Orchestra Iowa’s Masterworks season begins Oct. 9 and 10 with “Beethoven 5 By 5.” It’s an all-Beethoven program, as renown pianist Stewart Goodyear performs “The Emperor” Piano Concerto. The other “5” is Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony, as the orchestra tackles arguably the most refrain in all of music. Tim Hankewich even purchased a brand new score of Beethoven 5 for the occasion!
Oct. 9 at the Paramount, Oct. 10 at the Coralville Center for the Performing Arts. Tickets and more info at www.orchestraiowa.org.
Listen to this week’s playlist on YouTube and Spotify Pat Metheny has unveiled the latest chapter in his wildly prolific career, “Side-Eye NYC V1.IV,” a new setting featuring the 20-time Grammy winner accompanied by a handpicked and rotating cast of players featuring some of the most exciting and innovative new musicians on the New York scene. Recorded just before the pandemic at the Sony Music Hall in New York City, the disc deftly balances a mix of stunning new originals with inventive reworkings of some of Metheny’s most beloved compositions. He’s joined by keyboardist James Francies and drummer Marcus Gilmore.
In the summer of 1961, Count Basie and his orchestra played the iconic New York jazz club, Birdland, which Basie considered his musical home. The result was one of the best live recordings of a big band ever. Almost 60 years later, the Count Basie Orchestra, now under the direction of Scotty Barnhart and still performing all over the world, returned to Birdland to once again do a live recording. “Live at Birdland” captures the current band at its peak with its potent mix of seasoned veterans and emerging voices.
Also this week, “Symphony Hall Concert” is a previously unreleased live set from the Erroll Garner Trio from January 17, 1959 in Boston;
“…Dreaming in Lions…” from the Arturo O’Farrill Afro Latin Jazz Ensemble features music composed by Arturo in collaboration with the Malpaso Dance Company;
and guitarists LarryCarlton and Paul Brown join forces on “Soul Searchin’.”
Host Craig Kessler continues his chronological salute to the late keyboard master Chick Corea by sharing some stellar material from the late 1990s, and moving into the 2000s. We’ll hear absolutely top-notch, masterful jazz from one of the true geniuses of modern music!
The Wednesday Night Special
Wednesdays at 6:00 PM
Eric Thompson Quintet at Jazz Under the Stars
It may be October, but KCCK keeps summer alive just a little while longer, as we listen back to Jazz Under the Stars. Eric Thompson and his Quintet kicked things off, welcoming us back to live music with an unforgettable night of hot jazz.
Jazz Night in America
Thursdays at 11:00 PM
Billy Taylor Centennial
Host Christian McBride leads a centennial celebration of pianist and composer Dr. Billy Taylor, hailing him as “a true giant and ambassador of jazz.” Taylor was not only a phenomenal musician, but also a jazz educator, media pioneer, and an advocate for social justice and civil rights. We’ll hear stories and music from Taylor’s legendary career.
Jazz Corner of the World
Saturdays at 12:00 Noon
Another Listen to A&M Horizon
Host Craig Kessler spins more goodies from this short-lived jazz label. We’ll hear from Dave Brubeck, Jim Hall, Paul Desmond, Dave Liebman, Thad Jones, Mel Lewis, and many others! Don’t miss it!
KCCK’s Midnight CD
Every Night at Midnight
Each night, KCCK gives you the chance to hear a new CD played start-to-finish.
Strange Lands by Nicole Glover on Monday;Don’t Stop the Carnival by the Mercer Hassy Orchestra on Tuesday;Open World by Chad Lefkowitz-Brown & the Global Big Band on Wednesday; Connections by Matthew Whitaker on Thursday; Rusty Ends Blues Band by Rusty Ends Blues Band on Friday; Mr. Luck: a Tribute to Jimmy Reed by The Ronnie Wood Band on Saturday; Comes Love: Lost Session 1960 by Sheila Jordan on Sunday
Hey, Jazz fans, be sure to tune in this week as we celebrate the birthdays of bassists Jimmy Blanton, Steve Swallow and Eddie Gomez, drummers Jo Jones, Alvin Stoller and J.C. Heard, pianist Walter Bishop, Jr., organist Larry Young and more. We’ll also mark the recording anniversaries of “Stan Getz & J.J. Johnson at the Opera House” (1957), Horace Silver’s “Paris Blues” (1962), Dave Brubeck’s “All the Things We are (1974), The Phil Woods Quartet “At the Village Vanguard (1982), Hiromi’s “Spark” (2015) and many others Mondays thru Fridays at noon on JAZZ MASTERS ‘on Jazz 88.3 KCCK.
Listen to this week’s playlist on YouTube and Spotify “Sing a Song of Bird” is a collaboration of four New York jazz vocalists who are passionate about Charlie Parker’s music and have rendered new lyrics to six of his compositions. Roseanna Vitro conceived and guided this project but chose not to sing on every tune. Instead, she hands the microphone to her mentors, bebop jazz legends Bob Dorough, Sheila Jordan and Marion Cowings, each of whom take solo turns with their own unique and soulful interpretations on several compositions by Bird.
On “More Music,” five-time Grammy nominee and master organist JoeyDeFrancesco, who has long supplemented his keyboard virtuosity with his skilled trumpet playing, here brings out his full arsenal: organ, keyboard, piano, trumpet and, for the first time on record, tenor saxophone. The disc offers up ten new DeFrancesco originals, brought to life by a scintillating new trio with fellow Philadelphia organist and guitarist Lucas Brown and gifted drummer Michael Ode.
Also this week, pianist and composer Marc Cary debuts a new trio on “Life Lessons,” with bassist Dan Chmielinski and drummer Diego Joaquin Ramirez;
Nashville-based pianist and composer Pat Coil’s precision and musicality shine on “How Deep is the Ocean,” a stellar collection of jazz standards and originals;
and Stacey Kent’s “Songs from Other Places” is a captivating and eclectic collection of voice and piano duets with her friend Art Hirahara, including songs by Paul Simon, the Beatles, Stevie Nicks and others.
Paul Lichty is a jazz trombonist, composer, and educator, who is releasing his first album of compositions and arrangements for big band, “Dark Soul.” Recorded pre-pandemic, the long-awaited release debuts at a free concert Oct. 17, 5pm at the River Place Plaza in Cedar Falls.
More info and an order link for the “Dark Soul” at www.paullichtymusic.com
Listen to this week’s playlist on 
Jazz Corner of the World Encore 
Jazz Night in America
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