Hey, Jazz fans!!! Be sure to tune in this week as we celebrate the birthdays of cornetist Red Nichols, pianists Mary Lou Williams, John Lewis, Don Friedman and Keith Jarrett, trumpeters Maynard Ferguson and Richard Williams, singer Teresa Brewer and more!!! We’ll also mark the recording anniversaries of Billy Taylor’s “Cross Section” (1953), Miles Davis’ “Miles Ahead” (1956), Elmo Hope’s “The All Star Sessions” (1956), Charles Mingus’ “Mingus Ah Um” (1959), John Coltrane’s “Giant Steps” (1959), Dexter Gordon’s “Doin’ Alright: (1961), Horace Silver’s “Silver’s Serenade” (1963), Junko Onishi Trio “Live at the Village Vanguard” (1994) and many others through and out the week and Mondays thru Fridays at noon on our ‘JAZZ MASTERS’ program on Jazz 88.3 KCCK.
This Week In Jazz May 3 thru May 9
Special Programs for May 4 – May 9
Short List with host Bob Naujoks 
Monday – Friday at 8:35 AM and Saturdays at 7 AM
Vocal Short List: Morgana King
Vocalist Morgana King began singing in nightclubs at the age of 16. Her 1964 album, “A Taste of Honey” was well received. Following the death of her husband, trombonist Willie Dennis, she stayed away from singing for several years, but came back strong with an appearance in “The Godfather” movies in the early 1970’s opposite Marlon Brando.
Jazz Corner of the World with Host Craig Kessler
Mondays at 6:00 PM
Tribute to McCoy Tyner
Craig pays tribute to the jazz pianist and composer Alfred McCoy Tyner. We’ll hear a full-throated overview of his career, beginning with his work with The Jazztet, thru his years with John Coltrane, and his own releases on Blue Note Records, Impulse, and Milestone Records, with close attention to his releases during his last 2 decades never yet featured on Jazz Corner of the World.
The Wednesday Night Special
Wednesdays at 6:00 PM
Remembering Jeff Reeder-Flat Cat at Jazz Under the Stars
The Iowa music community is remembering guitarist Jeff Reeder on the news that he passed away last weekend. Reeder grew up in Cedar Rapids, and is best known as a member of Flat Cat. He performed with the band at Jazz Under the Stars in 2002, before moving to Kansas City, where he continued to perform until his death. We will remember Jeff with a special encore performance of his Flat Cat performance on the Wednesday Special this week. 6pm Wednesday or on demand at kcck.org.
Jazz Night In America with Host Christian McBride
Thursdays at 11:00 PM
Crosscurrents: Zakir Hussain and Dave Holland
In honor of April 30th – International Jazz Day. Virtuosity – of a dazzling, ebullient, yet altogether generous sort – might be the most obvious bridge between David Holland and Zakir Hussain. But there’s also a deep cultural foundation behind their musical dialogue, which forms the beating heart of a project called Crosscurrents.
Jazz Corner of the World with Host Craig Kessler
Saturdays at 12:00 Noon
Tribute to McCoy Tyner
Craig pays tribute to the jazz pianist and composer Alfred McCoy Tyner. We’ll hear a full-throated overview of his career, beginning with his work with The Jazztet, thru his years with John Coltrane, and his own releases on Blue Note Records, Impulse, and Milestone Records, with close attention to his releases during his last 2 decades never yet featured on Jazz Corner of the World.
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:
Vena by Rachel Therrien Monday; Live at Jazz Standard by Duchess on Tuesday; Elegant Traveler by Jocelyn Gould on Wednesday; New Songs for Old Souls by The Lost Melody on Thursday; Good to Go by Charlie Bedford on Friday; Long Ago by Steve Howell, Dan Sumner & Jason Weinheimer on Saturday; Chamber Jazz by Charles Pillow Ensemble on Sunday.
Kirkwood Board of Trustees to meet May 14, 2020
The regular meeting of the Kirkwood Board of Trustees will take place May 14, 2020. Time, place, and meeting agenda can be found at this link.
KCCK’s Featured CD for May 2020
The KCCK Featured CD for May is “While We Wait” from Christopher’s Very Happy Band. Saxophonist and composer Chris Merz, who heads the jazz department at the University of Northern Iowa, offers up another batch of his catchy tunes on the quartet’s second release. It features Mike Conrad on piano and Dave Tiede on drums, both former students of Chris, and Drew Morton on bass. Special guests on several tracks include trombonist and U.N.I. faculty member Anthony Williams and trumpeter Dave Rezek. “While We Wait” is from Skydeck Recordings and is available on Apple Music, the Google Play store, Spotify and other streaming services.
Talking Pictures 4-29-20
Hail, Caeser! (2016), As Above, So Below (2014) and Fury of the Demon (2016) with Hollis Monroe, Phil Brown and Scott Chrisman.
Podcast (talkingpics): Play in new window | Download
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Culture Crawl 567 “Counts as School in Our House”
Family Folk Machine, Iowa City’s intergenerational folk choir, is rescheduling their spring concert for fall. And while they are unable to meet in person, have hosted a “virtual open mic” for their members, continue to hold their songwriting classes, and more.
For more information or to get involved, visit www.familyfolkmachinge.org.
Podcast (culturecrawl): Play in new window | Download
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This Week In Jazz April 26 thru May 2
Hey, Jazz fans!!! Be sure to tune in this week as we celebrate the birthdays of pianist/composer/bandleader Duke Ellington, harmonica player Toots Thielemanns, drummers Connie Kay and Denzil Best, singers Bing Crosby, Blossom Dearie, Shirley Horn and Willie Nelson, reedmen Jimmy Giuffre, Teddy Edwards and Big Jay McNeely and more!!! We’ll also mark the recording anniversaries of “The Amazing Bud Powell, Vol. 2” (1951), Miles Davis All Stars’ “Walkin’” (1954), “Portrait of Art Farmer” (1958), Thelonious Monk Quartet plus Two “At the Blackhawk” (1960), Freddie Hubbard’s “The Body and the Soul” (1963), Jimmy Rushing’s The You and Me That Used to Be” (1971), Shirley Horn “Live at the 4 Queens” (1991) and many others throughout the week and Mondays thru Fridays at noon on our ‘JAZZ MASTERS’ program on Jazz 88.3 KCCK.
Special Programs for April 26 thru May 2
Short List with host Bob Naujoks
Monday – Friday at 8:35 AM and Saturdays at 7 AM
Vocal Short List: Leo Watson
Scat vocalist Leo Watson not widely known now, but his work influenced virtually all scatting jazz singers in the modern era – Ella Fitzgerald, Betty Carter and Mel Torme among them. Watson was the spark-plug of the Swing Era’s Spirits Of Rhythm, and bandleaders Artie Shaw, Jimmy Mundy, and Gene Krupa enjoyed his unique and free-flowing vocalization.
Jazz Corner of the World with Host Craig Kessler
Mondays at 6:00 PM
4 Notable Artists Who Passed in 2019
Craig salutes West Coast vocalist and master trumpet player Jack Sheldon, pianist and composer Larry Willis, pianist and composer Jacques Loussier, and Bulgarian pianist and composer Milcho Leviev, all who passed away in 2019. Enjoy fine examples of the artistry of a very diverse group of jazz practitioners who will all be missed!
The Wednesday Night Special
Wednesdays at 6:00 PM
The 2020 Corridor Jazz Project Concert
We cap off our celebration of April’s Jazz Appreciation Month – spotlighting the talent of our high school student musicians – with the 2020 Corridor Jazz Project Concert. This year, the Corridor’s great jazz ensembles reunited with their special guest professionals on the stage of the Solon Center for the Performing Arts.
Jazz Night In America with Host Christian McBride
Thursdays at 11:00 PM
Ray Brown and Monty Alexander
Host Christian McBride takes us to one of his “bucket list” concerts from the Jazz Night In America archives. 20 years ago, bassist Ray Brown and Pianist Monty Alexander took the stage for a breathtaking duet concert.
Jazz Corner of the World with Host Craig Kessler
Saturdays at 12:00 Noon
Tribute to McCoy Tyner
Craig pays tribute to the jazz pianist and composer Alfred McCoy Tyner. We’ll hear a full-throated overview of his career, beginning with his work with The Jazztet, thru his years with John Coltrane, and his own releases on Blue Note Records, Impulse, and Milestone Records, with close attention to his releases during his last 2 decades never yet featured on Jazz Corner of the World.
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:
Joy by Benjamin Boone with the Ghana Jazz Collective on Monday; The Sound The Rhythm by Jan Harbeck Quartet on Tuesday; While We Wait by Christopher’s Very Happy Band on Wednesday; Pursuance: The Coltranes by Lakecia Benjamin on Thursday; You Ain’t Done by The Proven Ones on Friday; Church House Blues by Crystal Shawanda on Saturday; The Women Who Raised Me by Kandace Springs on Sunday.