Author's posts
Culture Crawl 842 “Wow. Ok. Iowa…Cool”
Mike Conrad was first inspired to become a jazz composer during his undergrad years at UNI, working under well-known composers (and performers) Bob Washut and Chris Merz. Today, as a UNI jazz faculty member himself, he continues that tradition, working with a third “generation” of jazz composing students at the University, as well as winning …
Culture Crawl 839 “It’s About Death. But Funny”
Riverside Theatre presents “Everybody,” a play where the actors don’t know who is playing which part until after they cast lots right before the show begins! This is a new work by acclaimed playwright Branden Jacobs-Jenkins, which riffs off a 15th Century work. In addition to the conceit of assigning roles literally at the last …
Culture Crawl 838 “Piccolo Polka. It’s a Thing.”
Steve Shanley has stuffed just about as many soloists into this week’s Cedar Rapids Municipal Band concert as he can, including Chris Haas on trumpet, Young Artist finalist Christian Maakestad on guitar, and even Steve’s sister Sara on piccolo. Selections include music from the musical “Wicked” and “Raiders of the Lost Ark.” July 19 at …
Culture Crawl 828 “Jazz Titans Walk into the Studio”
Culture Crawl 828 “Jazz Titans Walk into the Studio” Gabriel Espinoza celebrates his latest album “Bosses & Boleros” with a Cedar Rapids performance on June 23 at the inaugural Jazz on 2nd. Gabriel talks about how a Yucatan native ended up as professor of jazz at Iowa’s Central College, and also the joy (and nerves) …
Culture Crawl 825 “My Computer Screen is Too Small!”
With Cedar Rapids Municipal Band director Steve Shanley still on vacation, Linn-Mar’s Jen Tiede is guest directing this week. Her guest is bassist and singer Blake Shaw, who took this opportunity to do his first-ever arranging for concert band, which is much larger than a jazz big band, and even more so than Blake’s usual …
Culture Crawl 824 “What Grant Wood Didn’t Cover”
Husband and wife art collectors Dan Shogren and Susan Meyer from the Twin Cities have spent decades building a collection of art, all surrounding urban life in the 1930s. The Cedar Rapids Museum of Art hosts their first-ever exhibit, entitled “Work and Society in the 1930s: American Paintings and Photographs.” Dan and Susan, working folks …
Culture Crawl 823 “They All Talk Together”
Two exhibits are up at Gilded Pear Gallery, with a reception to see them and meet the artists on June 9 from 5-7:30pm. “Welcome: New Artists” is just what it says, debut exhibits from seven artists, most from the local area. “By Design” displays ideas from four area design firms on different ways to incorporate …
Culture Crawl 820 “Quiet Quitting”
Culture Crawl 820 “Quiet Quitting” Cedar Rapids Municipal Band director Steve Shanley opens the 2023 season by… leaving. Steve is traveling in Europe with the Coe bands for the first couple weeks of the season, so the first two concerts will be with guest director’s Aaron Nuss is up first. Aaron is a past Muni …