This Thursday and Friday, Iowa’s Jazz Station takes you to the French Quarter with two afternoons of live broadcasts from the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival. We’re partnering with WWOZ-FM, to bring a little New Orleans to Iowa with performances from a variety of great jazz and blues players. It’ll be like having a …
Category: KCCK Blog
Khan Reunites Eyewitness; Eick Debuts on ECM – Bob Stewart
For guitarist Steve Khan, his new release — “Parting Shot” — marks the first time since 1994 that he has reunited his band Eyewitness, with Anthony Jackson on bass, Dennis Chambers on drums, and Manolo Badrena on percussion. This time there is something different, though. They now combine the looseness of their improvisations while adhering …
Stafford Channels Strayhorm; New Allison Release – Bob Stewart
Billy Strayhorn is widely considered to be one of the great composers of our time, and his three-decade-long collaboration with Duke Ellington furnished the American songbook with a number of timeless classics. Trumpeter Terell Stafford’s sense of melody and uniquely expressive sound make him ideal for Strayhorn’s repertoire. His new CD — “This Side of …
Willie & Wynton Celebrate Ray, Jessica Channels ‘Trane – Bob Stewart
Given the rousing artistic and commercial success of the first recorded collaboration of legendary troubadour Willie Nelson and jazz statesman Wynton Marsalis in 2008, it’s not surprising that the pair would rendezvous again. The first meeting took place in the Allen Room of New York’s Jazz at Lincoln Center in 2007. Their encore appearance was …
De-Funding Public Radio Will Hurt Music, Education — Dennis
The following is a guest opinion run in the Iowa City Press-Citizen on April 11, 2011. Read it on their site. Much of the dialogue regarding proposals in the U.S. Congress to reduce or restrict funding for public broadcasting has focused on the impact those cuts will have on news and information stations such as …
Di Meola’s World Sinfonia, Davidson’s Legrand Project – Bob Stewart
Following the much ballyhooed “Return to Forever” reunion tour of 2008, guitarist Al Di Meola began refocusing his energies on his World Sinfonia band with a concert tour in 2009 and a live disc documenting the shows. Di Meola’s rhythmically-charged flamenco and tango inspired originals revealed his knack for advanced harmonies along with his embracing …
Monty and One for All Live – Bob Stewart
In Hal Leonard’s 2005 book — “The Greatest Jazz Pianists of All Time” — Monty Alexander placed in the top five of all time. In his homeland of Jamaica, he received the highest honor bestowed on an artist, Commander in the Order of Distinction. He has spent the majority of his career traveling the globe …
Arriale’s Convergence, T.K.’s Latin Bird, Lynch’s Tribute – Bob Stewart
Pianist and composer Lynne Arriale has been sharing her prolific body of audio and video work all over the world since winning the 1993 Great American Piano Competition. Collaborations with Benny Golson Kenny Barron, George Mraz and Randy Brecker speak to her considerable skill and stature within the jazz community. She’s also performed to packed …