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Xavier – 2019 Corridor Jazz Recording Sessions
Today’s featured Corridor Jazz video is Xavier High School Jazz Band One’s swinging take on “Straighten Up and Fly Right,” with Blake Shaw lending his bass and voice to the effort. The tune begins with a little duet featuring Blake and Xavier’s Ben Trachta, with a tasty sax solo from Sean Deegan in the middle. …
Culture Crawl 423 “In the Basement, Looking for Inspiration”
Three composers, including Cedar Rapids native Robert Lindsay-Nassif, were given rare access to Grant Wood works by the Cedar Rapids Museum of Art as they worked on a commission for the Cedar Rapids Opera Theatre. To aid them in creating the works that would become “Strokes of Genius,” the composers were able to view works …
Linn-Mar – 2019 Corridor Jazz Project Recording Session
Check out the latest featured video from this year’s Corridor Jazz Recording Sessions. It’s the Linn-Mar High School Colton Center Jazz Ensemble. Directed by Jen Tiede. Pianist and University of Northern Iowa faculty member Michael Conrad joins the band for Mary Lou Williams’ “Roll ’em.” Also featuring tasty solos from Cavan O’Hara, Tye Skilang, …
Iowa City West – 2019 Corridor Jazz Project Recording Sessions
Today’s Corridor Jazz Recording of the day features the Iowa City West High School Jazz Ensemble, directed by Rich Medd, with guest artist Chris Merz. The Huntertones are a Brooklyn-based band making quite a stir on the east coast. They attracted the attention of West alum and New York musician Gabe Medd, who recommended …
Kennedy – 2019 Corridor Jazz Recording Session
Today’s featured Corridor Jazz recording is John F. Kennedy High School Jazz Band One performing Jeff Coffin‘s “Tall and Lanky.” Coffin’s compositions are really popular with our bands. There’s a local connection to this arrangement, which you can read about below. Guest soloist is Ryan Smith, saxophone. Kennedy’s Rufaro Muskwe solos as well. …
Lisbon – 2019 Corridor Jazz Recording Session
Today’s Corridor Jazz featured recording is from the Lisbon High School Jazz Band, directed by Jimmy Higgenbotham. Here is their up-tempo version of the classic ballad “Secret Love,” with guest artist Rich Medd, trombone. Lisbon students Chris Cannon and Renae Hasselbusch have solos, too.
Liberty High – 2019 Corridor Jazz Recording Sessions
The Corridor’s newest jazz band, the Liberty High School Jazz Ensemble, directed by Ryan Arp, makes its Corridor Jazz Project debut with Chick Corea’s “Early Afternoon Blues,” with guest artist Steve Shanley, professor of music at Coe College and director of the Cedar Rapids Municipal Band. Liberty students with solos include Spencer Knight, Brennan …
Culture Crawl 420 “Pastor’s Number is on the Flyer”
The Bethel AME church in Cedar Rapids is the community’s 3rd eldest church. On February 9, the Church will host its 91st Allen Lincoln Douglas Banquet at the African American Museum of Iowa. Pastor Leoma Leigh-Williams and congregation member Slayton Thompson say the theme of the evening is “Building One Another Up and Tearing Down …