and sonic freedom capable of shocking listeners in North America. Not free but altogether liberated, Scoria’s thorniest improvisations are no less ferocious than the repertoire of Drug Church.

The Top 25 Kansas City Albums of the Past 25 Years (excluding jazz)

Geographically isolated and persistently ostracized by coastal tastemakers, Kansas City’s various music communities have developed unhealthy underdog postures since 2000. The wrong artists, consequently, are often embraced for erroneous reasons. The following ranking of one observer’s favorite albums by Kansas City artists released in the first 25 years of the new millennium is intended as a benevolent corrective. It’s also a celebration of excellence. Artists are limited to single selections. A corresponding list of jazz albums is here. 

1. Fat Tone- Only in Killa City (2002)

2. Tech N9ne- Everready (2006)

3. Joyce DiDonato- Diva, Divo (2011)

4. Blackstarkids- Surf (2020)

5. Making Movies- A La Deriva (2014)

6. Mac Lethal- 11:11 (2007)

7. Ron Ron- Mr. No It All (2007)

8. Janelle Monaé- The ArchAndroid (2010)

9. Rex Hobart and the Misery Boys- The Spectacular Sadness of… (2000)

10. SleazyWorld Go- Where the Shooters Be (2022)

11. Huerco S.- Plonk (2022)

12. The Grisly Hand- Country Singles (2013)

13. Little Hatch- Rock With Me Baby (2003)

14. Rich the Factor- Rose Out the Concrete (2016)

15. Kelly Hunt- Even the Sparrow (2019)

16. Sandbox Percussion- Seven Pillars (2021)

17. Stik Figa- The City Under the City (2013)

18. Samantha Fish- Chills & Fever (2017)

19. Coalesce- Ox (2009)

20. Waxahatchee- Tigers Blood (2024)

21. Ces Cru- Capture Enemy Soldiers (2004)

22. The Get Up Kids- There Are Rules (2011)

23. Ebony Tusks- Heal Thyself (2020)

24. Krystle Warren- Circles (2009)

25. Reggie and the Full Effect- Songs Not to Get Married To (2005)

Album Review: Tord Gustavsen Trio- Seeing

Rarely do I place much importance on the physical appearance of musicians. Tord Gustavsen is an exception. I was completely unnerved by the Norwegian pianist’s resemblance to Dracula when I attended his concert at Queen Elizabeth Hall in 2012. 

That’s why I’m surprised by the overt Christian elements on his album Seeing. Gustavsen, bassist Steinar Raknes on bass and drummer Jarle Vespestad continue to stretch the piano trio concept on the hymn “Nearer My God, to Thee”, Johann Sebastian Bach’s "Auf meinen lieben Gott" and originals with titles like “Beneath Your Wisdom”.

Between the trademark ECM production, cosmopolitan Euro-swing and contemplative theme, Seeing is squarely in my wheelhouse. Seeing may be my favorite piano trio album of 2024. Even so, I don’t want to be alone in the same room with Gustavsen after dark.

Album Review: Andrew Cyrille, Kit Downes and Bill Frisell- Breaking the Shell

The church services I regularly attend conclude with informal five-minute pipe organ recitals. I relish the post-worship sounds as less music-conscious congregants head for the exits. When they’re feeling inspired, the organists occasionally push the limits of their instruments.

Kit Downes takes the pipe organ at St. Luke in the Fields’ to even further extremes on Breaking the Shell. Much of the 2022 recording sounds as if the ghost of Johanne Sebastian Bach is informed by the most forward-thinking jazz and classical music of the new millennium.

Guitarist Bill Frisell and drummer Andrew Cyrille respond to Downes’ unconventional organ tones with their usual finesse. An album trailer provides valuable insights. The sole downside of Breaking the Shell is the realization that the post-service organ recitals I relish will now be slightly less enthralling.