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.
KCCK’s Featured Album for May 2021
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
Kirkwood Board of Trustees to meet May 13, 2021
The regular meeting of the Kirkwood Board of Trustees will take place May 13, 2021. Time, place, and meeting agenda can be found at this link.
New Music Monday for May 3, 2021
Listen to this week’s playlist on YouTube and Spotify
The charismatic performances that distinguish “Outrospection” center on eleven expressive compositions from Gregg Hill, an under-the-radar composer of imagination and emotional depth. Renowned bassist Rodney Whitaker first recognized Hill’s music several years ago when they worked on a project together. Warmth and humanity resonate throughout the new recording, grown out of their friendship. The exceptional improvisers joining Whitaker are drawn primarily from the jazz faculty at Michigan State University, the program he has helmed for two decades. They include trumpeter Etienne Charles, pianist Xavier Davis, drummer Dana Hall, saxophonist Diego Rivera and trombonist Michael Dease.
Code Quartet is a collective based out of Montreal. Formed four years ago by saxophonist Christine Jensen, trumpeter Lex French, bassist Adrian Vedady and drummer Jim Doxas, the group came together with the equal goals of composing and improvising in a chordless-quartet setting. The primary motivation for the formation of the group has been to build on the freedom of expression pioneered by Ornette Coleman’s seminal group of the 1950s. They’ve spent the last three years sculpting their original compositions as a team, leading them to exciting performing opportunities and, now, their debut album, “Genealogy.”
Also this week, the inventive and engaging composer and imaginative arranger Ian Charleton leads his eighteen-piece big band on their second release, “A Fresh Perspective”;
alto saxophonist Jim Snidero was able to assemble a quartet during the pandemic for a feasible, safe, limited-audience gig “Live at the Deer Head Inn”;
and guitarist/composer Dan Wilson, who has worked in the trios of Joey DeFrancesco and Christian McBride, debuts on disc with “Vessels of Wood and Earth.”
Culture Crawl 631 “Telling The Story Backwards”
The Arthur Collins Legacy Association premieres its third documentary detailing the critical role Collins Radio has played in the U.S. space program.
“Steps To The Moon” tells how the company became a leader in successful communication and tracking of satellites from a site north of Cedar Rapids called Echo Hill, in the very early days of the space program. The film debuts at the Collins Road Theatres on May 5, the 60th anniversary of the first U.S. manned flight into space by Alan Shepard.
The Collins Legacy Association has told the story in reverse chronological order, beginning with the company’s involvement in the Apollo moon missions in “Live From The Moon,” and “Moon Talk,” both released in 2019.
Tickets available at www.collinsroadtheatres.com. Visit the Legacy Association at www.arthurcollins.org.
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Corridor Jazz Guest DJs – Mt. Vernon
And the first shall be last! The Mt. Vernon Swingin’ STANGS were the first band we recorded for Corridor Jazz this year, but ended up being our final guest DJ hour. The songs were largely picked by Jasper Rood, and show how jazz has influenced video game music. Fellow seniors Sage Boettcher, and Kai Yamanishi talk about how the trio met while portraying “Three Men in a Tub” for a children’s theatre presentation, how much fun it is to annoy Mt. Vernon director Scott Weber, and why it’s fun to make your sax sound like a goose in a washing machine.
Playlist:
- “After You’ve Gone” – Jessy Carolina
- “Beyond The Sea” – Bobby Darin
- “God Bless The Child” – Billie Holiday
- “Bei Mir Bist Du Schoen” – The Andrews Sisters
- “Lost In Paradise” – ALI, AKLO
- “Another Day of Sun” – La La Land
- “Last Train Home” – Pat Metheny
- “I Will Always Think of You” – Jane Krakowski & Colman Domingo
- “BoJack’s Theme” – BoJack Horseman
- “Coin-Op Bop” – Kristofer Maddigan
- “Shout” – The Isley Brothers
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Culture Crawl 630 “Advance Eulogy”
The History Center of Cedar Rapids is returning to in-person events, with appropriate precautions. Oral Histories Live returns May 4, featuring longtime Gazette columnist Dave Rasdal. And entrepreneur Steve Shriver will be “eulogized” during the next “Famous Last Words,” May 8.
The History Center will also host a Roaring Twenties-themed lawn party in July. Listen through to the end of the show when we reveal the headliner for the first time!
www.historycenter.org.
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