By the late 1970s, trailblazing keyboardist and composer Jeff Lorber had become a prominent figure in the new movement know as jazz fusion-a marriage of traditional jazz with elements of rock, R&B, funk and other electrified sounds. The Jeff Lorber Fusion first honed their craft on the Portland, Oregon, club scene and rapidly expanded their …
Category: KCCK Blog
Kennedy Senior Wins Corridor Jazz Art Contest
Whitney Jungjohann, a senior at Kennedy High School in Cedar Rapids, has been chosen as the winner of the Corridor Jazz Project CD Cover design. Jungjohann will receive a $100 cash prize from KCCK-FM and her design will adorn the cover of the “The Corridor Jazz Project V”, a compilation of recordings from the top …
Cat’s Tour De Force, a Northwest Clipper – Bob Stewart
Vocalist Catherine Russell is a native New Yorker born to musical royalty. Her father, the late Luis Russell, was a pioneering pianist/composer/bandleader and Louis Armstrong’s long-time side-kick. Her mother, Carline Ray, is a bassist, guitarist and vocalist who performed with Mary Lou Williams, among others. After graduating with honors from the American Academy of Dramatic …
Ernie Watts’ Oasis; Floridian Has New CD – Bob Stewart
“What comes through is Watts’ essential lyricism. There are some players with Ernie Watts’ total command of an instrument who focus more on showing their technical prowess than on creating music. They equate showers of notes with saying something.But Watts is always saying something-as musicians put it-through the mastery of his horn. Never in the …
Evans & Monk Tributes – Bob Stewart
The contributions of pianist, composer, arranger and bandleader Bill Evans to the language and appreciation of jazz continue to have profound influence on musicians. Pianist Chick Corea leads Evans Trio alumni Eddie Gomez and the late Paul Motian on “Further Explorations”, a live set recorded at the Blue Note in New York in 2010. For …
Old Friends Record; Adolfo Goes Brazilian – Bob Stewart
The bond between old friends gives life meaning. When the friends are improvising musicians sharing the stage, their common language cements a mutual trust that can ignite the bandstand. Music has been the glue binding the friendship of bassist Omer Avital, pianist Aaron Goldberg and drummer Ali Jackson for nearly 20 years. Though they have …
The Gospel According to Grace – Bob Stewart
With hundreds of performances worldwide, a shelf full of music awards, and praise from jazz legends like Phil Woods, Lee Konitz and Dave Brubeck, 18-year-old Grace Kelly has firmly established herself as a star on the rise in the jazz world. Her new release “Grace” marks a new direction for the accomplished saxophonist into the …
Corea/Bollani, Pedicin Release New Music – Bob Stewart
Over the years, Chick Corea has been a pioneer in two-piano performance, partnering with Herbie Hancock, Gonzalo Rubalcaba and others in acclaimed concerts and recordings. “Orvieto” is the first release by the exciting duo of Corea and Stefano Bollani, a live set drawn from New Year performances at the Umbria Jazz Winter Festival. Chick and …