Short List with Bob Naujoks
Monday – Friday at 8:35 AM and Saturday at 7 AM
The Short List: International Jazz Stars (Christian Jacob)
Christian Jacob
This week it’s the piano of Frenchman Christian Jacob, though he has been in the United States for over 30 years. His main fame is with the Tierney Sutton Band, and he has been with that singer for over twenty years. Other members of the band—bassist Trey Henry and drummer Ray Brinker—were in Maynard Ferguson’s Nouveau Big Band in the early 1990s. Jacob has issued a number of excellent solo albums, and recently wrote the score for the Clint Eastwood film, “Sully.”
Jazz Profiles with Nancy Wilson
Monday at 6:00 PM
Harry “Sweets” Edison: Simplicity In Swing
Harry “Sweets” Edison
Swinging and singing — both describe the unmistakable sound of Harry “Sweets” Edison, one of the most important stylists in the history of jazz trumpet. Sweets plays with a simplicity born of sophisticated artistry. It propelled him to the Count Basie Band, which he joined in 1937, thereafter becoming one of its most frequently featured soloists. This program, produced just before his death, celebrates Edison’s spare style that blends subtle humor, impeccable timing, and the sweetly muted tone that gave him his nickname.
Jazz Corner of the World with Craig Kessler
Monday, 7:00 PM – 11:00 PM (follows Jazz Profiles)
“Birth Date Anniversary Celebration for Saxophonist’ ‘Zoot’ Sims”
Craig salutes the birthday of John Haley “Zoot” Sims (10/29/25 to 3/23/85) by spinning an interesting array of tasteful recordings from throughout the lengthy and varied career of Zoot’s, going back into the 1940s, right up to his final recording in 1984. As an avid follower of the sounds of Ben Webster and Lester Young, Zoot was one of the finest saxophonists in the history of modern jazz!
New Orleans Calling with George Ingmire
Tuesday at 6:00 PM
Shallow Water: Mardi Gras Indian Stories
Mardi Gras Indian
In New Orleans, the famous Mardi Gras Indian tradition is an essential part of the city’s culture, especially at Mardi Gras. But just what is a Mardi Gras Indian? What’s a Spy Boy, or a Flag Boy? Or a Big Chief or a Big Queen? The only people who can give real answers about this many-layered culture are the Mardi Gras Indians themselves — so in this episode we’re going to them directly, from the oldest living Mardi Gras Indian to some of the youngest, as they share with us their dedication to preserving this vibrant and evolving tradition.
Our guide and guest producer for this special episode is Cherice Harrison-Nelson, aka Maroon Queen Cherice of the Guardians of the Flame Maroon Society, a co-founder of the Mardi Gras Indian Hall of Fame. An educator, anthropologist, and cultural activist, her work has taken her around the country and the world. The daughter of Big Chief Donald Harrison Sr and Herreast Harrison, both New Orleans cultural activists, she is the sister of musician Donald Harrison Jr, who is also Big Chief of the Congo Nation Mardi Gras Indian gang. Her son Brian Harrison Nelson is Big Chief of the Guardians of the Flame.
Cherice introduced us to Isaac “Mr Ike” Edwards, the oldest living Mardi Gras Indian, who stopped masking in 1952, but continues to sew for the tradition, especially for children. He’s known for his “butterfly” beadwork, and at the age of 92 still sews without glasses. Our visit with him at his home was a highlight of working on this episode.
In 2015, WWOZ partnered with the Mardi Gras Indian Hall of Fame to document and share the stories and voices of Mardi Gras Indian Queens in New Orleans. Five of those Big Queens are featured in this episode.
Jazz Night in America with Christian McBride
Wednesday at 6:00 PM
NOLA Local: John Boutte and Shannon Powell
John Boutte
There may be no better place than New Orleans to explore the ties of family and tradition in jazz. This episode of Jazz Night in America visits the Crescent City to get inside two of the cities best known legends: singer John Boutte and drummer Shannon Powell. With music from their shared bill at the Jazz and Heritage Center, this episode spends time with each of them at their homes, tracing their NOLA familial roots and exploring why they’ve chosen stay local.
Wednesday Night Special
7:00 PM (Follows Jazz Night in America)
Iowa City Jazz Festival 2016: Akiko Tsuruga Trio featuring Jeff Hamilton
Akiko Tsuruga Trio at the 2016 Iowa City Jazz Festival
Artist Profile by Laura Eckles, KCCK Programming Intern
Hailing from Osaka, Japan, Akiko Tsuruga attended the Osaka College of Music. While attending Osaka, Tsuruga had the privilege to play with talented jazz musicians such as Roy Hargrove, Jeff “Tain” Watts, and Grady Tate. Grady Tate acted as a mentor and had the strongest influence on her professional career including her move to the U.S. Along with Tate, Dr. Lonnie Smith is one of Tsurga’s greatest mentors and biggest influences. Immediately after graduating she made her way to the New York jazz scene in 2001.
Akiko has released eight albums in both Japan and the U.S. Her first two U.S. releases, “Sweet and Funky” and “Oriental Express” ranked among the top twenty on the national jazz radio charts. Her newest album, “Commencement,” was released in 2014 and ranked fourth in the Jazz Week Chart. “Commencement,” ties old and new jazz concepts together. Inventive ideas and original compositions are accompanied by classic jazz standards with lively arrangements. Akiko Tsuruga plays the Hammond B-3 Organ with emotion and soul, making it hard to believe she isn’t a Chicago native.
Jazz Corner of the World with Craig Kessler
Saturday, Noon – 4:00 PM and Monday, 7:00 PM – 11:00 PM
“Bethlehem Records In 1956” 
Craig travels back 60 years to look in on some of the fine recordings that were made for BETHLEHEM RECORDS in 1956. We’ll hear fine selections from the likes of Duke Ellington, Sal Salvador, Mel Torme, Betty Roche, Stan Levey, Johnny Hartman, and many others. Essential listening that you don’t hear every day!
Tropical Heat (hosted by Kpoti Senam Accoh)
Sunday, 5:00 PM – 8:00 PM
Featured Album: “Lion Songs: Essential Tracks in the Making of Zimbabwe” by Thomas Mapfumo 
http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/thomasmapfumo12
Thomas Mapfumo made revolutionary changes in Zimbabwe’s pop music scene by recording a song for which he’d written his own music. Before Mapfumo, songs in the traditional style were always based on tunes that had been handed down for generations. Mapfumo’s music, chimurenga (“music of struggle”), became popular during the civil war against white minority rule, but his popularity made the government unhappy. In 1977, he was sent to a prison camp for subversion. To obtain his release, Mapfumo agreed to perform for the ruling party, but at the concert he sang only his most revolutionary songs.
KCCK’s Midnight CD
The Monday – Sunday Midnight CD for this week can be found at: