The KCCK Featured CD for June is “Concentric Circles” from the Kenny Barron Quintet. Eight years after being named an NEA Jazz Master, the esteemed pianist, bandleader, composer and educator reaches a couple of milestones. This year marks the 50th year of a remarkable recording career, while Mr. Barron notes his 75th birthday this month. …
KCCK’s Featured CD for May is “You’re Driving Me Crazy” from Van Morrison and Joey DeFrancesco. A new milestone in Morrison’s ever-expanding catalog of essential recordings, the disc finds the iconic Irish singer-songwriter exploring a variety of jazz and blues standards and classics alongside fresh interpretations of his own compositions. He’s aided in this endeavor …
The KCCK Featured CD for April is “After the Fall” by Keith Jarrett and his Standards Trio with Gary Peacock and Jack DeJohnette. This previously unreleased live set from 1998 documents the first concert Keith played after a two year hiatus from the stage as he battled what was then called Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. It …
The KCCK Featured CD for March is “25th Anniversary Project” by the DIVA Jazz Orchestra. The inspiration for the all-female ensemble came from Stanley Kay, one time manager and relief drummer for Buddy Rich. He was leading a band in which Sherrie Maricle was playing drums and wondered if there were other women players who …
KCCK’s Featured CD for February is “Journey to Knowhere” by the Bob Washut Dodectet. Dr. Washut was director of the Jazz Studies program at UNI for 22 years and led its award winning Jazz Band One. For the debut recording of his Dodectet, Bob enlisted the aid of Chris Merz and Michael Conrad from the …
The KCCK Featured CD for January is “State of the Art” by New York Electric Piano. The group, led by Cedar Rapids native Pat Daugherty, is celebrating its fifteenth year together as a classic piano trio built around the sound of the Fender Rhodes electric keyboard. The new recording was inspired by the crowd-pleasing extended …
The KCCK Featured CD for December is “Formidable” by Pat Martino. One of the most exciting guitar players to emerge in the 1960s, Martino made a remarkable recovery after suffering a brain aneurysm in 1980 and made his recording comeback in 1987. The new release is another comeback of sorts. It’s his first studio recording …
The KCCK Featured CD for November is “Happy Song” from the Anat Cohen Tentet, a group of ace New York musicians that made its debut last year at the Jazz Standard and the Newport Jazz Festival. The project is another collaboration between Ms. Cohen and co-producer and arranger Oded Lev-Ari, who is also her partner …
