Young saxophonist Adam Larson is still in the phase of his career where he’s paying tribute to his idols and mentors, so he makes it obvious with his album titles. As with With Love, From Chicago, released earlier this year, on With Love, From Kansas City Larson (who moved to KC himself back in 2019) is happy to play in the style of folks like KC native Charlie Parker and University of Missouri-Kansas City professor Bobby Watson, both of whom he covers here (“Chi-Chi” and “Beatitudes,” respectively) like he was born to it. But he’s just as liable to write tunes in the rollicking Kansas City style, a la “New Thread” and “Life Cycle.” Joined by bassist Ben Leifer and drummer John Kizilarmut to form a chordless trio, Larson sounds both lighter than air and burning with energy on this brief album, clearly channeling the spirit of his ancestors and bringing it to life in the twenty-first century.
