KC concerts Dec. 5-11: Wynton Marsalis, CeeLo Green, Louis the Child, Kitten

It’s entirely appropriate that the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra is returning to Kansas City under the auspices of the prestigious Harriman-Jewell Series. The performing arts presenter is internationally recognized for bringing stars of classical music to the area. No artist better represents the premise of jazz as America’s classical music than Wynton Marsalis. His big band is loaded with rigorously trained jazz stars capable of unleashing wildly swinging solos. The ensemble will draw on material from its new album of seasonal music. 816-283-9900. Tickets are $34-$89 through arvestbanktheatre.com.

Perceptive viewers of the recent American Music Awards broadcast noticed that much of the music the pop stars performed was strikingly similar. Frederic Kennett and Robby Hauldren, the Chicago men who craft catchy music as Louis the Child, are at the forefront of the dominant pop sound of the moment. Giddy synthetic tracks like “Better” feature vocals by relatively unknown artists, but they’ve helped Louis the Child obtain more than half a billion plays on the streaming service Spotify. With Duckwrth and John the Blind. 816-753-8665. Tickets are $31-$103 through uptowntheater.com.

One of Chloe Chaidez’s co-stars in the Netflix series “Nasty Cherry” provides a candid assessment of her colleague: “She’s like a hyperactive 12-year-old boy.” Anyone who follows Chaidez’s antics on social media or who witnessed her assault on a venue’s electrical system during the Kansas City debut of her band Kitten at the Middle of the Map Fest in 2013 can verify the appraisal. Chaidez may be an unpredictable live wire, but Kitten’s indie-pop songs are remarkably sturdy. With Waterparks and De’Wayne Jackson. 816-205-8560. Tickets are $25 through thetrumankc.com.

Julian Vaughn’s “Supreme” is the smoothest album released by a Kansas City artist in 2019. Rather than trying to break new ground or show off his prodigious talent as an electric bassist, Vaughn concentrates on creating seamless grooves. From the frothy funk of the opening track, “Flash Back Friday,” to the cover of After 7’s quiet storm jam, “Ready or Not,” to close the album, “Supreme” is a stress-busting delight. Vaughn will host his annual Gift of Christmas concert at the Gem. With Marcus Anderson, Jeff Ryan and Misha Roberts. 913-788-0514. Tickets are $25 through brownpapertickets.com/event/4402716.

Tione Jayden Merritt, the 18-year-old New Yorker who raps as Lil Tjay, is a virtual overnight success. Signed to a major label impressed by the streaming numbers for his melodic sing-song raps about street life, Merritt achieved even greater success with gritty songs like “Leaked” on his 2019 debut album “True 2 Myself.” Recalling that he partied on a budget in Coney Island before finding fame, Merritt admits that he “never thought that this year I’d have a deal with Sony.” With Kye Colors and SimxSantana. 785-842-1390. Tickets are $30-$100 through thegranada.com.

The Memphis band Southern Avenue revives the soulful sound of its hometown on its latest album, “Keep On.” The recording echoes the classic 1960s work by the Staple Singers and Booker T. & the MG’s in Memphis. The Recording Academy took notice. “Keep On” recently received a Grammy nomination for Best Contemporary Blues Album. Southern Avenue will likely prosper even if it loses to the presumptive category favorite, Gary Clark Jr. The band’s timeless sound and dynamic shows point to a bright future. 816-483-1456. Tickets are $12 through knuckleheadskc.com.

When CeeLo Green opened for neo-soul innovator Erykah Badu at the Sprint Center last year, the R&B-oriented audience welcomed renditions of the grimy hits Green made with the Southern rap group Goodie Mob but reacted with unvarnished hostility to his crossover hits “Crazy” and “(Forget) You.” The responses are likely to be reversed during Green’s holiday-themed headlining show at Knuckleheads. Few musicians have found as much success with wildly disparate forms of music as the 45-year-old rapper, pop star and television personality. 816-483-1456. Tickets are $39.50-$134.50 through knuckleheadskc.com.

Joe Lally and Brendan Canty altered the course of rock ’n’ roll as the bassist and drummer for the Washington, D.C., punk band Fugazi. Thirty years after recording the classic Fugazi album “Repeater,” the rhythm section is touring with guitarist Anthony Pirog as The Messthetics. The instrumental trio combines Fugazi’s confrontational immediacy with a surly form of jazz fusion, which should attract both aging punks and adventurous jazz fans. With Brandon Butler and Slights. 816-753-5207. Tickets are $12 through therecordbar.com.

This story was originally published December 3, 2019 at 7:00 AM with the headline "KC concerts Dec. 5-11: Wynton Marsalis, CeeLo Green, Louis the Child, Kitten."