Rio de Janeiro native Antonio Adolfo was just a teenager in the early 1960s when he became a part of the bossa nova revolution that was sweeping Brazil and the rest of the world. Not content to spend most of career backing vocalists, the pianist and many of his peers began crafting a more rhythmically robust instrumental interpretation of the lithe and flirtatious bossa. Influenced by the bebop, soul jazz and West Coast trends that ruled the day in the U.S., the potent result was coined Samba Jazz. “Samba Jazz Alley” is the latest chapter in a series of releases by Adolfo that have explored a wide range of stylistic variants of Brazilian music. The session’s title refers to an obscure dead-end alley in the heart of Rio’s storied Copacabana neighborhood that served as a breeding ground for the city’s up-an-coming instrumentalists and singers during the heyday of bossa nova.
He may be the most versatile bassist in or out of jazz, fluent in the musical language of Dizzy Gillespie, Andre Previn, Phil Woods, Kenny Rankin, Hank Jones Paquito D’Rivera and Sheila Jordan, to name just a few of the stars on his resume. But David Finck has spent much of his 40-year career exploring the solo potential of an instrument that is usually the unobtrusive heartbeat of the rhythm section. “Bassically Jazzz” is just his third album as a leader, another testament to his exquisite and eclectic taste, to the lushness of his sound, and to his passion for melody. Guests include vibraphonist Joe Locke, guitarist Bob Mann, flutist Ali Ryerson and singer Alexis Cole.
Also this week, two-time Grammy winning composer and saxophonist Ted Nash releases his 15th disc as a leader, “Somewhere Else: West Side Story Songs,” his second effort in a trio with guitarist Steve Cardenas and bassist Ben Allison;
saxophonist Peter Furlan offers up “Between the Lines,” a collection of compositions influenced by some of his favorite books and authors of modern fiction
and pianist Randy Sandoli, a lecturer in Jazz Studies at the University of the Pacific and assistant director of the Brubeck Institute, delivers his second album as a leader, “Simcha (Joy).”
Hey, Jazz fans!!!
Iowa’s Jazz Station doubles the entertainment this year, as student combos are coming to Jazz Under The Stars. Three groups, consisting of students from area high schools will perform in KCCK’s Young Artist Series at three of the four Jazz Under the Stars concerts, August 1, 8, and 15, at 6:30pm. Performers will include students and recent graduates from Cedar Rapids Washington, Marion, City High, West High, and Cedar Falls.
Short List with host Bob Naujoks 
Wednesday Night Special
Jazz Corner of the World with host Craig Kessler