Hey, Jazz fans! Be sure to tune in this week as we celebrate the birthdays of singers Velma Middleton and Teri Thornton, saxmen Art Pepper and Clifford Jordan, pianists Horace Silver, Richie Powell and Gene Harris, bassists Larry Ridley, Essiet Essiet and Lonnie Plaxico, drummer Sherrie Mericle, trumpeter/bandleader Gerlad Wilson and more! We’ll also mark the recording anniversaries of Curtis Counce’ “You Get More Bounce with Curtis Counce” (1957), Jackie McLean’s “Jackie’s Bag” (1960), Yusef Lateef’s “The Gentle Giant” (1971), Mal Waldron & Jackie McLean’s “Left Alone ’86” (1986), Eddie Harris & Wendell Marshall’s “The Battle of the Tenors” (1994), Curtis Fuller’s “Up Jumped Spring” (2003) and many others Mondays thru Fridays and at noon on JAZZ MASTERS on Jazz 88.3 KCCK!
This Week In Jazz August 31 thru September 6
Culture Crawl 1110 “Traffic Cone-Feather Duster Themed Play”
Playwright Mary Swander & actor Rip Russsell are in the studio to talk about Mary’s new play, “Coop, a Story of an Amish C.O.” Local shows before the duo sets sails for Ireland are Sept 7, 6pm at 1107 Rochester Ave., Iowa City, IA & Sept 13, 7pm at Celebration Hall, Hillcrest Academy.
For more information visit maryswander.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.
Culture Crawl 1109 “You Can Be A Lurker”
Leslie Wright returns to the KCCK studio with a lineup of upcoming Fall offerings at the peaceful Prairiewoods Franciscan Spirituality Center.
Aug 28, 7pm-8pm: Mindfulness—Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) Information Session (Zoom)
Sept 5-6: Pathways of Peace: Food as Relationship Autumn Table Retreat (in person)
Sept 12-14: An Unplugged Weekend Retreat (in person)
Sept 16, 5:30pm-8pm: Dear Younger Me: A Journey of Reflection, Forgiveness & Renewal (in person)
Sept 18, 2pm-4:30pm: Beginning Native-Style Flute Workshop with Jonny Lipford (in person)
Sept 28, 1pm-3pm: Blessing of the Animals (in person)
For more information visit prairiewoods.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.
Talking Pictures 8-27-25
“Eden” (2024) and “Devo” (2024) with Hollis Monroe, Phil Brown and Monica Schmidt.
Podcast (talkingpics): Play in new window | Download
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Clean Up Your Act 8-27-25
Nitrate levels in the Des Moines and Raccoon Rivers prompt calls for more action upriver.
Podcast (cuya): Play in new window | Download
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Culture Crawl 1108 “A Good Previously On”
Giving Tree Theater’s Jamie Henley is in the studio as “The Second-to-Last Chance Ladies League” by Jones Hope Wooten comes to a close. The last few shows are Aug 29 & 30 at 7:30pm and Aug 31 at 2pm.
For tickets and more info visit givingtreetheater.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.
New Music Monday for August 25, 2025
Listen to this week’s playlist on YouTube and Spotify
Vocalist Mark Winkler, an acclaimed artist on the Los Angeles jazz scene, is a prolific recording artists and lyricist. His original songs have been sung and recorded by a cadre of top singers like Dianne Reeves, Dee Dee Bridgewater and Randy Crawford. He now releases his 22nd album, “Hold On,” a collection of mostly original tunes with a few tasty standards for good measure.
There have been scores of tribute albums to pianist Bill Evans over the years in various formats—solo piano, small group, and even orchestral versions. And on almost all these recordings the piano was the featured instrument. Guitarist Jim Witzel wanted to try a different slant to Evans’ music, so on his new CD, “Very Early: Remembering Bill Evans,” he teamed up with his musical compatriot, Emmy-winning pianist Phil Aaron, to conceive and engaging approach featuring a guitar-led quartet of nine compositions associated Evans.
Also this week, 20-year-old singer Anais Reno tackles a repertoire of standards with a rare confidence and fluidity on “Lady of the Lavender Mist”; trombonist Conrad Herwig teams up with the late pianist Eddie Palmieri, a true icon of the Latin jazz genre, and bassist Luques Curtis on an intimate trio recording, “Reflections—Facing South”; the U.S. Air Force’s Airmen of Note give a nod to the importance of Latin jazz on our great, uniquely American art form with “Around the Horn.”
This Week’s Shows August 25 thru August 31
Jazz Corner of the World (Encore)
Mondays at 6:00pm
Terje Rypdal Turns 78
Craig spins a variety of dazzling work from this Norwegian guitarist and composer. We’ll hear material mostly from the famed ECM Records label.
Wednesday Night Special
Wednesdays at 6:00pm
Soul Sacrifice at First Friday Jazz
What began as a Santana tribute band has evolved into a Latin and jazz powerhouse. Soul Sacrifice’s line-up reads like an all-star roster from legendary Iowa jazz and rock bands. The audience was treated to great original work, plus classics from Pat Metheny, Chick Corea, and Stanley Clarke.
Jazz Night in America
Thursdays at 11:00pm
Honoring Eddie Palmieri
Eddie Palmieri, an absolute giant in Latin jazz and American music, died on August 6 at age 88. Host Christian McBride celebrates Palmieri’s vision, his fire, and the legacy he leaves behind, including his genre-defying project, Harlem River Drive.
Jazz Corner of the World
Saturdays from 12:00 noon to 4:00pm
A Kenny Drew Birthday Celebration
Craig celebrates the birthday anniversary of Kenny Drew, born August 28, 1928. We’ll hear a variety of choice jazz gems dating back to 1950 works and continuing throughout his lengthy career, with recordings from Blue Note, Storyville, Riverside, Steeplechase, Soul Note, and others.
KCCK’s Midnight CD
KCCK features a new album every night, played from start-to-finish.
Many Moons by Markus Rutz on Monday; Full Circle by the Steve Allee Big Band on Tuesday; Iris by Vladimir Kostadinovic on Wednesday; Scratch Band by Ron Blake on Thursday; Live at the Song Theatre by Debbie Bond on Friday; Our Time to Ride by Chambers DesLauriers on Saturday; Seascape by the Atlantic Jazz Collective on Sunday.