Author's posts
Remembering Paul – Lisa Baum
One of my favorite jazz fans passed away January 22. Paul Hemingway, 51, a West Branch farmer listened to KCCK in his combine, tractor and at his home. Have you ever met someone and at that very time had a feeling of true familiarity? That was my experience when I met Paul. We were church …
Elling in Iowa City–Bob Stewart
One of my favorite jazz singers performed at the Englert Theater in Iowa City January 24. Kurt Elling is the premiere jazz vocalist on the scene today, and he featured music from one of my favorite vocal cds in his concert. Hearing John Coltrane for the first time back in high school was what got …
Sax legend Ernie Watts appears with Kurt Elling – Gordon
Saxophonist and composer Ernie Watts is perhaps the most recorded of all living saxophonists. This two-time Grammy Award winner is equally at home in rock, pop, and jazz. Over the last 40 years he has recorded with everyone from Cannonball Adderly to Frank Zappa. Watts joined singer Kurt Elling, The Laurence Hobgood Trio, and the …
CR Native on CD of the Month – Gordon
Cedar Rapids native Rusty Jones was the former drummer for jazz giants George Shearing and Marian McPartland. Rusty was also was a member of the band that backed-up the legendary trumpeter Chet Baker on a previously unreleased 1986 recording session that is now available as “Chet in Chicago” and featured as KCCK’s“CD of the Month” …
Christmas 1968, One of My Most Memorable – Cary J. Hahn
It was 40 Christmas’s ago. In December 1968 I was a young Navy Journalist, in only my second year in the service, but on Christmas Eve I would experience one of the biggest stories and most memorable days of what now is my over 40 years of reporting. I was stationed at Miramar Naval Air …
Pizzarelli, “Radio Deluxe” Profiled in Washington Post – Dennis
John Pizzarelli and Jessica Molaskey, along with their show “Radio Deluxe” were profiled recently in the Washington Post. There’s also a video that includes a portion of a show taping and a musical performance. Check it out at this link.
Jazz To The World – Dennis
More than 300 people helped us kick off the holiday season at Jazz To The World Nov. 29 at the Englert in Iowa City. Dan Knight led a great quintet, with guest vocalists including Betsy Hickok. A kids chorus performed two holiday-themed sketches. The first, a funny take on “You’re A Mean One, Mr. Grinch,” …
ISU Solar Decathlon Team – George
As part of a Clean Up Your Act feature, I recently met with members of the Iowa State University team that will compete in the 2009 Solar Decathlon in Washington, D.C. Twenty collegiate teams are competing to design homes powered entirely by the sun. There are many challenges involved in addition to coming up with …