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

 

 

Clean Up Your Act 6-1-21

They might be playing soccer someday on a Des Moines Superfund site.

Podcast (cuya): Play in new window | Download

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New Music Monday for May 10, 2021

 Listen to this week’s playlist on YouTube and Spotify
     Renowned saxophonist Vincent Herring battles back from a bout with Covid-19 and career-threatening side effects with a defiant and joyful new album, “Preaching to the Choir,” with swinging help from pianist Cyrus Chestnut, bassist Yasushi Nakamura, and drummer Johnathan Blake. Herring speaks for nearly all of us when he says, “2020 into 2021 was a morbid nightmare.” He experienced the pandemic first hand, not only contracting the virus but also suffering the same loss of performance opportunities befalling every musician during the past year. Despite the prevailing darkness, the disc delivers a sermon of optimism and hope to the jazz faithful.

 

 

 

 

     Although many people may not realize it, Puerto Rico is the home of a vibrant and thriving jazz scene. It is here that Latin jazz trumpeter Charlie Sepulveda lives and does the bulk of his playing. Born in the Bronx, he appeared regularly in the Big Apple throughout the ’70s and ‘80s with the likes of Eddie Palmieri, Mongo Santamaria, Dave Valentin, Tito Puente and countless others. He currently a professor at the Puerto Rico Conservatory of Music and leads one of the island’s most popular jazz ensembles, The Turnaround. Their new CD, “This is Latin Jazz,” was recorded live early last year at Dizzy’s in New York.  

 

 

 

 

                  

Also this week, drummer Ulysses Owens, Jr., marks the recording debut of his exciting new 19-piece big band with “Soul Conversations,” also recorded live at Dizzy’s with special guests Christian McBride, Wynton Marsalis and Kurt Elling;

 

 

 

 

 

 

                    

vocalist Rebecca Kilgore, one of the most respected interpreters of the Great American Songbook, unveils “The Rebecca Kilgore Trio, Vol. 1,” the long-overdue recording from her Portland, Oregon-based ensemble.

 

 

 

 

 

 

           

 

 and “Human Qualities” brings back the 17 members of the progressive New York big band Schapiro 17 led by composer and arranger Jon Shapiro;

 

 

 

 

Talking Pictures 5-5-21

The Dig (2021) and War of the Worlds Goliath (2012) with Hollis Monroe, Phil Brown and Ron Adkins.

Podcast (talkingpics): Play in new window | Download

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Culture Crawl 632 “Kolache Benches”

The National Czech and Slovak Museum & Library hosts “The Iowa Pop Art Market,” May 15 at the Museum, during Czech Village Houby Days. A cooperative project with Iowa BIG, and local artists including Cara Briggs Farmer and Chainbreakers. You’ll see work from many different artists and creators as well as community-focused student projects including murals, documentary films, and interactive art installations. The market will also feature vintage clothing vendors, art demonstrations, kids activities, and much more.

Plus, there will be a sneak peek at a brand new interactive sculpture project, which will take the form of giant kolaches, which eventually will spread throughout the Village!

Info at www.ncsml.org.

Podcast (culturecrawl): Play in new window | Download

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KCCK’s Featured Album for May 2021

The KCCK Featured Album for May is “Corridor Jazz Project, Volume 14.” This annual production features the talented high school jazz bands from Cedar Rapids, Iowa City, Marion and beyond as they perform a tune each with their special guest musicians in professional recording sessions. They all get together afterward for a special  concert to present their work live. Despite the pandemic this year, the recordings took place and the concert was presented virtually, with all the appropriate protocols in place.  Purchase the CD.

This Week In Jazz May 2 thru May 8


Hey, Jazz fans! Be sure to tune in this week as we celebrate the birthdays of bassists Jymie Merritt and Ron Carter, pianist/composers Mary Lou Williams and John Lewis, trumpeters Maynard Ferguson and Richard Williams, trombonist Jimmy Cleveland and more. We’ll also mark the recording anniversaries of Art Blakey’s “The Jazz Messenger” (1956), Charles Minus’ “Mingus Ah Um” (1959), Dexter Gordon’s “Doin Alright” (1961), Eddie “Lockjaw” Davis’ “Straight Ahead” (1976), Junko Onishi Trio “Live at the Village Vanguard” (1994), “The Musical Mojo of Dr. John” (2014) and many others Mondays thru Fridays at noon on our JAZZ MASTERS ‘program on Jazz 88.3 KCCK.

Special Programs for May 3 thru May 8

Short List with Host Bob Naujoks

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

Short List: Al McKibbon

This week’s Short List series takes a listen to bassist Al McKibbon, who enjoyed a long, widely acclaimed, and varied career. Cal Tjader credits McKibbon for introducing him to Latin music. He was bassist for the legendary Giants of Jazz, and his resume including collaborations with Coleman Hawkins, Miles Davis, Count Basie, Thelonious Monk, George Shearing, and many others.

 

 

 

Jazz Corner of the World with Host Craig Kessler

Mondays at 6:00 PM

Cannonball Adderley, 1961 to 1964

In this 4th chronological show, Craig presents special selections from more of Cannonball Adderley’s fine Riverside recordings, some of his early Capitol recordings, more “live” recordings, and several vocal dates with Nancy Wilson and Eddie ‘Cleanhead’ Vinson. It’s a most satisfying show!

 

 

 

 

The Wednesday Night Special

Wednesdays at 6:00 PM

Ben Allison & Think Free

Bassist Ben Allison and his band Think Free made the 2015 Iowa City Jazz Festival one of the stops in their constant, worldwide touring schedule. Allison, guitarist Steve Cardenas, drummer Allan Mednard, and trumpeter Ingrid Jensen delighted the Pentacrest crowd with their devotion to melody and groove.

 

 

 

Jazz Night in America with host Christian McBride

Thursdays at 11:00 PM

NEA Jazz Master Terri Lynn Carrington

Host Christian McBride’s celebration of 2021’s NEA Jazz Masters continues with Terri Lynn Carrington. This drummer, composer, educator, producer, and band leader has worked with the whole spectrum of jazz – from Oscar Peterson to Dizzy Gillespie. We’ll hear music spanning her wide-ranging style and learn about her mission for gender justice in jazz.

 

 

 

 

 

Jazz Corner of the World with Host Craig Kessler 

Saturdays at 12:00 Noon

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!   

 

 

 

 

KCCK’s Midnight CD

Every Night at Midnight

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

Not a Novelty by Jennifer Wharton’s Bonegasm on Monday; Kinetic by the Steve Feifke Big Band on Tuesday; Nascienta (Birth) by Steve Slagle on Wednesday; Still Doing Our Thing by Behn Gillece on Thursday; Supramundane Blues (Disc 1) by Reverend Freakchild on Friday; Dance Songs For Hard Times by Reverend Payton’s Big Damn Band on Saturday; Trio by Bill Cunliffe, John Patitucci & Vinnie Colaiuta on Sunday