Hey, Jazz fans! Be sure to tune in this week as we celebrate the birthdays of trumpeter Clifford Brown, singers Ethel Waters, Cleo Laine and Andy Bey, bassist/singer Richard Bona, composer/arranger Neal Hefti, saxmen Ted Nash, Zoot Sims, Illinois Jacquet, Booker Ervin and Joel Frahm, guitarist Philip Catherine, percussionist Poncho Sanchez and more. We’ll also mark the recording anniversaries of “Cannonball Adderley & Strings” (1955), Nancy Wilson’s “Welcome to My Love” (1967), Chick Corea & Gary Burton “In Concert” (1979), Hilton Ruiz’ “Cross Currents” (1984), The Clark Terry Quintet w/ special guest Red Holloway’s “Top and Bottom” (1995), Jim Snidero “Live at the Deer Head Inn” (2020) and many others, Mondays thru Fridays and at noon on JAZZ MASTERS on Jazz 88.3 KCCK.
This Week In Jazz October 26 thru November 1
Big Mo Pod Show 081 – “Cheers To Kevin”
We’ve got another episode of the pod show ready for ya! This week’s installment features the usual mix of blues tones from across the many generations of blues, as well as a heartfelt thank you to one of the blues show’s steadiest sponsors! Songs featured in the episode:
- Curtis Salgado – “The Big Chagrin”
- Duffy Bishop – “69 Years Old”
- Gary Clark Jr. – “Star”
- Larkin Poe – “Lips As Cold As Diamond”
- Bob Margolin – “Brown Liquor”
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 1131 “Best Smelling Event of the Year”
Nile Dusdieker is in the studio ahead of the Eastern Iowa Orchid Society’s “Orchids are a Scream” show coming up Nov. 1-2 at the Radison Hotel Conference Center in Cedar Rapids. The show will feature beautiful orchid displays and will be a welcoming environment for anyone wishing to learn more, enjoy the sights (and smells), or purchase an orchid. Admission is free and doors open at 10am both days.
For more info visit easterniowaorchidsociety.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.
Culture Crawl 1130 “Urinetown… Eww! What’s That?”
Kirkwood Community College Presents, “Urinetown, The Musical” Oct. 31-Nov. 8 in Ballantyne Auditorium. In the studio is director Emma Kostiv and cast members Nina Torkelson (Little Sally) and Bridge Womachka (Soupy Sue) to give us the scoop on this quirky satirical parody. Showtimes are 7:30 p.m. Oct. 31 – Nov. 1, 2 p.m. Nov. 2, and 7:30 p.m. Nov. 6 – 8.
Tickets and more info at – kirkwood.edu/ballantyne
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.
Talking Pictures 10-22-25
“Tron:Ares” (2025) and “V/H/S/Halloween” (2025) with Hollis Monroe, Phil Brown and Monica Schmidt.
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Culture Crawl 1129 “Never Read the Comments”
At first glance, “Eureka Day,” a comedy about parents at a day school faced with a mumps epidemic, appears to be a tale of political correctness taken to the extreme, with cliché characters. But after a few minutes, you realize it’s a show full of. heart that takes you in unexpected directions that is funny as heck!
October 24-November 9 at Riverside Theatre. riversidetheatre.org for tickets and more information.
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 1128 “Many Years When We Weren’t Very Good”
River Glen is an Iowa native who has been a professional musician for nearly his entire life, having grown up in a family band. Today, he lives full-time on the road, performing solo shows all over the country. When he comes home to Iowa, he plays with a group of friends and collaborators. This will be the case at his show October 24th at The James Theater, which he’ll be with his usual Iowa band that includes Blake Shaw, Justin LeDuc, and Megan Elizabeth
Also on the bill is Calle Sur, a duo comprised of Ed East from Orquesta Alto Maiz and Karin Stein which performs a mix of their Panamanian and Colombian heritage.
The show is part of the One World Festival, produced by Natural Talent Music. Tickets at thejamesic.com. Learn more about One World at naturaltalentmusic.com. Follow River at riverglenmusic.com. Tickets at thejamesic.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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This Week’s Shows October 20 thru October 26
A Tribute to Roy Haynes (1925 – 2024)
Craig throws the spotlight once again on the drum work of the late Roy Haynes with another batch of recordings that feature Haynes from between 1949 and 2006. We’ll hear Roy with Chick Corea, Eric Dolphy, Gary Burton, Zoot Sims, Stan Getz, Jaki Byard, and a host of others.
Wednesday Night Special
Wednesdays at 6:00pm
All Hail da’Kings of da’Blues!
The Noelridge Park crowd had a serious case of da’Blues as Week Three of 2025’s Jazz Under the Stars united some of the finest bluesmen in the Midwest! The Linn County Blues All-Stars, the Janeys, and Kevin Burt, plus student openers 10th Street Rapids, gave a powerhouse show for the record books!
John Handy III, Show #1
Craig presents an enticing menu of recordings from saxophonist John Richard Handy III, going back to 1959 through 1995. We’ll also hear some Charles Mingus recordings featuring Handy from 1959 and 1960. Handy will turn 93 on Feb 3, 2026.
KCCK’s Midnight CD (October 20 – October 26)
Every Night at Midnight
KCCK features a new album every night, played from start-to-finish.
The Parts You Keep by Mike Pope on Monday; City Suite by the Ren Seo Collective on Tuesday; For the Record by Pete Mills on Wednesday; Right Time Left by Thom Rotella on Thursday; Good Company by Piper & the Hard Times on Friday; High Tide by BB & the Bullets on Saturday; Syndee Winters Sings Lena Horne by Syndee Winters on Sunday.