Hey, Jazz fans! Be sure to tune in this week as we celebrate the birthdays of composer Billy Strayhorn, saxophonists Paul Desmond, Gigi Gryce and Wessell “Warmdaddy” Anderson, brassmen Nat Adderley, Chuck Mangione and Terrell Stafford, singers Etta Jones and Holy Cole, pianists Jacky Terrasson and Jon Snell and and more. We’ll also mark the recording anniversaries of Thelonious Monk Quartet w/ John Coltrane at Carnegie Hall (1957), The Cannonball Adderley Quintet – Paris, 1960 (1960), The Modern Jazz Quartet – The Last Concert (1974), John McLauglin Trio – Live at the Royal Festival Hall (1989), The Gerald Wilson Orchestra’s “Theme For Monterey” (1997), Marcus Miller’s “A Night in Monte Carlo” (2009) and many others Mondays thru Fridays and at noon on JAZZ MASTERS on Jazz 88.3 KCCK.
This Week In Jazz November 24 thru November 30
Big Mo Pod Show 038 – “Hard Workin’ Women”
In another episode of the Big Mo Pod Show John and his 20 something sidekick producer Noah discuss another smattering of songs from Friday night’s show. This time around some of the tracks spurred on conversations about women in the blues and what they’ve contributed to the art form. Song featured in the episode:
- Big Joe Williams – “When I First Left Home”
- The Meters – “Cabbage Alley”
- Big Walter Horton – “Christine”
- Sue Foley – “Nothing In Rambling”
- Chris Duarte – “My Way Down”
Listen to ‘da Friday Blues with Big Mo each week at 6pm, and catch the podcast for a behind the scenes look at the show!
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Culture Crawl 1003 “Meat and Potatoes Drummer”
In the second of our two-part conversation with legendary studio drummer John “JR” Robinson, John talks about how recording has changed from the days when musicians all gathered together in the studio, his current film scoring projects, and SRT, his organ trio, that also includes keyboardist and UI grad Mitch Towne, who recently performed in Trio Grismore at the Iowa City Jazz Festival and Jazz Under the Stars.
John has many, many stories, and he tells them in his autobiography, “King of the Groove,” available on all book platforms. Follow John at www.johnjrrobinson.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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Culture Crawl 1002 “What’s Swing, Mommy?”
Creston, Iowa native John “JR” Robinson is the most recorded drummer in modern history. As a member of Quincy Jones’ “posse” in the Eighties and Nineties, it’s his signature sound you hear on classics like “Rock With You,” “Ain’t Nobody,” “Higher Love,” and hundreds more. Recent projects include “SRT,” an organ trio that also includes keyboardist and UI grad Mitch Towne, who recently performed in Trio Grismore at the Iowa City Jazz Festival and Jazz Under the Stars.
In the first of a two-part interview, John talks about growing up in Iowa, joining the band Rufus, and his first sessions with “Q.”
These stories and more in John’s autobiography, “King of the Groove,” available on all book platforms. Follow John at www.johnjrrobinson.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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Talking Pictures 11-20-24
“Starve Acre” (2024 Prime) and “The Alamo” (1960) with Ron Adkins and Phil Brown.
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Culture Crawl 1001 “Audience-Repellent Music”
Orchestra Iowa welcomes Grammy-winning violinist Melissa White to perform Max Bruch’s Scottish Fantasy. Samuel Barber and Beethoven’s Third Symphony, which introduced the Romantic era, brings the concert to an epic close.
Nov. 23 at the Paramount, Nov. 23 at the Coralville Center for the Performing Arts. Tickets and more info at orchesraiowa.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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This Week In Jazz November 17 thru November 23
Hey, Jazz fans! Be sure to tune in this week as we celebrate the birthdays of saxophonist Coleman Hawkins, composer Johnny Mercer, singers June Christy and Sheila Jordan, trombonists Tommy Dorey and Jimmy Knepper, pianists Dr. John and Geoffrey Keezer and more. We’ll also mark the recording anniversaries of Miles Davis’ “Sketches of Spain” (1959), Cal Tjader’s “Soul Sauce” (1964), Ron Carter’s “Peg Leg” (1977), Nat Adderley Quintet’s “We Remember Cannon” (1989), “Sheila Jordan + Cameron Brown – Celebration” (2004) and many others Monday thru Friday and at noon on JAZZ MASTERS on Jazz 88.3 KCCK.
Special Programs November 18 thru November 24
Jazz Corner of the World (Encore)
Mondays at 6:00pm
George Cables at 80
Craig celebrates George Cables’s 80th birthday by presenting an array of great jazz selections from his lengthy career, beginning in 1970 right up to the present. Some 50 years ago, Art Pepper dubbed Cables “Mr. Beautiful.” (He still is!)
Wednesday Night Special
Wednesdays at 6:00pm
Road Scholars at First Friday Jazz
Saxophonist Damani Phillips and percussionist Dan Moore share a passion for the music of Spyro Gyra. So much so that they formed Road Scholars to pay tribute to the music of Jay Beckenstein and company. They shared this love with an appreciative First Friday audience.
Jazz Night In America
Thursdays at 11:00pm
The Bold Cassandra Wilson
Jazz Night in America celebrates vocalist, composer, and NEA Jazz Master Cassandra Wilson. Explore tracks from her expansive discography and discover how she reimagines jazz standards while offering bold, unconventional takes on other musicians’ songs.
Jazz Corner of the World
Saturdays from 12:00 noon to 4:00pm
A Coleman Hawkins Birthday Party
This week, Craig throws a birthday party for Coleman Hawkins, the “Father of Jazz Tenor Sax.” Hawkins was known for contributing to each of the major changes in jazz stylings. We’ll hear a wide variety of recordings made in the mid-1920s to the late 1960s.
KCCK’s Midnight CD
Every Night at Midnight Each night, KCCK lets you hear a new CD played start-to-finish.
Ofrenda by Diego Rivera on Monday; Brightlight by Avishai Cohen on Tuesday; Music is Connection by Ryan Keberle & Catharsis on Wednesday; We See by Steve Davis on Thursday; Lines by Randy McAllister on Friday; I Got What You Need by Mississippi MacDonald on Saturday; Jane Monheit by Jane Monheit on Sunday.