Crooked Path Theatre doubles up for the Halloween season. “Richard II” runs October. 15-25 at the James Theatre. And on Oct. 24-25, it’s cabaret with a spooky spin. “Midnight Seance” will feature popular songs with an original story set in a barn out in the country. What could possibly go wrong? Tickets and more information at crookedpaththeatre.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.
In today’s edition of Talking Pictures Hollis, Philm and Monica discuss Other Mommy (R/Psychological Horror/2026), and the British film Fackham Hall (R/Spoof Genre Bender/2026). Got something you’d like the gang to review? Drop them a line at talkingpics@kcck.org!
The longer Tim Hankewich conducts Orchestra Iowa, the shorter the list gets of pieces he’s never performed. A big one gets crossed of the list this week as Orchestra Iowa performs Felix Mendelssohn’s Violin Concerto, featuring concertmaster Julia Sakharova. Also on the program Rachmoninoff’s 3rd Symphony, and a unique piece called “Banner” that deconstructs one of America’s best-known tunes. Oct. 18 at the Paramount Theatre, October 19 at Voxman Hall of Music. Tickets and info at artsiowa.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.
KCCK General Manager Dennis Green has been presenting to 6th and 7th graders about KCCK and the career of radio, as a part of Career Pathways with the Workplace Learning Connection. As a group activity, students recorded the audio to a TV commercial. Page down to hear and see the work of students from Harding or watch on the KCCK YouTube Channel.
Thanks to Summer of the Arts for allowing us to use their video for the project!
“Honky Tonk Highway” is an original musical by Cedar Rapids native Rob Nassif that has been performed around the country countless times since its off-Broadway debut. It’s the story of the fictional country music legend Clint Colby, told from the point of view of his friends and bandmates. The story is told through an interesting conceit involving Clint’s cowboy hat, an dis full of laughs, a few tears and excellent music.
Rob is teaming up with SPT Theatre for a new production of the show at CSPS Hall Oct. 15-18. Tickets and more information at spttheatre.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.
Listen to this week’s playlist on YouTube and Spotify
Morocco’s position at the crossroads of Africa, Europe and the Middle East has given rise to one of the world’s richest musical traditions. It was perhaps inevitable that the inquisitive artistry of tenor saxophonist and composer JDAllen would eventually lead him there. Drawn by the hypnotic pulse, spiritual depth and communal spirit of Gnawa music, Allen immersed himself in its rhythms, its people and, above all, its capacity to communicate profound emotion through remarkable musical economy. Those experiences became the catalyst for “SOWT.”
From his years with Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers through decades leading Horizon, Bobby Watson has remained a vital force in contemporary jazz. Like Blakey before him, the acclaimed saxophonist, composer and educator has long embraced the responsibility of nurturing the next generation, welcoming fresh voices while remaining firmly rooted in the values of the music. Joined by longtime collaborators Curtis Lundy and Victor Jones, along with young talents Jordan Williams, Wallace Roney Jr. and Kysen Ellis, Watson once again demonstrates the artistic philosophy that has guided his remarkable career on the new disc, “Continuum.”
Also this week, Mike Conrad and the Iowa Jazz Composers Orchestra offer up their new project, “Our Harvest,” featuring pieces by Iowa composers Christopher Merz, Dan Padley, Bob Washut, Jon Snell, Bix Beiderbecke and Mr. Conrad; Michigan-based contemporary jazz ensemble Technocats continues its exploration of the compositions of Gregg Hill on “Passionata”; and L.A.-based saxophonist and composer Dennis Mitcheltree releases his eighth album of original music, “Seeing Red.”
Hey, Jazz fans! Be sure to tune in this week as we celebrate the birthdays of keyboard masters Art Tatum, Mel Rhynes, and Bill Charlap vibists Terry Gibbs and Johnny Lytle, singers Freddy Cole and Nancy Kelly, bassists Ray Brown, Palle Danielson and Reid Anderson and more! We’ll also mark the recording anniversary of Zoot Sims & Eddie “Lockjaw” Davis’ “The Tenor Giants feat. Oscar Peterson” (1975) and many others, Mondays thru Fridays and at noon on JAZZ MASTERS on Jazz 88.3 KCCK.
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