New Music Monday for August 3, 2020

     Listen to this week’s playlist on YouTube and Spotify
Ray Mantilla was one of the true conga giants from the 1950s through the ‘70s recording hundreds of album sessions and pioneering the use of unique combinations of Latin percussion instruments. In 1977, he was chosen by the great jazz ambassador Dizzy Gillespie to accompany him to Cuba as the first U.S. band to visit the island since the travel embargo of 1962. For his new CD, “Rebirth,” Mantilla surrounded himself with his longtime colleagues Edy Martinez, Ivan Renta, Guido Gonzalez, Diego Lopez and others. After a long illness, the irrepressible conguero passed away a few short months after completing sessions for the CD.

 

 

     The Black Art Jazz Collective was founded in 2012 by Wayne Escoffery and Jeremy Pelt with the aim of honoring and preserving the art of some of the progenitors of jazz who inspired them, hired them and mentored them first hand. And while the band does pay homage to the greats of the past they also continue the evolving tradition of jazz with a body of work that remains firmly entrenched in the modernism of today. On their new CD, “Ascension,” the ensemble extends the range and potential established by their illustrious predecessors with innovative original compositions, solos that run the gamut from thoughtful to virtuosic and a shared sense of purpose that is unique on today jazz landscape.

 

 

                     

Also this week, pianist Art Hirahara undergoes a transformative journey of self-exploration to discover the “Balance Point” on his fifth release;

 

 

 

 

                

 pianist Jordan Siegel combines the inventiveness and interplay of jazz with the transportive emotional power of the best film scores on his debut release, “Beyond Images”;

 

 

 

         

     and pianist, saxophonist and composer Zen Zadravec pushes the boundaries in the use of harmony, melody, rhythm and time signatures on his latest CD, “Human Revolution.”

 

 

KCCK’s Featured CD for August 2020

The KCCK Featured CD for August is “Just Coolin'” from Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers. In the fall of 1958, saxophonist Hank Mobley had returned to the band after the departure of Benny Golson. He would join trumpeter Lee Morgan on the front line, with bassist Jymiie Merritt and pianist Bobby Timmons rounding out the quintet. The ensemble entered Rudy Van Gelder’s Studio the following March to record a new album. Yet the results of the session remained unissued for sixty years. In 2020, it’s great to find more Morgan, Mobley and Timmons in their prime on the newly issued “Just Coolin'”! It’s on Blue Note Records. Purchase the CD. 

Jim Dreier – The JEI Hall of Fame Interview

Dennis Green talks to Latin Jazz guru Jim Dreier on the occasion of Jim’s induction into the Jazz Educators of Iowa Hall of Fame. Jim talks about how he didn’t even play in high school band, but still attended the prestigious Berklee School of Music, and how it was listening to Chick Corea and Airto Moriea that helped him connect to jazz. Always fascinated by Afro-Cuban and Brazilian rhythms, Jim had to move back to Iowa to play in a full-time Latin band, the legendary Orquesta Alto Maiz. He has written a book on teaching and performing Latin Jazz, directs the UI Latin Jazz Ensemble, and keeps busy as clinician. Along the way, we’ll hear tunes from Jim performing with the Salsa Band, Ritmocano, and the Beaker Brothers. 

Podcast (specials): Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | RSS

Culture Crawl 582 “Pop-Up Boosktore”

Swamp Fox Bookstore has just opened in a new shopping district in Marion, West End Shops. Terri LeBlanc says she and co-owners Ursla Lamphear and Amanda Zhorne offer unique ability to help you find books to your taste, even if you never set foot in the store!

On Aug. 1 at 3pm, Swamp Fox will offer a virtual author chat with best-selling writer Alison McGhee. .gister to attend or find your next favorite book at www.swampfoxbookstore.com

Podcast (culturecrawl): Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | RSS

Talking Pictures 7-29-20

Radioactive (Amazon), You Should Have Left (2020) and Warrior Nun (Netflix

) with Hollis Monroe, Phil Brown and Monica Schmidt.

Podcast (talkingpics): Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | RSS

Special Programs for July 27 thru August 1

Short List with host Bob Naujoks   

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

B-3 Blitz: Dr. Lonnie Smith

B-3 legend Dr. Lonnie Smith credits his musical family for steeping him in gospel, classical, and jazz. After an early start working with George Benson, Smith began a solo career that spans over 30 albums as a leader. He has also collaborated with many of the best in soul and jazz, including Ron Carter, Lou Donaldson, and Etta James.

 

 

Jazz Corner of the World with Host Craig Kessler

Mondays at 6:00 PM

Tribute to Reedman Eric Dolphy     

Craig spins material from a number of the various Eric Dolphy tribute records made over the years, since Dolphy’s untimely death in 1964.  We’ll hear from Silke Eberhard, Dave Hagedorn, Oliver Lake, Han Bennink, Jackie McLean, Ted Curson, Jerome Harris, Harold Danko, and many others.

 

 

 

The Wednesday Night Special

Wednesdays at 6:00 PM

Latin Jazz of Carlos Santana

Carlos Santana’s pioneering Latin-infused guitar changed the way we listen to many genres of music, including jazz. Seven of eastern Iowa’s premier musicians, along with KCCK’s Bob Stewart, paid tribute to Santana’s groundbreaking work at 2017’s “Jazz In the Stacks” at the Cedar Rapids Public Library.

 

 

Jazz Night In America with Host Christian McBride

Thursdays at 11:00 PM

Early Newport 

Host Christian McBride curates some great sets from the Newport Jazz Festival’s early years. We’ll hear hand-picked rare recordings by the Dave Brubeck Quartet, Horace Silver, and Clifford Brown with Max Roach.

 

 

 

 

Jazz Corner of the World with Host Craig Kessler 

Saturdays at 12:00 Noon

Charlie Parker on Clef and Norgran     

Jazz Corner of the World dedicates the month of August to the centennial anniversary of Charlie Parker. This week, Craig surveys Bird’s work that he did for various labels owned by Norman Granz (1948 to 1954). These classic recordings include small and large bebop groups, his Latin jazz recordings, and the famous “Bird with strings” recordings.

 

KCCK’s Midnight CD

Every Night at Midnight

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

Move On! by Purdie Fabian Oswanski on Monday; West Meets East by the Adam Schulman Septet on Tuesday; Rise & Shine by the Grant Stewart Quartet on Wednesday; A Set of Originals by Spike Willner & the Smalls Live All-Stars on Thursday; Deep Dark Demon by the Mark May Band on Friday; Emergency Exit by Throttle Elevator Music on Saturday; Happening: Live at the Village Vanguard by Gerald Clayton on Sunday

This Week In Jazz July 26 thru August 1

Hey, Jazz fans!!! Be sure to tune in this week as we celebrate the birthdays of trumpeter Erskine Hawkins, drummers Charlie Persip, Vernell Fournier and Dafnis Prieto, singers Ellyn Rucker, Nneena Freelon, Karrin Allyson and Kevin Mahogany, guitarists Charlie Christian, Joe Beck, Kenny Burrell and Stanley Jordan and more!!! We’ll also mark the recording anniversaries of Billy Taylor trio’s “Cross Section” (1954), Conte Candoli’s “Powerhouse Trumpet” (1955), Elmo Hope’s “Meditations” (1955), Tommy Flanagan Trio’s “Lady Be Good…For Ella” (1983), Charlie Haden Quartet West’s “Always Say Goodbye” (1993) and many others throughout the week and Mondays thru Fridays at noon on our ‘JAZZ MASTERS’ program on Jazz 88.3 KCCK!!!

New Music Monday for July 27, 2020

      Listen to this week’s playlist on YouTube and Spotify
When Benny Golson left Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers in 1958, the drummer turned to a Messenger alumnus, Hank Mobley, to take over the sax chair. Known for his writing as well as his playing, Mobley had worked with both trumpeter Lee Morgan and pianist Bobby Timmons as well as Blakey. When this early-’59 Messengers unit entered Rudy Van Gelder’s studio on March 8, half the tracks were Mobley originals. The results of that session, however, remained unissued for 60 years. Now available for the first time, “Just Coolin’” features Morgan, Mobley, and Timmons all in their prime.

 

 

Steve Grismore has been playing guitar for over 50 years and is one of the most in-demand players in Eastern Iowa and beyond. He grew up in Iowa and, after studying and teaching at various schools around the country, received his M.A. in Jazz Theory from the University of Iowa and became Director of Jazz Studies there for three years beginning in 1990. He returned to the school in 2000 and continues as a full-time jazz instructor there. He’s performed with many nationally-recognized jazz artists as well as various local ensembles over the years and is the co-founder of the prestigious Iowa City Jazz Festival. His new CD, “Better Times (Are A Comin’): Steve Grismore Trio plays the Music of Ornette Coleman” is his first trio recording in eight years and features Fabio Augustinas on drums and Danny Oline on bass.

 

 

                    

Also this week, Steve Slagle and his trio are “Alive in Harlem,” recorded in honor of Charlie Parker’s 100th centennial year;

 

 

 

 

                

multi-instrumentalist, composer and producer Derrick Hodge’s 3rd album, “Color of Noize,” reflects a melting pot of influences and experiences with jazz flow, hip-hop groove, soulful depth and creative fire;

 

 

 

         

      and on “The Question,” pianist Glenn Zaleski returns to an ensemble, the quintet, that provided a great deal of inspiration early in his development.