The KCCK Featured Album for January is “Across the Field” by the Visions Jazz Ensemble. In the summer of 2023, the band was approached with the idea of incorporating two great American traditions: jazz and improvised music together with traditional college fight songs .The group settled on a set of twelve of the most well-known …
The KCCK Featured Album for December is “This Year at Christmas” from the supergroup Band of Other Brothers. In the spring of this year, acclaimed pianist Jeff Babko received a text from veteran bassist Will Lee that simply read “Band of Other Brothers needs to do a holiday record.” Babko immediately wrote a new piece …
The KCCK Featured Album for November is “A Little Taste” from Rebecca Kilgore. The celebrated vocalist honors her good friend and colleague Dave Frishberg, who passed away in 2021, focusing on a program of his songs along with his collaborations with Johnny Hodges, Johnny Mandel and Alan Broadbent. Sadly, Ms. Kilgore was diagnosed with dementia …
The KCCK Featured Album for October is “Vol. 7: The Lost Tapes, 1959” from the Terry Gibbs Dream Band. After six volumes of Dream Band recordings were released in the ’80s and ’90s, a seventh volume was discovered just last year, when the famed vibraphonist’s son Gerry stumbled across a file marked ‘Party 1959’ on …
The KCCK Featured Album for September is “Dreams Do Come True” from George Benson. In 1989, the Grammy Award-winner collaborated with the celebrated composer and arranger Robert Farnon, whose lush orchestral arrangements perfectly complemented Benson’s soulful vocals and fluid guitar work.. The recording took place during a prolific period for Benson and he chose to …
The KCCK Featured Album for August is “Dream Tracks” by guitarist and songwriter Craig Erickson. The Cedar Rapids native has drawn from many sources and his own intense life experiences over the years to forge a unique and inspirational sound that runs the gamut from blues and rock to funk and fusion. The new recording …
The KCCK Featured Album for July is “Suite for Africa” from Amina Figarova. The Azerbaijani-born pianist and composer was inspired to write the suite by her experiences meeting students during her travels to South Africa, and a chance encounter during a travel mishap with the Matsiko World Orphan Choir, who brought the stirring piece fully …
The KCCK Featured Album for June is “Remembrance” from Chick Corea and Bela Fleck. The recording serves as a moving final document of the years-long creative and personal relationship between the two which began in 2007. It’s also a crucial addition to Chick’s legacy, featuring three previously unreleased compositions by the legendary pianist.. The disc …
