Hey, Jazz fans! Be sure to tune in this week as we celebrate the birthdays drummers Denzil Best and Connie Kay, singers Blossom Dearie and Shirley Horn, harmonica player Toots Thielemans, bassists Percy Heath and Martin Wind, flautists Dave Valentin and James Newton, percussionist Ray Barretto and more. We’ll also mark the recording anniversaries of Peggy Lee with George Shearing’s “Beauty and the Beat” (1959), Pat Martino’s “El Hombre” (1967), Jimmy Rushing’s “The You and Me That Used to Be” (1971), Arnett Cobb/Jimmy Heath/Joe Henderson’s “Tenor Tribute” (1988), “McCoy Tyner w/Stanley Clarke and Al Foster” (1999), Charnett Moffett’s “Music from Our Soul” (2015) and many others, Mondays thru Fridays and at noon on JAZZ MASTERS on Jazz 88.3 KCCK.
This Week In Jazz April 26 thru May 2
Culture Crawl 1201 “X-Men-ey”
The 16th edition of MusicIC, “THE BLACK ANGEL: Music, Myth, and Memory,” is April 30-May 2. MusicIC founder Tricia Park, a violinist and writer, says the signature piece, George Crumb’s “Black Angels,” features an amplified string quartet, where the players incorporate voice, electronic and other ambient sounds into the work, performed May at at the Masonic Building. The literature side of the festival will be April 30 at The Black Angel. Writers will present short works that respond to the musical pieces, as well as incorporating Iowa City’s Black Angel a landmark in Oakland Cemetery.
All performances are free. Information at MusicIc.org.
Subscribe to The Culture Crawl at kcck.org/culture or search “Culture Crawl” in your favorite podcast player. Listen Live at 10:30am most weekdays on Iowa’s Jazz station. 88.3 FM or kcck.org/listen.
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2026 Guest DJs-Mid-Prairie
Brock Lowenberg, Thomas Lueck, Rachel Lamb, Millana Kazakov
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Culture Crawl 1200 “Not Your Typical Princess”
The final Playtime Poppy show of the school year is “The Princess Who Wouldn’t Wear Pink” April 23-25 at Washington High School in Cedar Rapids. It’s the story of a princes who simply doesn’t want any of the duties or trappings of her job, but learns along the way that maybe she can do it her way. Lots of fun and audience participation makes Playtime Poppy a a great introduction to theatre for kids of all ages.
Tickets and more info at playtimepoppy.org.
Subscribe to The Culture Crawl at kcck.org/culture or search “Culture Crawl” in your favorite podcast player. Listen Live at 10:30am most weekdays on Iowa’s Jazz station. 88.3 FM or kcck.org/listen.
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Talking Pictures 4-22-26
“Running Man” (2025 R Sci-Fi/Adventure) and “Othello” (2026 Tragedy Marquee TV) with Hollis Monroe, Phil Brown and Ron Adkins.
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Culture Crawl 1199 “Cutoff Queen”
Kirkwood Vocal Music presents a two-night Cabaret at Opus Concert Cafe April 27 and 28. Director Fred Kiser says his jazz vocal group Jazz Transit is super-sized this year, to the group will split into two, each half performing on one of the nights. Students will also sing solos with a jazz combo.
Tickets at artsiowa.com.
Subscribe to The Culture Crawl at kcck.org/culture or search “Culture Crawl” in your favorite podcast player. Listen Live at 10:30am most weekdays on Iowa’s Jazz station. 88.3 FM or kcck.org/listen.
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2026 Guest DJs-Center Point-Urbana
Vaughn McDonough and Connor Kreutner
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Culture Crawl 1198 “Mom Loves Storms”
Mission Creek Day Party is a one-day celebration of literature and music April 25, a partnership between Mission Creek and Blink. Mission Creek Founder Andre Perry join us, with bestselling author Nora Lange, who is one of the featured artists. Nora reads us a segment from her new short story collection “Day Care.”
Details and the full lineup at missioncreekfestival.com.
Subscribe to The Culture Crawl at kcck.org/culture or search “Culture Crawl” in your favorite podcast player. Listen Live at 10:30am most weekdays on Iowa’s Jazz station. 88.3 FM or kcck.org/listen.
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