Jazz Corner of the World with host Craig Kessler
Mondays from 6:00pm to 10:00pm
Hank Mobley’s Blue Note Sessions
Hear an array of classic Blue Note gems as host Craig Kessler presents the great tenor saxophonist Hank Mobley. We’ll hear Hank as a leader, as well as a sideman with the likes of Lee Morgan, Freddie Roach, Donald Byrd, Herbie Hancock, Sonny Clark, and others, all culled from 55 sessions between 1954 and 1970.
The Wednesday Night Special
Kiersten Conway at the Iowa City Jazz Festival
Vocalist and songwriter Kiersten Conway and her quartet took the 2023 Iowa City Jazz Festival’s side stage for a set of “reinvented standards and captivating originals.” The Jazz Fest crowd enjoyed her energetic, eclectic take on jazz.
Jazz Night in America
Thursdays at 11:00pm
Emmet Cohen’s Rent Party
Pianist Emmet Cohen revives a Jazz Age tradition: the rent party, with “Emmet’s Place.” Host Christian McBride emcees a swinging performance of the Emmet Cohen Trio with veteran saxophonist Houston Person.
Jazz Corner of the World with Host Craig Kessler
Saturdays from 12 noon to 4:00pm
Lennie Tristano Piano Rarities
Host Craig Kessler presents an array of Lennie Tristano’s private recordings, live sets, and some obscure studio work from the archives of the master jazz pianist. We’ll hear solo piano recordings, up to sextet recordings from the late 1930s to the early 1970s, featuring some of his most prominent students, such as Lee Konitz, Warne Marsh, Peter Ind, and others.
KCCK’s Midnight CD
Every Night at Midnight
Each night, KCCK lets you hear a new CD played start-to-finish.
Are You Sure You Three Guys Know What You’re Doing? by the Mike Jones Trio on Monday; Anthem of Unity by Joel Harrison on Tuesday; Luna by Doug Beavers on Wednesday; Trios by Buddy Rich on Thursday; Yellow Peril by Nat Myers on Friday; All My Love for You by Bobby Rush on Saturday; This Could Be the Start by Linda Purl on Sunday.
Hey, Jazz fans! Be sure to tune in this week as we celebrate the birthdays of Buddy Bolden, Joe Newman, Wilbur Ware, Richie Powell, Sonny Rollins, Lonnie Plaxico and more! We’ll also mark the recording anniversaries of “The Billy Taylor Trio with Candido” (1954), Oliver Nelson’s “Sound Pieces” (1966), Mary Lou Williams’ “Mary Lou’s Mass” (1971), Tommy Smith’s “Step By Step” (1988), Lee Konitz’ “Lullaby of Birdland” (1991), George Cables’ “Too Close for Comfort” (2020) and many others, Mondays thru Fridays at noon on Jazz Masters on Jazz 88.3 KCCK. 
Renowned for giving his big band a break during concerts by shifting to a three-man jam session in the midst of a show, jazz icon Buddy Rich would let the piano and bass shine through during these performances. Although these three-man interludes were staples during many shows, there has never been a recording released of them until now. Taped by Rich’s alto saxophone player Alan Gauvin during a series of shows around the world in 1976 and ’77, “Trios” features extraordinary bassists Jon Burr and Tom Warrington along with the young piano prodigy Barry Kiener and is marked by stunning solos by the drummer using only his brushes.
Guitarist Joel Harrison’s 25th CD, “Anthem of Unity,” brings together a once-in-a-lifetime ensemble that showcases his most pointed and focused work as a musician yet. The team of Gary Versace, with his virtuosic and soul-drenched B-3 organ, Greg Tardy, one of our finest jazz woodwind players, and the legendary drummer Jack DeJohnette, exhibits extraordinary musicianship on the program. Tardy shows the range of his considerable abilities here, developing interesting ideas and phrases throughout his may solos. Versace has been about everywhere at this point, with giants such as Maria Schneider, John Abercrombie and Al Foster, and he anchors the bottom end on the Hammond as DeJohnette continually ignites the band.
