Category: News

KCCK’s Featured Album for August 2023

The KCCK Featured Album for August is “With Peter Bradley” by Javon Jackson. The saxophonist has created the soundtrack and original score for a new documentary on the abstract artist, who has been undersung in the art world despite a prolific 50-year career. Bradley’s work is linked with his love of jazz, which provides the …

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This Week In Jazz July 30 thru August 5

Tune in this week as we celebrate the birthdays of and trumpeter/singer Louis Armstrong, pianist/bandleader/composer Count Basie, saxophonist Charlie Parker, singers Tony Bennett and Eddie Jefferson, guitarists Herb Ellis and Pat Metheny, drummers Jeff Hamilton and Terri Lyne Carrington and more. We’ll also mark the recording anniversaries of Johnny Hodges’ “Used to Be Duke” (1954), …

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Special Shows July 31 thru August 6

Jazz Corner of the World with host Craig Kessler Mondays from 6:00pm to 10:00pm Wes Mongomery’s Riverside Years Host Craig Kessler takes a look at some of the great recordings that guitarist Wes Montgomery made for Riverside Records during the years 1959 thru 1966.             The Wednesday Night Special Wednesdays at …

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Culture Crawl 842 “Wow. Ok. Iowa…Cool”

Mike Conrad was first inspired to become a jazz composer during his undergrad years at UNI, working under well-known composers (and performers) Bob Washut and Chris Merz. Today, as a UNI jazz faculty member himself, he continues that tradition, working with a third “generation” of jazz composing students at the University, as well as winning …

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Culture Crawl 841 “If I Can Do This, I Can Do Anything”

For hundreds of Eastern Iowans, Drum Corps was a foundational teenage experience. Cedar Rapids fielded a top-notch ensemble called the Emerald Knights for decades. Emerald Knights alums and other drum corps supporters team up each year to bring some of the world’s top drum corps to Cedar Rapids for the Tournament of Drums. This year, …

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Library Heat 7-24-23

C.R. Library offers relief from the heat. With the hottest days of the year expected this week, people looking for a way to get out of the heat in Cedar Rapids can head to the library. More from KCCK’s Liz Schultz.

Special Programs July 24 thru July 31

Jazz Corner of the World with host Craig Kessler Mondays from 6:00pm to 10:00pm Kenny Dorham on Blue Note Host Craig Kessler continues his 85th anniversary celebration of Blue Note Records with samplings of trumpeter Kenny Dorham’s contributions during his ten years (1955 to 1965) with the label.           The Wednesday Night …

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Culture Crawl 839 “It’s About Death. But Funny”

Riverside Theatre presents “Everybody,” a play where the actors don’t know who is playing which part until after they cast lots right before the show begins! This is a new work by acclaimed playwright Branden Jacobs-Jenkins, which riffs off a 15th Century work. In addition to the conceit of assigning roles literally at the last …

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