Chris Merz, Director of Jazz Studies at the University of Northern Iowa, has just released the second Christopher’s Very Happy. Band. collection, “While We Wait.” Dennis Green talked with Chris about the new project, how he is handling his teaching duties during social distancing, and also some thoughts about Lee Konitz, who recently passed away. …
Hey, Jazz fans!!! Be sure to tune in this week as we celebrate the birthdays drummers Tommy Benford and Carl Allen, vibraphonist Lionel Hampton, trombonist Slide Hampton, guitarist/composer Mundell Lowe, bandleader/multi-instrumentalist Tito Puente, saxmen Johnny Griffin and Joe Henderson, bassists Charles Mingus and Paul Chambers, singers Ella Fitzgerald and Madeleine Peyroux and more!!! We’ll also …
Listen to this week’s playlist on YouTube and Spotify The dynamic young saxophonist Lakecia Benjamin presents “Pursuance: The Coltranes,” paying homage to two of the greatest musical innovators of the 20th century, John and Alice Coltrane. Under the tutelage of jazz luminary and co-producer Reggie Workman, whose supple bass lines underscored countless of the Coltranes’ recordings, Benjamin …
The underclassman speak for the Mt. Vernon Swingin’ STANGS! Aden Grudzinski and Trystan Lashley are both first-year members of the band and are working hard to be future leaders. Trystan plays tuba, and has a feature in the band’s tune on this year’s Corridor Jazz Project CD. Playlist: “Bessie’s Blues” – John Coltrane “Midnight Blue” – …
Students from area high school jazz programs join Dennis Green remotely to talk about music, and play some of their favorite songs. Each show will air twice at 4pm most weekdays during April. If you miss a show, click the listen link below or subscribe to the KCCK Specials podcast channel. Here is the schedule: …
Emma Bock and Renae Hasselbusch have been friends since they were little, and are finishing up their senior year at Lisbon. And they independently decided to attend Iowa State and major in Biology, so they’ll continue to be classmates in college! The Lisbon Jazz Band has had a great year under first-year director Joseph Arch, …
Maddie Miller and Shannon Morgan miss a lot about band while they’re on “pandemic break” but it’s possible that getting to school for a 6:50am jazz band rehearsal isn’t one of them. Fortunately, their guest DJ show did not require them to get up that early! They picked several charts that they played in band …
This time next year, Brody Joens and Ryan Neubuaer will be finishing up their first year at Dordt University and Wartburg College, respectively. But today they are guest DJs on KCCK, representing Prairie Jazz I. They tell the story of how Gordon Goodwin’s “Jazz Police” became the unofficial theme “rev-up” tune for Jazz I this …
