Hey, Jazz fans! Be sure to tune in this week as we celebrate the birthdays of guitarists George Benson and Melvin Sparks, pianist/composer Dave Frishberg, vibists Dave Pike and Stefon Harris, saxmen Flip Phillips and James Moody and more! We’ll also mark the recording anniversaries of Kenny Dorham’s “Afro-Cuban” (1955), “Sonny Rollins Plus 4” (1956), Hank Mobley’s “Workout” (1961), Max Roach/Dizzy Gillespie’s “Max and Diz Paris 1989” (1989) and many others through and out the week and Mondays thru Fridays at noon on our ‘JAZZ MASTERS’ program on Jazz 88.3 KCCK.
This Week In Jazz March 21 thru March 27
Special Programs for March 22 thru March 27
Short List with Host Bob Naujoks
Monday – Friday at 8:35 AM and Saturdays at 7 AM
Short List: The Final Series
This week, The Short List begins its final series with a renowned and influential New Orleans player. Sidney Bechet became a master of the soprano saxophone and remained “old school” until his death in 1959. Along the way he would record with his contemporary, Louis Armstrong, and be the face of the 1940s-1950s traditional jazz revival. His song, “Petite Fleur,” would become his lasting legacy.
Jazz Corner of the World with Host Craig Kessler
Mondays at 6:00 PM
Tribute to Chick Corea (6/12/1941 – 2/9/2021)
In this first of five tribute shows for Armando “Chick” Corea, Craig spins some of his favorite selections from some of Chick’s very first recordings with Mongo Santamaria, Blue Mitchell, Miles Davis, and others, and some of Chick’s first recordings under his own leadership. Tune in for some monumental bricks and mortar from some of the key years of our jazz literature … music of the great Chick Corea.
The Wednesday Night Special
Wednesdays at 6:00 PM
Ingrid Jensen & Nordic Connect
Our month-long celebration of Women’s History Month continues with Canadian trumpeter Ingrid Jensen. Hailed as one of the most gifted and in-demand instrumentalists of her generation, Jensen has collaborated with a number of ensembles – most recently the all-female supergroup Artemis – and fronts three of her own bands. We got to hear Jensen in Iowa City in 2014 with Nordic Connect, her high-energy, distinctly post-bop group.
Jazz Night in America with host Christian McBride
Thursdays at 11:00 PM
Lizz Wright’s Road Trip
Host Christian McBride follows vocalist Lizz Wright as she traces her roots, both literally and metaphorically through music. She charts a route through her own life, as well as her parents’, from Appalachia to rural Georgia. We get to hear the musical discoveries of that journey.
Jazz Corner of the World with Host Craig Kessler
Saturdays at 12:00 Noon
Cannonball in 1958
Our 2nd of six chronological shows finds us looking at the very significant year of 1958! We’ll hear Adderley with trumpeter Louis Smith, a classic Blue Note release with Miles Davis, a couple of Columbia records with Miles and Coltrane, some Gil Evans, and some of Adderley’s own releases. Tune in for true Jazz classics!
KCCK’s Midnight CD
Every Night at Midnight
Each night, KCCK gives you the chance to hear a new CD played start-to-finish.
Albare Plays Jobim, Volume 2 by Albare on Monday; The Mulligan Chronicles by David Larsen on Tuesday; Songs of Joy by the Yoko Miwa Trio on Wednesday; Quartet Sessions by Chad Lefkowitz-Brown on Thursday; You’ve Got To Be Carefully Taught by Gary Negbaur on Friday; Express Connection by Tomislav Goluban on Saturday; Firm Roots by Chris White & Lara Driscoll on Sunday
New Music Monday for March 22, 2021
Listen to this week’s playlist on YouTube and Spotify
Born in New York to Colombian parents, Nelson Riveros grew up learning about the music and cultures of the Americas. After playing a gig of some of Wes Montgomery’s vaunted repertoire a few years ago, he had the idea of reimagining the legendary guitarist’s music in Latin American styles. “The Latin Side of Wes Montgomery” is the long-awaited second release by the acclaimed guitarist, composer and arranger. “I started to hear all kinds of rhythms, basslines, and melodic variations to some of his tunes,” Riveros explains. “The next day I started writing arrangements, and this very project began to take shape.”
More than fifteen years after his last release as a leader, saxophonist Rick Margitza makes his long-awaited return with the captivating new album, “Sacred Hearts.” The deeply personal disc takes stock of the joys and tragedies that have unfolded over the last decade and a half, with new compositions dedicated to those lost along the way as well as the new life that has come into being. The overall feeling is far from mournful. Margitza set out to celebrate lives well lived rather than to dwell on tragic losses.
Also this week, “Cleveland Time” is the debut release from Matthew Alec and the Soul Electric, a jazz fusion group based in, and celebrating, Cleveland;
for her sophomore release, “Everybody Knows,” vocalist Brianna Thomas presents a book of songs that encapsulates common human experiences and honors the universal truths “everybody knows”;
and the Mexico City-born, Los Angeles-based bassist/composer/arranger Mauricio Morales delivers his compelling first outing, “Luna.”
Talking Pictures 3-17-21
Minari (2020) and Bliss (Amazon Prime 2021) with Hollis Monroe, Phil Brown and Scott Chrisman.
Podcast (talkingpics): Play in new window | Download
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This Week In Jazz March 14 thru March 20
Hey, Jazz fans!!! Be sure to tune in this week as we celebrate the birthdays of pianist/singers Nat King Cole and Eliane Elias, organist Shirley Scott, singers Vera Lynn, Mark Murphy, Vanessa Rubin and Blues woman Marcia Ball, brass men Jimmy McPartland, Ruby Braff and Curtis Fowlkes and more!!! We’ll also mark the recording anniversaries of Miles Davis’ “Collector’s Items” (1956), Abbey Lincoln’s “It’s Magic!” (1957), Booker Little’s “Out Front” (1961), Earl Fatha Hines’ “Reunion in Brussels” (1965), Eddie Jefferson’s “Godfather of Vocalese” (1976), The Oscar Peterson Trio’s “Encore at the Blue Note” (1990) and many more throughout the week and Mondays thru Fridays at noon on our JAZZ MASTERS ‘program on Jazz 88.3 KCCK!!!
Special Programs for March 15 thru March 20
Short List with Host Bob Naujoks
Monday – Friday at 8:35 AM and Saturdays at 7 AM
Short List: Popular Jazz Albums
The Short List concludes its feature of great jazz albums that crossed over into mainstream popularity and became lasting classics. This week, we hear from Shelly Manne’s My Fair Lady, Art Pepper & Marty Paich’s Modern Jazz Classics, Stan Kenton’s Standards in Silhouette, more from Benny Goodman’s Carnegie Hall Concert, and selections from Billie Holiday’s Columbia sessions.
Jazz Corner of the World with Host Craig Kessler
Mondays at 6:00 PM
Tribute to Chick Corea (6/12/1941 – 2/9/2021)
In this first of five tribute shows for Armando “Chick” Corea, Craig spins some of his favorite selections from some of Chick’s very first recordings with Mongo Santamaria, Blue Mitchell, Miles Davis, and others, and some of Chick’s first recordings under his own leadership. Tune in for some monumental bricks and mortar from some of the key years of our jazz literature … music of the great Chick Corea.
The Wednesday Night Special
Wednesdays at 6:00 PM
Melissa Aldana & Crash Trio
We continue our celebration of National Women’s History Month with a 2014 Iowa City Jazz Festival concert from Chilean-born saxophonist Melissa Aldana & Crash Trio. Aldana, the first woman to ever win the Thelonious Monk International Jazz Competition, takes her inspiration from Sonny Rollins. But from there, she sets her own course – writing and performing some of the most compelling jazz out there today.
Jazz Night in America with host Christian McBride
Thursdays at 11:00 PM
No Man’s Band
Host Christian McBride celebrates the struggles, triumphs, and swing of the unsung women of jazz. Highlighted are the DIVA Jazz Orchestra who commemorates their 25th anniversary, and one of the last surviving members of the International Sweethearts of Rhythm reflects on the legacies of all-female big bands.
Jazz Corner of the World with Host Craig Kessler
Saturdays at 12:00 Noon
Cannonball in 1958
Our 2nd of six chronological shows finds us looking at the very significant year of 1958! We’ll hear Adderley with trumpeter Louis Smith, a classic Blue Note release with Miles Davis, a couple of Columbia records with Miles and Coltrane, some Gil Evans, and some of Adderley’s own releases. Tune in for true Jazz classics!
KCCK’s Midnight CD
Every Night at Midnight
Each night, KCCK gives you the chance to hear a new CD played start-to-finish.
Now Ear This by John Lang on Monday; Cool Water by Greg Murphy on Tuesday; For the Record by the Vinnie Riccitelli Octet on Wednesday; Griot: This Is Important! by Jeremy Pelt on Thursday; Get Up! by Ben Harper & Charlie Musselwhite on Friday; Rattlebag by Paul Reddick & the Sidemen on Saturday; Old Friends by Mark Winkler & David Benoit on Sunday
New Music Monday for March 15, 2021
Listen to this week’s playlist on YouTube and Spotify
When pianists Chris White and Lara Driscoll perform as the Firm Roots Duo, they draw on profound lines of communication. They’ve developed that bond as spouses and as independent artists with voices of their own. Based in the Chicago area, White and Driscoll met as students at the University of Illinois. They’ve since set aside space in their respective careers to hone and formalize a concept now documented on “Firm Roots,” their duo debut. They interpret canonical jazz works by Horace Silver, Ann Ronell, Cedar Walton and more, drawing on the influences of piano legends on the order of Hank Jones, Art Tatum and Phineas Newborn.
Guitarist and composer Albare was born in Morocco and grew up in Israel and France. At age 8 he joined the Music Conservatory in his hometown in Israel for 2 years, although his musical development was completely self-taught. These days, as Albare has lost his central vision faculties due to a genetic illness, his playing is completely by ear. In 1972, he discovered the sound of Antonio Carlos Jobim while watching Marcel Camus’s cult film, “Orpheus Negro.” The haunting melodies and unique compositions left a profound impression on the young guitarist and inspired Albare to study and play the melodic style which he is now known for. After the great success of his first disc of Jobim tunes, he now releases “Albare Plays Jobim Vol. 2.”
Also this week, Chad Leftkowitz-Brown releases “Quartet Sessions,” a vibrant, refined and masterful eighth LP from the NYC-based saxophonist;
“The Mulligan Chronicles” is the culmination of years of study into the compositions of Gerry Mulligan by reedman David Larsen, who enlisted the help of veteran musicians who worked with Mulligan for the project;
and “Songs of Joy” is pianist Yoko Miwa’s 9th release as a leader featuring her longstanding trio with bassist Will Slater and drummer Scott Goulding.
Clean Up Your Act 4-5-21
Asian carp will get an earful on the Mississippi River near Keokuk.
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