New Music Monday for May 17, 2021

   Listen to this week’s playlist on YouTube and Spotify
 “Listening to Jihye Lee and her mic-drop orchestra is like watching your life flash before your eyes. You see it all: the richness of spirit one can attain, all the sadness one can espouse, all the waltzing mischief to which one can aspire.” That’s what All About Jazz says about the bandleader and composer, a Korean native who is a refreshing new force in contemporary jazz, and her new CD, “Daring Mind.” Ms. Lee’s colorful and diverse artistic statement reflects her “struggles, doubts, joys and hopes while living in the amazing city of New York.”

 

 

 

 

     “Lovesome Thing” is Anais Reno’s first album, recorded in 2020 when she was 16. By then, the award-winning Ms. Reno had already won acclaim for her dedication to the Great American Songbook. Living in New York City, she began singing when she was eight, and since the age of ten has performed with an array of noted jazz artists at venues including Birdland, Carnegie Hall and Jazz at Lincoln Center. She is currently a senior drama major at Manhattan’s LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and Performing Arts.

 

 

 

 

                           

Also this week, the Echo Park Project, a veteran band from the Los Angeles salsa scene, releases its sixth CD, “It’s My Turn”;

 

 

 

 

 

 

                    

singer and pianist Norah Jones was recorded live in the U.S., Europe and South America for “…’Till We Meet Again”;

 

 

 

 

 

 

       

     and organist Kendall Carter is joined by guitarist Dave Stryker on his debut, “Introducing Kendall Carter.”  

 

 

 

 

Culture Crawl 634 “And Then The Audience Vanished”

Magician and mentalist Scott Silven brings his virtual show “The Journey” to Hancher through May 15. Only 30 virtual “seats” are available for each show, but tickets are still available.

“The Journey” is a mind-bending, personal experience, as Scott weaves stories from his own youth and teases out reflections from audience members, with truly magical reveals that he somehow knew all along what you were going to say!

Join The Journey while you still can at www.hancher.uiowa.edu.

Culture Crawl 633 “Truckload of Soul”

Summer of the Arts is transitioning to in-person events this summer. The Friday Night Concert Series will be virtual in May and June, with a mix of new and Best Of streaming shows. Kevin Burt and Dave Zollo will reprise last year’s traveling concerts, doing mobile sets around Iowa City. The Free Movie Series will again start off as a drive-in event at the Iowa airport, beginning May 29.

The in-person season kicks off with the Iowa City Jazz Festival, July 2 and 3, in some new locations. Friday will be at the Ped Mall and Saturday on Clinton Street, adjacent to the Pentacrest.

Friday Night Concerts will be in person beginning July 9, with the Soul and Blues Festival July 31-Aug. 2, and the Iowa Arts Festival Aug. 13-15.

Talking Pictures 5-12-21

Mortal Kombat (2021) and Painkiller (2021) with Hollis Monroe, Phil Brown and Scott Chrisman.

Watch The Corridor Jazz Performances Online

Nearly 2000 people checked out the Corridor Jazz Virtual concert on May 7, with music videos from 13 area schools, featuring introductions and comments from students, teachers, and a few surprise guests. But if you missed it, you can still watch! 
 
 
Approximate performance times:

:03 Linn-Mar High School Colton Center Jazz Ensemble, featuring John Hall
:11 Cedar Rapids Xavier High School Jazz Band One, featuring Christopher Jensen
:25 Liberty High School Jazz Ensemble, featuring Madeline Lanxon
:34 Prairie High School Jazz One, featuring Jonah Prall
:46 Marion High School Jazz Band One, featuring Saul Lubaroff
:54 Shoutout to Jazz All-Staters
:55 Cedar Rapids Washington High School Revolutionists
1:10 Mt. Vernon Swingin’ STANGS, featuring Amy Friedl Stoner
1:18 Cedar Rapids Jefferson Jazz Ensemble, featuring Brian Zeglis
1:29 Center Point-Urbana Jazz Band
1:45 Lisbon High School Jazz Band, featuring Jim Dreier
1:57 City High School Jazz Ensemble
2:08 Solon High School Jazz Orchestra

2:17 Cedar Rapids Kennedy High School Jazz Band One

Thanks to our concert sponsor, MidWest One Bank, along with Coe College, West Music, Kirkwood Community College, Orchestra Iowa, Rubicon Photo, the Strauss Family, and Scheels.

This Week In Jazz May 9 thru May 15


Hey, Jazz fans! Be sure to tune in this week as we celebrate the birthdays of composer Irving Berlin, singer Maxine Waters, bassists Buddy Catlett and Gary Peacock, pianist Red Garland, drummer Mel Lewis and more!!! We’ll also mark the recording anniversaries of Miles Davis Quintet’s “Relaxin’/Steamin’/Workin'” (1956), Kenny Burrell’ “Blue Lights, Vol. 1 & 2” (1958), Lee Morgan/Thad Jones’ “Minor Strain” (1960), Earl ‘Fatha’ Hines’ “At the Party” (1970), “Work Song: The Nat Adderley Sextet Live at Sweet Basil” (1990), The Great Jazz Trio’s “Autumn Leaves” (2002) and many others Monday thru Friday at noon on our JAZZ MASTERS‘ program on Jazz 88.3 KCCK.

Special Programs for May 10 thru May 15

Short List with Host Bob Naujoks

Monday – Friday at 8:35 AM and Saturdays at 7 AM

Short List: Herb Geller

This week’s Short List series spotlights Herb Geller, a saxophonist, composer, and arranger whose career lists a Who’s Who of jazz collaborators. After a stint with the Billy May Orchestra, Geller went on to jam and record with Chet Baker, Miles Davis, Stan Getz, and dozens more. In 1955, he was named Downbeat Magazine’s “New Star,” and received worldwide acclaim for his work with Clifford Brown.

 

 

 

Jazz Corner of the World with Host Craig Kessler

Mondays at 6:00 PM

Jazz and the Spoken Word, Part 2

Craig again presents a variety of spoken forms in a jazz context. We’ll hear poet Barry Wallenstein w/pianist Stanley Cowell, a lengthy narration by Duke Ellington along with his orchestra, more poetry by Jack Kerouac, poetry from Lawrence Ferlinghetti, Jayne Cortez, Ted Joans, Amiri Baraka, and many others. Don’t miss it!

 

 

 

 

The Wednesday Night Special

Wednesdays at 6:00 PM

Equilateral

Jazz legend Steve Swallow described Chris Merz and Equilateral as, “really vital, thoughtful, articulate players” who play in the moment with intelligence and great energy. Jazz fans at the 2010 Iowa City Jazz Festival agreed.

 

 

 

 

 

Jazz Night in America with host Christian McBride

Thursdays at 11:00 PM

50 Years at the Village Vanguard

Host Christian McBride traces the legendary Vanguard Jazz Orchestra to its roots, descending the stairs to the Village Vanguard, and learning how this band’s tradition for excellent composition and performance has made it a 50-year tradition. We’ll also hear sets from their weekly sold-out Monday night gigs.

 

 

 

 

 

Jazz Corner of the World with Host Craig Kessle

Saturdays at 12:00 Noon

Tribute to Chick Corea, Part 4

Covering material from mid-1971 into 1972, Craig spins more of his Chick Corea favorites. We’ll hear Chick’s trio and quartet recordings, as well as some work with Joe Farrell, Elvin Jones, Anthony Braxton, Richard Davis, some solo piano on ECM, and some of the beginnings of his group Return To Forever. Absolutely essential listening!

 

 

 

 

KCCK’s Midnight CD

Every Night at Midnight

Each night, KCCK gives you the chance to hear a new CD played start-to-finish.

A New Perspective by the Ian Charleton Big Band on Monday; Genealogy by the Code Quartet on Tuesday; Live at the Deer Head Inn by Jim Snidero on Wednesday; Outrospection: the Music of Gregg Hill by Rodney Whitaker on Thursday; Rising Up by Alex Lopez on Friday; You Gotta Have It by Tia Carroll on Saturday; Vessels of Wood & Earth by Dan Wilson on Sunday

Corridor Jazz Project “concert”

The Corridor Jazz Project 2021

With so many of the usual music activities cancelled during the pandemic, we are working with teachers and administrators to put on the Corridor Jazz Project safely. Recordings took place at individual schools, working within the latest guidelines to reduce the chance of virus spread.

The “concert” was live streamed on May 7 and featured a video of each school’s recording session,  and co-hosted by students and special guests from participating schools. 

See photos from the 2021 Corridor Jazz Project Recording Sessions.

 

Watch individual band performances on YouTube.

 

 

 

 

View the concert!

Approximate performance times:

:03 Linn-Mar High School Colton Center Jazz Ensemble, featuring John Hall
:11 Cedar Rapids Xavier High School Jazz Band One, featuring Christopher Jensen
:25 Liberty High School Jazz Ensemble, featuring Madeline Lanxon
:34 Prairie High School Jazz One, featuring Jonah Prall
:46 Marion High School Jazz Band One, featuring Saul Lubaroff
:54 Shoutout to Jazz All-Staters
:55 Cedar Rapids Washington High School Revolutionists
1:10 Mt. Vernon Swingin’ STANGS, featuring Amy Friedl Stoner
1:18 Cedar Rapids Jefferson Jazz Ensemble, featuring Brian Zeglis
1:29 Center Point-Urbana Jazz Band
1:45 Lisbon High School Jazz Band, featuring Jim Dreier
1:57 City High School Jazz Ensemble
2:08 Solon High School Jazz Orchestra

2:17 Cedar Rapids Kennedy High School Jazz Band One

Support this important Project!

Order the 2021 Corridor Jazz Project CD.

 

Thank you to our generous Sponsors!

 

The Strauss Family