Bill Brownlee
Music WriterKCUR contributor Bill Brownlee blogs about Kansas City's jazz scene at plasticsax.com.
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After moving from Lawrence, Kansas, to New York City, Freedy Johnston hit it big with his major-label debut album, and charted on the Billboard Top 100. The 'songwriters' songwriter' is now attempting a shift away from his rock roots.
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A slate of superstars will appear in Kansas City this month, including Bad Bunny, Drake, Sleater-Kinney and Jenny Lewis. Easter Sunday features a performance by R&B evangelist Anthony Hamilton to end the month on a high note.
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An uptick in this February concert calendar’s momentousness is the first sign that spring shows will be here before you know it. For now, performances from world-renowned artists like Ricky Martin, Enrique Iqlesias, Marty Stuart and Delfeayo Marsalis will have to suffice.
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After rebuilding her music career twice, Danielle Nicole's new album shows her claiming her power — and the ownership rights to her recordings. “I've put out 10 records,” she said. “And this is the first time I haven't felt screwed.”
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Appearances by the astonishingly versatile Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, a band led by the heralded Jason Isbell, and the vintage jazz revivalists Hot Sardines headline this month’s live music offerings.
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After a former mayor spent $144,000 of public money on the synthetic saxophone, it became the centerpiece of a Kansas City institution. A reissued recording of the instrument, played by our greatest bebopper, was released last month.
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Entertaining guests from out of town or in need of a break from your family? The holiday season is an ideal time to revisit what Kansas City has to offer, including the refined pianism of Alessio Bax and Lucille Chung, the unruly rock of Thelma and the Sleaze, the protest songs of Sunny War and the classic rock hits of John Waite.
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Shows by Kansas City rap mainstay The Popper, artistic polymath Terence Blanchard, legendary soul singer Gladys Knight, and beloved pop star Mariah Carey punctuate our selection of the month’s best live music. They represent the year’s last gasp of greatness before winter puts a freeze on many touring acts.
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As temperatures fall and outdoor performers take the show inside, these aural options offer the most bang for your buck. Whether it’s bluegrass, Bach, or sludge rock that you get down to, Kansas City’s live music scene has something to offer.
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This month may signal the end of summer, but Kansas City's selection of musical offerings will stay hot. To make sense of all the options, we pared the list down to simply the best.