Hey, jazz fans! Be sure to tune in this week as we celebrate the birthdays of singers Johnny Hartman and Bill Withers, trumpeter/bandleader Doc Severinsen, trombonists Vern Friley and Frank Rehak, saxophonist Hank Mobley and more! We’ll also mark the recording anniversaries of “Duke Ellington at Newport” (1956), Buddy Rich Big Band’s “Mercy, Mercy” (1968), Bobby Hutcherson’s “Live at Montreux” (1973), Charlie Haden’s “The Montreal Tapes” (1989), Steve Kuhn Trio “Live at Birdland” (2006) and many others 10am to 2pm, Monday thru Friday, with Jazz Masters at noon on Jazz 88.3.
This Week in Jazz July 2 thru July 8
KCCK’s Featured Album for July 2023
The KCCK Featured Album for July is “Bossas and Boleros” from bassist Gabriel Espinosa, who recently retired after 27 years as the Director of Jazz Studies at Central College in Pella,. The title of the disc honors the music that Gabriel grew up with as a teenager during the Sixties in Yucatan, Mexico, and his original compositions are inspired by those styles. The disc features Grammy-nominated artists Kim Nazarian, Fred Hersch, and Anat Cohen on a program of originals and selections from the Mexican Songbook. “Bossas and Boleros” by Gabriel Espinosa is from Zoho Records. Purcahse
Culture Crawl 834 “Steal Shamelessly From Your Past”
Larry Baker managed and owned movie theaters in Oklahoma before moving to Iowa and writing novels. His seventh book, “Harry & Sue,” takes place in just such a theater, populated by a variety of ghosts you will know, such as Marilyn Monroe, Harry Chapin, Mark Twain, Patsy, Cline, and Harry Houdini. But the ghosts, particularly Marilyn, act and speak in ways you might not expect, if you only know them from pop legend.
Larry will read from his book on July 16 at Prairie Lights Books in Iowa City. More info on the event at www.prairielights.com.
Harry and Sue is published by Iowa Citian Steve Semien’s Ice Cube Press, www.icecubepress.com.
Subscribe to The Culture Crawl at www.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 www.kcck.org/listen.
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Culture Crawl 833 “We Want Some of that Entertainment, Too!”
Community Concert organizations were created in the 1930s, as smaller communities worked to bring musicians and entertainers to towns of all sizes, not just big cities.
The Cedar Rapids Community Concert Association has been doing that very thing for 93 years. Board member John Haack says because the group is all-volunteer, they can keep ticket costs low.
The 2023-24 concert season includes tributes to The Beatles, The Carpenters, classic folk, legendary Divas, and will even feature high school jazz bands with KCCK’s Corridor Jazz Project.
Ticket prices increase July 1. Get yours at www.crcommunityconcert.org.
Subscribe to The Culture Crawl at www.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 www.kcck.org/listen.
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Talking Pictures 6-28-23
Talking Pictures 6-28-23 “Asteroid City” and “Chevalier” with Hollis Monroe, Phil Brown and Monica Schmidt.
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Culture Crawl 832 “Like Christmas Service is for Lutherans”
This is arguably the biggest week of the year for Cedar Rapids Municipal Band, as the patriotic-themed concerts around Independence Day are always popular. But Muni Band director Steve Shanley says the program will not only include expected favorites like America The Beautiful (featuring the Cedar Rapids Concert Chorale), Stars & Stripes Forever, and Armed Forces medley, but Young Artist winner Jenna Sherman will perform a concerto for flute and wind orchestra that is especially challenging for both the soloist and the band.
A slightly different schedule this week, too. Wednesday, June 28 at Noelridge Park, but no Sunday concert. Instead the band will perform a special July 4th show at Guthridge Park, Hiawatha. All concerts begin at 7:30pm. If you can’t attend, watch the livestream at www.facebook.com/crmuniband.
More info on the Muni Band Facebook page and at www.crmuniband.org.
Subscribe to The Culture Crawl at www.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 www.kcck.org/listen.
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Special Shows June 26 thru July 2
Jazz Corner of the World with host Craig Kessler
Mondays from 6:00pm to 10:00pm
Guitar Artistry of John Scofield
Host Craig Kessler presents a terrific sampling of jazz guitar work from this master’s (nearly) 50 years of work. We’ll hear Scofield with Miles Davis, Joe Henderson, McCoy Tyner, Joe Lovano, and many more, as well as selections from his 46-plus recordings under his own leadership.
The Wednesday Night Special
Wednesdays at 6:00pm
Cory Wong at the 2021 ICJF
Guitarist Cory Wong electrified the crowd at 2021’s Iowa City Jazz Festival. With 2023’s Festival taking the stage in just a few short days, we’re getting ourselves fired up by revisiting Wong’s amazing set of power jazz, modern groove, and some seriously jammin’ covers.
Jazz Night in America
Thursdays at 11:00pm
Camille Thurman’s Roots
Host Christian McBride explores the jazz roots of Camille Thurman’s hometown of Queens. We learn about her life growing up and her development as a critically-acclaimed singer, saxophonist, composer and educator. She and her band sit in with the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra for an amazing set.
Jazz Corner of the World with Host Craig Kessler
Saturdays from 12 noon to 4:00pm
Enjoy the Iowa City Jazz Festival
This week’s Jazz Corner of the World is pre-empted so you can enjoy KCCK’s live broadcast of the 2023 Iowa City Jazz Festival. Tune in starting at 11:30am to hear all the Main Stage and Side Stage performances, capped off by headliner Christian McBride’s New Jawn.
KCCK’s Midnight CD
Every Night at Midnight
Each night, KCCK lets you hear a new CD played start-to-finish.
Danish Rain by Thomas Fonnesbaek & Justin Kauflin on Monday; A Love Song by Noshir Mody on Tuesday; Impressions by Israel Tannenbaum & the Latinbaum Jazz Ensemble on Wednesday; Fire & Rain by the Tim Ray Trio on Thursday; Generations of Blues: West Side Legacy by Larry Taylor & the Taylor Family on Friday; Death Wish Blues by Samantha Fish & Jesse Dayton on Saturday; Fairy Tale Fail by Chloe Jean on Sunday.
This Week in Jazz June 25 thru July 1
Hey, Jazz fans! Be sure to tune in this week as we celebrate the birthdays of composers Richard Rodgers and Frank Loesser, singers Lena Horne and Tierney Sutton, pianists Elmo Hope and Andrew Hill, trombonist Julian Priester, bassist Stanley Clarke and more. We’ll also mark the recording anniversaries of Duke Ellington’s “Ellington Uptown” (1952), Nina Simone’s “Live at Newport” (1960), Jim McNeely’s “The Plot Thickens” (1979), James Williams’ “Magical Trio 1” (1987), Joe Henderson’s “Big Band” (1996), Idit Shner “Live at the Jazz Station” (2019) and many others 10am to 2pm, Monday thru Friday, with Jazz Masters.