Thirteen Lives (2022), For All Mankind (Apple TV+) and The Good Soldier Schweik (1956) with Hollis Monroe, Phil Brown, Denny Lynch and Ron Adkins.
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Special Programs for August 15 thru August 21
Jazz Corner of the World Encore
Mondays from 6:00pm to 10:00pm
A Look at IAI Records
Craig Kessler looks at the short-lived IAI (Improvising Artists Incorporated) jazz label, owned and operated by pianist and composer Paul Bley. It was founded in 1974 to record improvised music and video art. We’ll hear true obscurities culled from the label’s 20-plus titles, from artists like Sun Ra, Bill Connors, Jimmy Giuffre, Jaco Pastorius, Pat Metheny, Ran Blake, Lee Konitz, and others.
The Wednesday Night Special
Wednesdays at 6:00 PM
James Dreier’s U of I Retirement Party
Legendary percussionist, bandleader, and composer James Dreier has retired from the University of Iowa School of Music faculty, but not before throwing one incredible retirement party! He is joined on stage by former students, plus friends from Iowa’s seminal salsa band, Orquesta Alto Maiz. KCCK’s own Dennis Green narrates the event.
Jazz Night in America
Thursday at 11:00 PM
Orquesta Akokan at the Museum
It’s an hour of Latin jazz as host Christian McBride leads a guided tour of the Musical Instrument Museum in Phoenix. The celebrated mambo big band, Orquesta Akokan, plays a hot set and shows us how those instruments make scorching jazz.
Jazz Corner of the World
Saturdays at 12:00 Noon
Milestone Records, Part 4
Craig Kessler spins choice selections from Flora Purim’s days at Milestone records, from 1973 through 1977. We’ll hear the “Queen of Brazilian Jazz” with George Duke, McCoy Tyner, husband Airto Moreira, Stanley Clarke, Joe Henderson, Miroslav Vitous, Ron Carter, Milton Nascimento, Hermeto Pascoal, and a host of other greats of the day!
KCCK’s Midnight CD
Every Night at Midnight
Each night, KCCK gives you the chance to hear a new CD played start-to-finish.
Life Can Be Beautiful by Lia Booth on Monday; Romance in Formosa by Tim Lin on Tuesday; Reboot by Ronnie Foster on Wednesday; Reconnect by the Mike Conrad Trio on Thursday; Roots by Jhett Black on Friday; Everybody Let’s Roll by the Texas Horns on Saturday; Paris Sessions 2 by Tierney Sutton on Sunday
This Week In Jazz August 14 thru August 20
Hey, Jazz fans. Be sure to tune in this week as we celebrate the birthdays of pianists Oscar Peterson, Mal Waldron, Carl Perkins and Bill Evans, drummers Stix Hooper and Ginger Baker, bassist George Duvivier, singer Mary Stallings and more. We’ll also mark the recording anniversaries of Jo Jones’ “The Essential Jo Jones” (1955), Herbie Mann’s “Memphis Underground” (1969), Grant Green’s “Alive!” (1970), Illinois Jacquet & His Big Band’s “Jacquet’s Got It!” (1987), Ernestine Anderson “Live At The 1990 Concord Jazz Festival” (1990), Bobby Sanabria Big Band’s “Multiverse” (2011) and many others, Mondays thru Fridays at noon on JAZZ MASTERS on Jazz 88.3 KCCK.
Culture Crawl 748 “3 Years In The Making”
We’ve been trying to present the Iowa Women’s Jazz Orchestra since 2020, and fingers crossed, the third time will be the charm on Aug. 18.
After years of being the only, or one of very few women in college and professional jazz bands, IWJO Directors Toni LeFebvre and Kelli Swehla formed this group to provide playing opportunities for their friends and positive role models for young musicians of all genders.
Opening will be Young Artists The 5K Quintet, a group comprised of UI students. Aroma Pizza will be back to make sure you don’t grow hungry, along with The Hungry Rooster, Dairy Queen, and Great Harvest Bread.
6:30pm Thursday, Aug. 18 in Noelridge Park. More information at www.kcck.org.
Subscribe to The Culture Crawl at www.kcck.org/culture or search “Culture Crawl” in your favorite podcast app. Listen Live at 10:20am most weekdays on Iowa’s Jazz station. 88.3 FM or www.kcck.org/listen.
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New Music Monday for August 15, 2022
Listen to this week’s playlist on YouTube and Spotify
“Between Dreaming and Joy” is the latest release from saxophonist and composer Jeff Coffin, a culmination of over two years in the studio. Calling upon its enigmatic, pandemic-induced origins, the collection gathers unusual new sounds for the reedman by a diverse, all-star group of musicians for his 21st release as a leader. The record is sustained by a variety of instrumentation including 8 bassists, 6 drummers, 5 guitar players, 4 keyboardists, a set of Middle Eastern frame drums, Brazilian percussion, Moroccan vocals, a turntable artist, multiple horns, an ice cream truck, a Hungarian tarogato and an African ngoni.
“Playdate” is the 23rd album as a leader by renowned pianist, composer and arranger Geoffrey Keezer. He upholds his old friend Christian McBride’s observation that “he never repeats himself” as the Grammy-nominated musician continues to augment and refine his distinctive style. The album’s lighthearted namesake is an homage to the concept of planning a playdate for a group of kids. Rallying a group of distinguished collaborators, Keezer calls this virtuosic cast ‘Geoffrey Keezer and Friends,’ displaying an idiomatic mastery of funk, hard bop, gospel, heavenly strings and the blues.
Also this week, drummer Billy Drummond, who has been leading various aggregations of his Freedom of Ideas ensemble for well over a decade, takes the opportunity to document this vision on “Valse Sinistre”;
the WJ3 All Stars, featuring Jeremy Pelt, Wayne Escoffery, Steve Davis and Willie Jones III, unveil their sophomore release, “My Ship”;
and Joy Lapps pays tribute to the many women who have helped facilitate her mastery of the steelpan and supported her success in the steel band movement with “Girl in the Yard.”
Culture Crawl 747 “Good Roots Music and Good Music Roots”
For decades, the Linn County Blues Society has presented a big summer Blues concert, spotlighting the best local and national talent. Beginning this year, the celebration becomes “Bourbon & Blues,” August 20 at McGrath Amphitheatre.
The party begins with Iowa legends Molly Nova & The Hawk, featuring Bryce Janey, and also features Danielle Nicole from Kansas City, Blues and Americana chart-topper Carolyn Wonderland, and concluding with a true Blues superstar, Shemekia Copeland.
There will be food trucks, and as the name implies, refreshments including bourbon from Cedar Ridge.
Tickets are $35 in advance at lcbs.org.
Subscribe to The Culture Crawl at www.kcck.org/culture or search “Culture Crawl” in your favorite podcast app. Listen Live at 10:20am most weekdays on Iowa’s Jazz station. 88.3 FM or www.kcck.org/listen.
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Talking Pictures 8-10-22
Prey (Hulu 2022) and The Sandman (Netflix 2022) with Hollis Monroe, Phil Brown and Monica Schmidt.
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Special Programs for August 8 thru August 14
Jazz Corner of the World Encore
Mondays from 6:00pm to 10:00pm
The Artistry of Charlie Mariano
Craig Kessler surveys the interesting career of this multi-faceted reed master. We’ll hear selections from all corners of his career – the early days of bebop, modern jazz in Boston, his partnership with pianist Toshiko Akiyoshi, his time with Mingus and others, and his studies in “world musics” and European progressive jazz.
The Wednesday Night Special
Wednesdays at 6:00 PM
Rod Pierson Big Band with Craig Boche at Opus
Iowa bandleader Rod Pierson and vocalist Craig Boche brought “the cool” to First Friday Jazz with big band favorites from all eras – from Glenn Miller to Rat Pack favorites, right up to Woody Herman and Harry Connick, Jr. It was a Friday evening of swing at the Opus Concert Café.
Jazz Night in America
Thursday at 11:00 PM
Exit Zero Jazz Festival
Host Christian McBride takes us to Cape May, New Jersey for their Exit Zero Jazz Festival. We listen in on standout sets from last year’s headliners – pianist Matthew Whitaker, singer Gabrielle Cavassa, and percussionist Pedrito Martinez.
Jazz Corner of the World
Saturdays at 12:00 Noon
A Look at IAI Records
Craig Kessler looks at the short-lived IAI (Improvising Artists Incorporated) jazz label, owned and operated by pianist and composer Paul Bley. It was founded in 1974 to record improvised music and video art. We’ll hear true obscurities culled from the label’s 20-plus titles, from artists like Sun Ra, Bill Connors, Jimmy Giuffre, Jaco Pastorius, Pat Metheny, Ran Blake, Lee Konitz, and others.
KCCK’s Midnight CD
Every Night at Midnight
Each night, KCCK gives you the chance to hear a new CD played start-to-finish.
The Next Step by Roberto Occhipinti on Monday; Native Speaker by SaltmanKnowles on Tuesday; Be-Bop! by Pasquale Grasso on Wednesday; Diamonds & Other Jewels by Cyrus Chestnut on Thursday; Tulsa Tea by Brad Absher & the Superials on Friday; Done Come Too Far by Shemekia Copeland on Saturday; Putt Lake Toodleloo by La Pompe Attack on Sunday