Culture Crawl 552 “The Police Have Questions about Your Composing”

Orchestra Iowa presents “Rebellious Russians” March 6 at the Coralville Center for the Performing Arts and March 7 a the Paramount Theatre. The program will include Shostakovich’s towering 5th Symphony, and Ballet Quad Cities will be the Orchestra’s special guest to perform a brand-new interpretation of Stravinsky’s “Dumbarton Oaks Concerto.”

Music Director Tim Hankewich, who is of Ukranian descent himself, also talks about how the music of Eastern Europe descends from local folk music, and what happened when Russian composers were then exposed to French and American culture and music.

More info and tickets at www.orchestraiowa.org.

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Clean Up Your Act 4-7-20

Microplastics are turning up on northwest Iowa beaches.

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Kirkwood Board of Trustees to meet March 12, 2020

The regular meeting of the Kirkwood Board of Trustees will take place March 12, 2020. Time, place, and meeting agenda can be found at this link.

Special Programs for March 2 thru March 7

Short List with host Bob Naujoks    

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

Bob’s Baker’s Dozen: David Grisman & Ry Cooder

String jazz is this week’s focus with mandolinist David Grisman and guitarist Ry Cooder. Grisman calls his mix of Bluegrass, jazz and folk music “Dawg Music.” It’s a sophisticated swinging expression done with his expert artistry on the mandolin. Ry Cooder’s 1978 album, Jazz is a tribute to early jazz and ragtime. Jelly Roll Morton and Bix are represented, along with some ragtime done in string-band style.

 

 

Jazz Corner of the World with Host Craig Kessler

Mondays at 6:00 PM

Prestige Records in 1970, Part Two

Craig spins selections from the second half of the year 1970.  We’ll hear jazz gems from Dexter Gordon, Gene Ammons, Charles Earland, and many others. Tune in for some great ‘Soul Jazz’ that you won’t hear anywhere else!

 

 

 

 

The Wednesday Night Special

Wednesdays at 6:00 PM

Big Fun at First Friday Jazz

Legendary Iowa City guitarist Steve Grismore introduced Big Fun to the Opus Concert Café for a groovy First Friday Jazz gig. This new sextet brought the jazz and the funk to a packed house. Fans of soul and 70’s groove tunes got a real treat. With songs from the Crusaders, Herbie Hancock, Eddie Harris, and many more, who wouldn’t have “Big Fun” to start off the weekend?

 

 

Jazz Night In America with Host Christian McBride

Thursdays at 11:00 PM

Baltimore

Host Christian McBride takes us to Baltimore and explores what he calls, “the Jubilee of Charm City.” We’ll learn about the history of jazz in Baltimore, its decline, and today’s sudden rebirth. Plus, we’ll hear from the forces behind this renaissance – trumpeter Sean Jones, NEA Jazz Master Todd Barkin, and the Baltimore Jazz Collective – and the incredible music this city is inspiring.

 

 

 

Jazz Corner of the World with Host Craig Kessler 

Saturdays at 12:00 Noon

Jon Christensen – 1943 – 2020

Craig salutes the recently departed Norwegian jazz drummer with a program of dazzling examples of his exceptional percussion work.  We’ll hear Jon in the company of a number prominent jazz artists, such as Keith Jarrett, Bobo Stenson, George Russell, Jan Garbarek, Terge Rypdal, and others.  His unique drum styling will be missed.

 

 

 

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: 

The Ripple by Jeff Rupert & George Garzone on Monday; Bounce by Michael Wolff on Tuesday; Reincarnation by Warren Wolf on Wednesday; Just When You Thought  by Jae Sinnett’s Zero to Sixty Quartet  on Thursday; Waltz For Abilene  by Cindy Cashdollar on Friday; The Devil May Care by Avey Grouws Band on Saturday; We’ve Just Begun by Sinne Eeg on Sunday. 

This Week In Jazz March 1 thru March 7

 Be sure to tune in this week as we celebrate the birthdays of saxman Eddie “Lockjaw” Davis, pianist Lou Levy, singers Carol Sloane and Flora Purim, trumpeter Bobby Shew and more! We’ll also mark the recording anniversaries of Gene Ammons’ All-Star Sessions with Sonny Stitt (1950), Dave Brubeck’s “Jazz at Oberlin” (1953), Buck Clayton’s “Jam Sessions from the Vault” (1956), Miles Davis’ “Kind of Blue” (1959), Stan Getz’ “Captain Marvel” (1963), Brother Jack McDuff’ s “Another Good ‘Un” (1989) 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 March 2, 2020

Listen to this week’s playlist on YouTube and Spotify   

The minivan: a timeless icon that evokes memories ranging from little-league baseball games to nationwide music tours. “Square Peg” is bassist and composer Mark Godfrey’s first full-length album, and it hits harder than the sliding door on your family caravan. Named the 2019 Emerging Jazz Artist by the Toronto Arts Foundation, Mark has firmly secured himself in the fabcallecasdfric of the jazz idiom in Canada. The disc is a collection of compositions that span four years of Mark’s life during which he found himself living in Toronto and New York. Naturally, the most efficient form of travel between the two cities with a double bass was his 2006 Dodge Grand Caravan. The reflection that occurred during these drives sparked creativity and ideas that ultimately resulted in the new album.

 

     Jeremy Pelt’s unquenchable curiosity has mcaade him one of the most multi-faceted of jazz artists. Whether it be as a leader, a sideman, an accompanist or a composer, Pelt has investigated nearly every aspect and genre in jazz—from electric to eclectic, from be-bop to free-bop. On his new CD, “The Art of Intimacy, Vol. 1,” the trumpeter joins forces with the legendary George Cables on piano and Peter Washington laying down the bass lines. All but one tune on the setlist are slow numbers but this is not your father’s ballad record. Each member of the trio is able to pour some old wine into new bottles, aware of and perhaps shaped by the past but operating very much in the moment.

 

 

                                       

Also this week, the Calle Loiza Jazz Project of Puerto Rico reunites after three decades for their new recording, “There Will Never Be Another You,” performing eight jazz standards in tribute to Dave Valentin, Mongo Santamaria, Patato Valdes and Jerry Gonzales.

 

 

Grammy nominated pianist, composer and bandleader Joey Alexander is joined by bassist Larry Grenadier and drummer Kendrick Scott for his fifth release as leader, “Warna”.

 

 

 

 

 

Trombonist, composer, producer and educator Nick Finzer explores the formative figures we meet throughout our lives with the new sextet album, “Cast of Characters.”

 

 

 

DIVA Leader to Perform at Corridor Jazz Concert

Sherrie Maricle, founder and leader of DIVA, the world-renown all-female jazz big band, will perform at KCCK’s Corridor Jazz Project Concert, March 10 at the Solon Center for Arts.

“Sherrie is one of the leading performer and clinicians in the country,” says Dennis Green, KCCK general manager. “She will be adjudicating in Nebraska a couple days before our concert, and through Coe College’s Steve Shanley, we were able to arrange for her to do an Iowa stop before her next engagement.”

Maricle will conduct a clinic with City High in Iowa City the day of the concert, then join the band for a number that evening.

The concert is the culmination of The Corridor Jazz Project, a mentoring and performance program organized by KCCK. Thirteen high school jazz bands are matched with adult guest artists. In January, each school performs a song with their artist, which is professionally recorded and produced for the Corridor Jazz Project CD. This is the thirteenth year for the program, which the Iowa Bandmasters Association has called “the crown jewel of jazz education in Iowa.”

The Corridor Jazz Concert takes place in two sessions, 5:30pm and 7:30pm, March 10 at the Solon Center for the Arts. Sherrie Maricle and the City Jazz Ensemble perform first at 5:30pm. Admission to the concert is free.

Here is the full performance schedule:

5:30 Session

5:35 City High School Jazz Ensemble featuring Sherrie Maricle & Cole Peterson

5:50 Lisbon High School Jazz Band featuring Aaron Ottmar

6:05 Kennedy High School Jazz Band One featuring Desmond Cervantez

6:20 Marion High School Jazz Band featuring Kyle Engelhardt

6:35 Mt. Vernon High School Swingin’ STANGS, featuring Tim Crumley

6:50 Xavier High School Jazz Band One featuring Todd Munnik

7:30 Session

7:35 Solon High School Jazz Orchestra featuring Josh Duffee

7:50 Jefferson High School Jazz Ensemble featuring Al Naylor

8:05 Prairie High School Jazz One featuring Eddie Piccard

8:20 Linn-Mar Colton Center Jazz Ensemble featuring Mike McMann

8:35 Washington High School Revolutionists featuring Nolan Schroeder

8:50 Center Point Urbana Jazz Band featuring Rod Pierson

9:05 Liberty High School Jazz Ensemble featuring Steve Grismore

KCCK’s Featured CD for March 2020

The KCCK Featured CD for March is “Air Power” from the Airmen of Note. The premier jazz ensemble of the United States Air Force, the Airmen of Note have been delivering high-powered musical performances since 1950. Over those seven decades, they have performed for millions around the world, sharing the Air Force story through the universal language of music. The band continues to dazzle audiences with its range, speed, and flexibility, all in evidence on the new disc which was recorded to celebrate its 70th Anniversary.