New Music Monday for January 6, 2020

     Listen to this week’s playlist on YouTube and Spotify.

With inspiration provided by myriad jazz masters and the Los Angeles musicians she surrounds herself with, vibraphonist Lolly Allen creates a warm, swinging, and jubilant set of music on “Coming Home,” celebrating the L.A. jazz scene that developed out of the flourishing Central Avenue clubs of the 1950s. With revered veterans of the scene, such as drummer Paul Kreibich and pianist Tom Owens, and young, vital members of the next generation, including pianist Josh Nelson and saxophonist Danny Janklow, Lolly delivers invigorated perspectives of the quintet group dynamic. Classics from the likes of Horace Silver, Mario Bauza and Dizzy Gillespie are paired with Allen’s originals in a seamless blend of supple ideas and renewed approaches to traditional repertoire.

 

 

 

 

 

     Trumpeter Joshua Jern jumps onto the Chicago jazz scene with his brand new jazz orchestra on their debut CD, “Midnight Stroll.”  Jern studied his instrument with such world renowned big band trumpeters as Rob Parton and Roger Ingram, and studied composition with big band legend Tom Garling. When not running the Joshua Jern Jazz Orchestra, he keeps busy with theatre work, occasional rock tours, and various Chicago-based big band projects. The collection of all original material on the disc is eclectic in style maintaining a classic, almost vintage sound while weaving in such modern elements of cutting edge big band and fusion as to make for an album that feels familiar yet sounds fresh and energetic

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Also this week, Posi-Tone Records debuts their latest musical collective under the apt title of Works for Me and the CD, “Reach Within,” featuring the talents of saxophonist Alexa Tarantino, pianist Caili O’Doherty, guitarist Tony Davis, bassist Adi Meyerson and drummer Joe Strasser;

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                  

Award-winning pianist and acclaimed composer Lisa Hilton is joined by jazz luminaries JD Allen on tenor sax, Rudy Royston on drums and Luques Curtis on bass for “Chalkboard Destiny”;

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                       

 and Chicago-based trumpeter and composer Markus Rutz offers up an engaging two-volume album, “Blueprints Figure One: Frameworks.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Kirkwood Board of Trustees to meet January 9, 2020

The regular meeting of the Kirkwood Board of Trustees will take place January 9, 2020. Time, place, and meeting agenda can be found at this link.

KCCK’s Featured CD for January 2020

The KCCK Featured CD for January is “Iowa Friends Cuban Music” from James Dreier and Ritmocano. Since hearing his first Santana record in 1968, the drummer has had a passion for Latin music. James was a member of the Iowa-based Latin jazz group Orquesta Alto Maiz for 26 years and has been on the jazz faculty at the University of Iowa for several decades now. He unveiled his current ensemble in 2014 and their new disc features many stand-outs from the Eastern Iowa jazz scene including Steve Shanley, Rich Medd, Damani Phillips and Ed East. Purchase the album.

This Week In Jazz December 29 thru January 4

Hey, Jazz fans!!! Be sure to tune in this week as we celebrate the birthdays of vibist Milt Jackson, bassists Al McKibbon and Jimmy Haslip,  singers Susannah McCorkle and Arthur Prysock, reedmen Frank Wess and Roger Neuman and more!!! We’ll also mark the recording anniversaries of Dizzy Gillespie & Chano Pozo’s “Manteca” (1947), Jean “Toots” Thielemans’ “Man Bites Harmonica” (1957), Bud Powell’s “The Scene Changes” (1958), Coleman Hawkins’ “Night  Hawk” (1960), Joe Henderson’s “Relaxin’ at the Camarillo” (1979) Branford Marsalis’ “Renaissance” (1986) and many others through and out the week and Mondays thru Fridays at noon on our ‘JAZZ MASTERS’ program on Jazz 88.3 KCCK.

Special Programs for December 30 thru January 4

Short List with host Bob Naujoks    

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

Bob’s Baker’s Dozen: Spiritual Jazz

The roots of jazz run deep through many different musical genres. There are elements of blues, soul, folk, classical, and more found in jazz. Since its beginnings, jazz music has drawn especially from gospel and spiritual traditions. This week, Bob Naujoks explores this rich marriage of jazz and spiritual music on The Short List.

 

 

 

 

 

Jazz Corner of the World with Host Craig Kessler

Mondays at 6:00 PM

Herbie Nichols Celebration, Part 6      

Craig presents the sixth and final show in this series, celebrating the 100th anniversary of the life and legacy of one of the all-time great pianists and jazz composers, Herbie Nichols.  We’ll hear Herbie’s own recordings, as well as interpretations of Herbie’s tunes from many jazz artists from the last 50 years.  This will be all new material, different from the previous five Nichols centennial shows, and not to be missed!

 

 

 

 


The Wednesday Night Special

Wednesdays at 6:00 PM

Tune in as we count down the Top 88 jazz CD’s of 2019!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Jazz Night In America with Host Christian McBride

Thursdays at 11:00 PM

In Memoriam

Jazz Night In America pays loving tribute to some of the jazz greats who passed away in 2019. This year, we lost, among others, legends like Dr. John, Ray Santos, Ethel Ennis, Larry Willis, and Harold Mabern. Hear their music and much more on this special edition of Jazz Night In America.

 

 

 

 

 

First Friday Jazz 

First Friday of Every Month

Soul Sacrifice

Join us at the Opus Concert Cafe in downtown Cedar Rapids for First Friday Jazz. This month, Soul Sacrifice takes the stage, paying loving tribute to the multi-cultural, genre-blending music of Carlos Santana. These Eastern Iowa musicians capture the spirit and energy of Santana, who created a successful fusion of Latin, rock, jazz, blues, soul, and more. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Jazz Corner of the World with Host Craig Kessler

Saturdays at 12:00 Noon

Galaxy Records 1977 to 1985     

Craig surveys one of the important modern jazz labels of the 1970s and 1980s.  We’ll hear from a variety of their top-notch 53 releases.  The most frequently recorded artist was (thankfully!) Art Pepper.  We’ll also hear fine fare from tenor genius Johnny Griffin, pianist Red Garland, percussionist Shelley Manne, and a number of others.  Galaxy was one of the important labels that helped re-introduce and revitalize “main stream jazz” in the late 1970s.

 

 

 

 

 

KCCK’s Midnight CD

Every Night at Midnight

Each night, KCCK gives you the chance to hear a new CD played start-to-finish. Tune in at Midnight for: 

City Abstract by the Dan McCarthy on Monday; Engage by Dave Douglas on Thursday; All My Blues Are Paid by Frank Bey on Friday; Memphis Lightr by Tormislav Goluban on Saturday; Counterpoint: Lerner & Loewe by Dick Hyman & Ken Peplowski on Sunday. 

New Music Monday for December 30, 2019

     Listen to this week’s playlist on YouTube and Spotify.
Composer/saxophonist Michael Zilber’s music approach has always been a unique mix, bred from myriad activities over the years in New York and Boston in the east, and Vancouver and San Francisco in the west. On the new two-disc set, “East West,” that aspect of his being is front and center, along with his delving into writing and arranging for large ensembles over the last decade. Tackling an ambitious, once-in-a-lifetime project with two big band recording sessions—one in New York, the other in San Francisco—Zilber gathers from his extended music community two groupings of powerful, empathetic musical voices, their collective commitment to support, share and create shining through.

 

 

 

 

     With a sweeping collection of new music, acclaimed trumpeter/composer Charlie Porter gathers a dynamic group of forward-looking musicians to celebrate America’s rich immigrant history with “Immigration Nation.” In a time when policy has become a heart-wrenching, polarizing topic, Porter felt compelled to reclaim the uniting power of the word “immigrant” through art, knowing its healing capacity can be great when crafted with intention. Porter, saxophonist Nick Biello, pianist Oscar Perez, bassist David Wong, and drummer Kenneth Salters present ten original compositions in two sets, “Leaving Home” and “New Beginning.”

 

 

 

           

Also this week, drummer Duduka Da Fonseca and pianist Helio Alves are joined by special guests Wynton Marsalis and Claudio Roditi in a celebration of Brazilian jazz on “Samba Jazz & Tom Jobim”;

 

 

 

 

 

                     

revered drummer Jimmy Cobb showcases his inimitable touch on ballads and his irrepressibly swinging ride cymbal pulse on “Remembering U,” featuring one of trumpeter Roy Hargrove’s last studio sessions;

 

 

 

 

 

  

      and the WJ3 All-Stars, with trumpeter Terell Stafford, saxophonist Ralph Moore and trombonist Steve Davis, unveil “Lovers & Love Songs: The Ones You Forgot.”

 

 

 

Top 88 for 2019

We’ll play back the entire Top 88 jazz releases of 2019 all day and night New Year’s Day.  From Wynton Marsalis’  “Bolden (Original Soundtrack)”  to  Jennifer Wharton’s “Bonegasm”  and everything in between. Starting at 6 a.m. January 1.

 

 

 

 

 

  1. Wynton Marsalis  “Bolden (Original Soundtrack)”  (Blue Engine)
  2. Monty Alexander  “Wareika Hill (Rasatamonk Vibrations)”   (Monty Alexander)
  3. Al Naylor  “Friends”   (Al Naylor)
  4. Cyrille Aimee  “Move On: a Sondheim Adventure”  (Mack Avenue)
  5. Scott Hamilton Quartet  “Danish Ballads…and More”  (Stunt)
  6. SFJazz Collective  “Music of Antonio Carlos Jobim & Original Compositions”  (SFJazz)
  7. Chick Corea  “Antidote”  (Concord)
  8. Ted Nash  “Somewhere Else: West Side Story Songs”  (Plastic Sax)
  9. Ryan Keberle & Catharsis  “The Hope I Hold”  (Greenleaf)
  10. Melissa Aldana  “Visions”   (Motema)
  11. Catherine Russell  “Alone Together”  (Dot Time)
  12. George Cables  “I’m All Smiles”  (High Note)
  13. Various Artists  “A Day in the Life: Impressions of Pepper”  (Impulse!)
  14. Allison Miller’s Boom Tic Boom  “Glitter Wolf”   (Royal Potato Family)
  15. Michel Camilo  “Essence”   (Resilience)
  16. Miguel Zenon  “Sonero: The Music of Ismael Rivera”  (Miel)
  17. Julian Lage  “Love Hurts”   (Mack Avenue)
  18. Joe Policastro Trio  “Nothing Here Belongs”  (Jeru Jazz)
  19. Veronica Swift  “Confessions”  (Mack Avenue)
  20. Antonio Adolfo  “Samba Jazz Alley”  (AAM)
  21. Richie Cole and Tony Monaco  “The Keys of Cool”  (RCP)
  22. Ralph Alessi  “Imaginary Friends”  (ECM)
  23. Joey DeFrancesco  “In the Key of the Universe”  (Mack Avenue)
  24. Oscar Hernandez & Alma Libre “Love the Moment”  (Origin)
  25. Amina Figarova  “Road to the Sun”  (AmFi)
  26. Randy Brecker & NDR Big Band  “Rocks”  (Piloo)
  27. Claire Martin & Jim Mullen  “Bumpin’: Celebrating Wes Montgomery”  (Stunt)
  28. Etienne Charles  “Carnival: The Sound of a People”  (Culture Shock)
  29. Ellen Rowe Octet   “Momentum: Portraits of Women in Motion”  (Smokin’ Sleddog)
  30. Poncho Sanchez  “Trane’s Delight”  (Concord Picante)
  31. David Berkman Sextet   “Six of One”  (David Berkman)
  32. Ray Blue  “Work”  (Jazzheads)
  33. Chad Eby & Ariel Pocock  “BFFs”  (Chad Eby)
  34. Matthew Whitaker  “Now Hear This”  (Resilience)
  35. Jenna & the Charmers  “Everyone I Love is Here”  (Mamma Grace)
  36. Paul Combs  “Unknown Dameron: Rare and Never Recorded Works of Tadd Dameron”  (Summit)
  37. Tony Monaco  “The Definition of Insanity”  (Chicken Coup)
  38. Bill O’Connell and the Afro Caribbean Ensemble  “Wind Off the Hudson”  (Savant)
  39. Diego Rivera  “Connections”  (Posi-Tone)
  40. Marcus Shelby Orchestra  “Transitions”  (MSO)
  41. Wayne Wallace Latin Jazz Quintet  “The Rhythm of Invention”  (Patois)
  42. Mike LeDonne  “Partners in Time”  (Savant)
  43. New York Voices  “Reminiscing in Tempo”  (Origin)
  44. Hendrik Meurkens  “Cobb’s Pocket”  (In and Out)
  45. Michael Wolff  “Swirl”  (Sunnyside)
  46. George Colligan  “Again With Attitude”  (Iyouwe)
  47. Larry Koonse  “New Jazz Standards Vol. 4  (Summit)
  48. Paul Lichty  “Social Media Suite”  (Paul Lichty)
  49. Dave Stryker  “Eight Track III”  (Strikezone)
  50. Holly Cole  “Holly”  (Shanachie)
  51. Anat Cohen Tentet  “Triple Helix”  (Anzic)
  52. Theo Croker  “Star People Nation”  (Masterworks)
  53. Steve Davis  “Correlations”  (Smoke Sessions)
  54. Al Foster  “Inspirations & Dedication”  (Smoke Sessions)
  55. Josh Lawrence  “Triptych”  (Posi-Tone)
  56. Iris Ornig  “Storyteller”  (IOM)
  57. Sara Gazarek  “Thirsty Ghost”  (Sara Gazarek)
  58. Ernie Watts  “Home Light”  (Flying Dolphin)
  59. Ben Wolfe  “Fatherhood”  (Resident Arts)
  60. Allison Au Quartet  “Wander Wonder”  (Allison Au)
  61. Chick Corea  “Triology 2”  (Concord)
  62. Nicolas Bearde  “I Remember You: The Music of Nat King Cole”  (Right Groove)
  63. Lioness  “Pride and Joy”  (Posi-Tone)
  64. Chuck Redd  “Groove City”   (Dalphine)
  65. Joshua Redman Quartet  “Come What May”  (Nonesuch)
  66. Something Blue  “Maximum Enjoyment”  (Posi-Tone)
  67. Mark Winkler  “I’m With You: Mark Winkler Sings Bobby Troup”  (Café Pacific)
  68. Mike Stern & Jeff Lorber Fusion  “Eleven”  (Concord)
  69. Alexa Tarantino  “Winds of Change”  (Posi-Tone)
  70. Verve Jazz Ensemble  “Night Mode”  (Verve Jazz Ensemble)
  71. Jazzmeia Horn  “Love & Liberation”  (Concord)
  72. Dave Zinno Unisphere  “Stories Told”  (Whaling City Sound)
  73. Jimmy Cobb  “This I Dig of You”  (Smoke Sessions)
  74. Emmet Cohen Trio  “Dirty in Detroit”  (Emmet Cohen)
  75. Roxy Coss  “Quintet”  (Outside In)
  76. Kait Dunton  “Planet D’Earth”  (Real & Imagined)
  77. Sarah McKenzie  “Secrets of My Heart”  (Normandy Lane)
  78. Andrew Lawrence  “Trialogue”  (Flood Music)
  79. Alfredo Rodriguez & Pedro Martinez  “Duologue”  (Mack Avenue)
  80. Vanessa Rubin  “The Dream is You”  (Nibur)
  81. Alan Broadbent  “New York Notes”   (Savant)
  82. Behn Gillece  “Parallel Universe”  (Posi-Tone)
  83. Tom Harrell  “Infinity”  (High Note)
  84. Al Hood & the H2 Jazztet  “Jazz Muses”  (Aquarian)
  85. Pearl Django  “Live”   (Modern Hot)
  86. “Swiss Jazz Orchestra and Guillermo Klein”  (Sunnyside)
  87. Tierney Sutton  “Screen Play”  (BFM)
  88. Jennifer Wharton’s Bonegasm  “Bonegasm”  (Sunnyside)

Toast of the Nation New Year’s Eve

Join us New Year’s Eve for NPR’s Toast of the Nation. Christian McBride is your host for an evening of jazz from around the world. You’ll hear Joshua Redman, Brad Mehldau, The Dirty Dozen Brass Band, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Ron Carter, and Fred Hersch.  Beginning at 9 p.m. December 31 and going into the wee hours of January 1, 2020.