The Top Kansas City Musicians, Albums and Concerts of the Decade

I created the following lists in advance of my appearance on the weekly radio program Eight One Sixty.  At 6 p.m. Tuesday, July 2, Chris Hagharian and I will discuss some of my favorite music in an ambitious episode titled “Best of the Decade: 10 Years, 2010-2019.”


The Top Ten Kansas City Musicians of the Decade
1. Bobby Watson
2. Joyce DiDonato
3. Janelle Monaé
4. Pat Metheny
5. Tech N9ne/Krizz Kaliko
6. Marilyn Maye
7. Logan Richardson
8. Matt Otto
9. Eddie Moore
10. Making Movies


The Top 25 Kansas City Albums of the Decade 
1. Logan Richardson- Shift 2016
2. Pat Metheny- Orchestrion 2010
3. The Grisly Hand- Country Singles 2013
4. Janelle Monaé- The ArchAndroid 2010
5. Tech N9ne- All 6's and 7's 2011
6. Stik Figa- The City Under the City 2013
7. Making Movies- A La Deriva 2013
8. Peter Schlamb- Tinks 2014
9. Kelly Hunt- Even the Sparrow 2018
10. Bobby Watson- The Gates BBQ Suite 2010

11. Rich the Factor- Smile 2016
12. Joyce DiDonato- Stella di Napoli 2014
13. Matt Otto and Ensemble Ibérica- Ibérica 2017
14. Karrin Allyson- ‘Round Midnight 2011
15. The Get Up Kids- There Are Rules 2011
16. Deborah Brown- All Too Soon 2012
17. Steve Cardenas- West of Middle 2010
18. Samantha Fish- Chills & Fever 2017
19. Krizz Kaliko- Kickin' & Screamin' 2012
20. Iris DeMent- Sing the Delta 2012

21. Hermon Mehari- Bleu 2017
22. Ces Cru- 13 2012
23. The Project H- We Live Among the Lines 2014
24. The Architects- Border Wars (2013, 2014 and 2017)
25. My Brothers & Sisters- Violet Music, Vol. 1 2014


The Top 25 Kansas City Concerts of the Decade
1. Marilyn Maye- Jardine's 2010
2. Bobby Watson and Horizon- Blue Room 2010
3. Pat Metheny- Uptown Theater 2010
4. Tech N9ne- Rockfest at Penn Valley Park 2015
5. Janelle Monae- Liberty Hall 2010
6. Logan Richardson- Blue Room 2016
7. Eddie Moore and the Outer Circle- Tank Room 2016
8. Deborah Brown- Gem Theater 2011
9. Lauren Krum with the Project H- Westport Coffee House 2015
10. Lonnie McFadden- Black Dolphin 2018

11. Rich the Factor- 7th Heaven 2017
12. Matt Otto Quartet- Blue Room 2011
13. The Grisly Hand- Take Five Coffee + Bar 2013
14. Karrin Allyson- Jardine's 2010
15. Diverse- Grant Recital Hall 2011
16. The Appleseed Cast- Riot Room 2013
17. Peter Schlamb’s Electric Tinks- RecordBar 2015
18. Stephonne Singleton- Tank Room 2016
19. Be/Non- Scottish Rite Temple 2016
20. The People's Liberation Big Band- RecordBar 2012

21. Alaturka- Jardine's 2010
22. Trampled Under Foot- Knuckleheads 2016
23. Bach Aria Soloists- All Souls Unitarian Church 2011
24. Ebony Tusks- Midland theater 2016
25. The Greeting Committee- Boulevardia 2019

(Original image by There Stands the Glass. From left to right: Andrew Ouellette, Bobby Watson, Tivon Pennicott, Chloe McFadden, Lonnie McFadden, DeAndre Manning, Tyree Johnson, Matt Hopper, Ronnie McFadden.)