Latest Posts – Page 34 – Jazz 88.3 KCCK

Culture Crawl 1185 “Compelling Story of Cabbage Rolls”

The 2026 Cedar Rapids Independent Film Festival is almost here. Founder & president, Scott Chrisman, and Festival director, Eric Freese, are in the studio with the details. Its April 9-12 at three Cedar Rapids locations: Collins Road Theatres, Olympic South Side Theater, and Ideal Theater & Bar.

For more information and a full schedule visit crifm.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.

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2026 Guest DJs – Anamosa

Andrew Davis, Mitchell Buckley and Audrey Zoller.

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Talking Pictures 3-25-26

“Mercy” (2026 MGM+ Sci-Fi/Adventure) and “Honey Don’t!” (2025 Netflix Comedy/Mystery) with Hollis Monroe, Phil Brown and Scott Chrisman.

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2026 Guest DJs – Xavier

Xavier Jazz Band One members Killian, Ben, Peter and Mia have had a big week! Along with several dozen members of the Cedar Rapids Metro schools, they marched in the St. Patrick’s Day parade in Dublin. They spent a week touring the Emerald Isle, but then got caught in long lines and cancelled flights on their return, finally arriving back home at 2:30 the morning of their show!

They told us about their trip, played some great music, and of course, gave us an update on the official JBO mascot, the pineapple.

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Culture Crawl 1184 “You Will Hear Every Person Solo”

Sherrie Maricle with The DIVA Jazz Orchestra is in the studio ahead of a concert at Coe College as apart of the Marquis Series. It’s Wednesday, April 8, 7pm at Coe’s Sinclair Auditorium.

For more info and to keep up with the band visit divajazz.com.

For tickets visit coe.edu.

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New Music Monday for March 23, 2026

Listen to this week’s playlist on YouTube and Spotify
Shaped by years of collaboration, “Buckshot Blues” captures guitarist Steve Kovalcheck’s trio chemistry with the famed drummer Jeff Hamilton and bassist John Hamar. It highlights the trio’s unique blend of precision, spontaneity, and playfulness through thirteen mostly original tunes. Filled with soulful grooves and expressive blues inflections, Kovalcheck’s melodic clarity and improvisational storytelling shines through as he pays tribute to mentors and friends, including organist Akiko Tsuruga, their bandmate who was lost too soon.

A distinctive voice among a new breed of Hammond B-3 organ players on the jazz scene, Sam Yahel has earned the top spot in Downbeat’s International Critics Poll as a Talent Deserving of Recognition for many years in a row. Since moving to New York City in 1990, Yahel has worked with a string of notable jazz artists including Joshua Redman, Maceo Parker, Peter Bernstein, Bill Frisell, Norah Jones and Madeleine Peyroux, among others. As a solo artist, his work has garnered critical praise for its unique perspective in combining both his voice on piano and organ into one seamless thread. On his new work, “Quiet Flow,” he is joined by the potent rhythm section of drummer Bian Blade and bassist Larry Grenadier.

Also this week, saxophonist Chris Fagan’s new release, “Fortune Telling,” features his original compositions recorded in Brazil with some of Rio’s finest musicians; legendary Grammy-winning drummer Jeff Hamilton unveils his new trio with Tokyo-based pianist Tadataka Unno with “A New Chapter”; and “Daggerboard, the Skipper and Mike Clark” is the latest project from Daggerboard collaborators Erik Jekabon and Gregory Howe.

2026 Corridor Jazz Guest DJs

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Students from area high school jazz programs join KCCK in studio to talk music and play some of their favorite jazz songs

To hear the shows, click the listen link below or subscribe to the KCCK Specials podcast channel.

This Week’s Shows March 23 – March 29

Jazz Corner of the World (Encore)

Saturdays at 6:00pm

A First Look at Criss Cross Jazz

Founded by professional jazz drummer Gerry Teekens in the Netherlands, there have been well over 400 albums produced so far by the Criss Cross Jazz label. Craig will spin wonderful jazz records by major artists Kirk Lightsey, Doug Raney, Kenny Barron, Chet Baker, pianist Benny Green, Gary Smulyan, Chris Potter, Dr. Lonnie Smith, and many others.

Wednesday Night Special

Wednesdays at 6:00pm

Al Naylor Group at the Iowa City Jazz Festival

Trumpeter, educator, and Iowa jazz legend Al Naylor brought some good friends and former students to jam on the Iowa City Jazz Festival stage. Naylor and company played a hot set of classic charts and brilliant originals.

Jazz Corner of the World

Saturdays at 12:00 noon

Pittsburgh Pianist Horace Parlan

Craig presents a tasty variety from Horace Parlan’s many releases on Blue Note and Steeplechase Records, as well as his work with Mingus, Lou Donaldson, Frank Foster, Dexter Gordon, and many others.

KCCK’s Midnight CD (March 23 – March 29)

Every Night at Midnight

KCCK features a new album every night, played from start-to-finish.

When Evan Goes East by the Dave Wilson Quartet on Monday; Reunion by the Chris Parker Septet on Tuesday; Confluence by Pat Bianchi on Wednesday; In My Dreams by Bill Frisell on Thursday; What Happens Next by Gabe Stillman on Friday; Mike Finnigan by Mike Finnigan on Saturday; Faster Than We Know by Benjie Porecki on Sunday.