Soundtrack to the Struggle: Ella and Marilyn’s Unlikely Friendship

Rumor has it that Marilyn Monroe’s vocal coach, very early in Monroe’s career, ordered her to buy all of Ella Fitzgerald’s records, and to listen to them 100 times in a row. This deep study of Fitzgerald’s singing made Monroe not only a pretty solid singer herself, but it brought about the beginning of a strange and beautiful friendship.

By the 1950’s, Ella Fitzgerald was jazz royalty. And yet, even she couldn’t sing in America’s biggest nightclubs. Bigotry kept her relegated to smaller venues, and forced her to enter through the kitchen. Even Fitzgerald’s agent, Norman Granz, who insisted that all his clients be treated equally, couldn’t get her on stage at some of the best jazz clubs.
One of those venues was Hollywood’s Mocambo Club. Clark Gable, Humphrey Bogart, and Lauren Bacall had reserved tables. But Ella wasn’t allowed through the door. That is, until Marilyn – now a superstar herself – made a phone call. “I told the owner to think of the publicity. I’d be there every night at the front table,” said Marilyn. And she did that very thing. She even brought Frank Sinatra along. “I owe Marilyn Monroe a real debt,” said Ella. “After that, I never had to play a small jazz club again.”

This episode of “Soundtrack to the Struggle” was written and produced by Ron Adkins.

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Special Programs February 5 thru February 11

Jazz Corner of the World with host Craig Kessler

Mondays at 6:00pm

Blue Note 85th Anniversary Collection, Part 3

Craig plays more selections from the unusual and obscure side of Blue Note. This again will include bonus material from a 4-part course Craig is teaching on Blue Note Records for the University of Iowa Senior College.

 

 

 

The Wednesday Night Special

Wednesdays at 6:00pm

Young Artists at JUTS 2023

KCCK invited some of Iowa’s great young jazz talent to open each night of Jazz Under the Stars. Student groups the Ana Koch Quartet, Ship of Fools, the Harlan, Iowa Brass Combo, and the U of I’s Nexxus Brass led off our hot August nights in 2023.   

 

 

 

 

 

Donald Harrison: Free To BeJazz Night in America with host Christian McBride

Thursdays at 11:00pm

Donald Harrison in NOLA

Christian McBride shares stories from New Orleans saxophonist Donald Harrison Jr.’s upbringing, words from his mentee  — drummer Joe Dyson, and a performance on his home turf, recorded at the legendary Snug Harbor. 

 

 

 

 

 

Jazz Corner of the World with host Craig Kessler

Saturdays from 12 noon to 4:00pm

Blue Note 85th Anniversary Collection, Part 4

Craig wraps up his four-part listen to the unusual and obscure side of Blue Note. This again will include bonus material from the course Craig is teaching on Blue Note Records for the University of Iowa Senior College.

 

 

 

KCCK’s Midnight CD

Every Night at Midnight

Each night, KCCK lets you hear a new CD played start-to-finish.

Charles, Play! by Charles Chen on Monday; Blue Topaz by Peter Hand on Tuesday; Live at Dizzy’s Club: The Music of Elvin & McCoy by Gerald Cannon on Wednesday; Tell the Birds I Said Hello: The Music of Herbie Nichols by Ben Allison, Steve Cardinas, & Ted Nash on Thursday; The Love You Bleed by Danielle Nicole on Friday; Olustee by JJ Grey & Mofro on Saturday; Blues for the End of Time by Felix Lemerle on Sunday.

News Digest 2-5-24

Details of a bill that would pair border enforcement with aid for Ukraine have been released by the U.S. Senate…Republicans in the Iowa legislature try to figure out what to do with Gov. Reynolds’ AEA reform proposal.

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Soundtrack to the Struggle: Charles Mingus and the “Fables of Faubus”

It’s 1957, and Arkansas Governor Orval Faubus defies a presidential order and blocks the integration of the Little Rock school district. Bassist Charles Mingus, an outspoken civil rights advocate, immediately writes one of the greatest jazz protest songs of all time.

“Fables of Faubus” was intended for his 1959 landmark album, “Mingus Ah Um.” Columbia Records, however, refused to allow the caustic vocal version to be included. Record execs were keenly aware of the dangerous volatility in American society and worried about putting a match to a powder keg. The full version, with lyrics, was finally recorded in 1960 for “Charles Mingus Presents Charles Mingus.”

As one music reviewer wrote, “the fact that the song caused such controversy shows what turbulent times these were and what touchy issues race relations were.” Other critics proclaimed “Fables of Faubus” as Charles Mingus’s defining contribution to the Civil Rights Movement, and the perfect jazz protest song. It is part lampoon of Orval Faubus as a fool, as Mingus calls him, and part a dissonant, sometimes atonal, reflection of the times and growing cultural tensions in America.

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This Week In Jazz February 4 thru February 10


Hey, Jazz fans! Be sure to tune in this week as we celebrate the birthdays of pianist/composer Eubie Blake, bassist Walter Page, reedman Joe Maini, drummer Joe Dodge, arranger Sammy Nestico, singer Natalie Cole and more. We’ll also mark the recording anniversaries of “The Tatum Group Masterpieces, Vol. 7” (1956), Hank Mobley’s “Soul Station” (1960), Shirley Horn’s “Travelin’ Light” (1965), Joe Turner’s “Stormy Monday” (1977), Machito & His Salsa Big Band’s “1983 Grammy Award Winner” (1982), T.S. Monk’s “Monk on Monk” (1997), Jimmy Cobb’s “This I Dig of You” (2019) and many others, Monday thru Friday at noon on Jazz Masters on Jazz 88.3 KCCK.    

New Music Monday for February 5, 2024

Listen to this week’s playlist on YouTube and Spotify
Baritone saxophonist and Sioux City native Adam Schroeder teams up with arranger Mark Masters to deliver a tasty baker’s dozen tunes in the Basie/Ellington/Strayhorn style on “CT!,” with all the pieces composed by renowned trumpeter Clark Terry. Schroeder conceived of the recording as a celebration of the anniversary of Terry’s 100th birthday in 2020. That plan was delayed by the pandemic but eventually realized a few years later. Schroeder’s motivations for the record were heartfelt. “I wanted to celebrate what Clark gave to me and so many others around the globe for decades—musically, educationally, and as a mentor.”

A professional musician from the age of 16, Kirsten Edkins is a performer, bandleader, teacher, studio musician and accomplished recording artist. A graduate of the Eastman School of Music, Edkins has been a glowing fixture of the Los Angeles music scene for the past decade-and-a-half. She’s been a member of several Grammy Award-winning bands including the Bill Holman Big Band, the John Daversa Band, John Beasley’s MONK’estra and the late composer Johnny Mandel’s band. “Shapes and Sounds’ is the second album as a leader for the saxophonist and composer, bringing to life a diverse collection of primarily original music.

                                                        

Also this week, American drummer Brian Melvin and Danish guitarist Soren Lee spearhead a new trio alongside Danish organist Mads Sondergaard, paying homage to the revered saxophonist John Coltrane on “Tranesformation”; Italian-born, New York-based saxophonist and arranger Ada Rovatti delivers a captivating collection of original songs on her seventh album as a leader, “The Hidden World of Piloo”; and percussionist Mark Lipson turns his attention to the many fine composers within the ranks of his fellow Detroit jazzers on “Launch Control.”

Special Programs March 4 thru March 10

Jazz Corner of the World with host Craig Kessler

Mondays at 6:00pm

Bassist Ron Carter in the 1960’s

Join host Craig Kessler as he explores the music of Ron Carter. We’ll hear Carter with Miles Davis, Eric Dolphy, Jaki Byard and Don Ellis and many others.

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Wednesday Night Special

Wednesdays at 6:00pm

Da’Bluesapalooza 2024

The cream of Eastern Iowa’s bluesmakers gathered for KCCK’s da’Bluesapalooza 24. Bryce and BillyLee Janey led this all-star jam, featuring the Tanya English Band, D-Dog & the B-Bits, Homebrewed, Dr. Z’s Experiment, Matt Panek & the Electric KoolAid Trio, and student group Funkatude.

 

 

 

Elmo Hope Trio - WikipediaJazz Night in America with host Christian McBride

Thursdays at 11:00pm

The Legacy of Elmo Hope

Host Christian McBride celebrates the legacy of Elmo Hope, a giant of jazz piano who never got his due. He influenced some of the most groundbreaking artists of the genre, Bud Powell and Thelonious Monk. Not only was he their best friend, but he’s also credited for pushing them to find their creative voice.

 

 

 

 

 

Jazz Corner of the World with host Craig Kessler

Saturdays from 12 noon to 4:00pm

Bassist Ron Carter in the 1960’s

Join host Craig Kessler as he explores the music of Ron Carter. We’ll hear Carter with Miles Davis, Eric Dolphy, Jaki Byard and Don Ellis and many others.

 

 

 

 

 

KCCK’s Midnight CD

Every Night at Midnight

Each night, KCCK lets you hear a new CD played start-to-finish.

Kangana by Ruban Caban on Monday; nublues by Joel Ross on Tuesday; Michigan by Gaston Reggio on Wednesday; Finesse by Jim Rotondi on Thursday; Breakin’ News: 10 Years of Blues on Nola Blues Records by Various Artists on Friday; the Blind Racoon & Nola Blue Collection, Volume 6 by Various Artists on Saturday; Oh Mother by Andrea Superstein on Sunday.

News Digest 2-2-24

U.S. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer says a vote on fudning for Ukraine and Israel coupled with increased border security could come next week…Iowa Republican tax committee chairmen release a plan to eliminate the state income tax.

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