Iowa’s demand for electricity is expected to increase by 30% to 40% in the next two decades. The challenge will be meeting that demand with clean energy.
Podcast (cuya): Play in new window | Download
Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | RSS
KCCK’s Featured Album for October 2025
The KCCK Featured Album for October is “George Coleman with Strings.” George Coleman’s resume is the stuff of legend, working alongside giants of the art form like Max Roach, Miles Davis and Herbie Hancok, and inspiring a generation of saxophonists. Now for the first time in his storied career, he presents a project backed by a string orchestra, following in the footsteps of sax greats like Charlie Parker and Stan Getz.. The 10-piece string arrangements were provided by Bill Dobbins, who was the principal arranger for the WDR Big Band for eight years. An autumnal gem from a living legend, “George Coleman with Strings” is from High Note Records. Purchase
This Week In Jazz September 28 thru October 4
Hey, Jazz fans! Be sure to tune in this week as we celebrate the birthdays of lyricist Johnny Burke, drummers Buddy Rich and Mike Clark, bassists Oscar Pettiford, Dave Holland, Lincoln Goines and Curtis Lundy, saxmen Von Freeman, Ronnie Laws and Antonio Hart, trumpeters Jon Eardley and John Daversa and more. We’ll also mark the recording anniversaries of “The Clifford Brown Sextet in Paris” (1953), Tubby Hayes w/ Clark Terry – “The New York Sessions” (1961), Dave Brubeck’s “All The Things We Are” (1974), The Cedar Walton Trio’s “Lush Life” (1988), Rosemary Clooney’s “Dedicated to Nelson” (1995), Jennifer Wharton’s Bonegasm’s “Not a Novelty” (2020) and many others Mondays thru Fridays and at noon on JAZZ MASTERS on Jazz 88.3 KCCK.
This Week’s Shows September 28 thru October 5
Jazz Corner of the World (Encore)
Mondays at 6:00pm
Gary Bartz is 85
Join Craig as he celebrates the 85th birthday of Grammy Award-winning saxophonist Gary Bartz. Craig spins tunes featuring the outstanding reedman, born in 1940, from his career that spans the 60s to the present.
Wednesday Night Special
Wednesdays at 6:00pm
Sam Ross Quartet on the ICJF Side Stage
Iowa City native Sam Ross has been playing saxophone since he was 10 years old. When not gigging with a Who’s Who of regional and national jazz masters, he’s working toward a degree in Music Performance at the U of I. He brought his Quartet to the Iowa City Jazz Festival for a hot mix of classics and originals.
Jazz Corner of the World
Saturdays from 12:00 noon to 4:00pm
Jazz in Motion Picture Soundtracks
Craig presents some wonderful movie music, as performed by a variety of great jazz artists, such as Miles Davis, Andre Previn, Duke Ellington, Stan Getz, Leith Stevens, Sonny Rollins, and many more!
KCCK’s Midnight CD
KCCK features a new album every night, played from start-to-finish.
Storybook: The Music of Mark Miller by the Birdland Big Band on Monday; You’re Exaggerating! by Paul Cornish on Tuesday; The Jazz Orchestra, Volume 1 by Nick Finzer on Wednesday; Sunny Day by Michael Wolff on Thursday; King Size by Big Shoes on Friday; Steppin’ Out! by Roomful of Blues on Saturday; Ride Into the Sun by Brad Mehldau on Sunday.
New Music Monday for September 29, 2025
Listen to this week’s playlist on YouTube and Spotify
George Coleman’s resume is the stuff of legend. The reedman cut his jazz teeth alongside some giants of the art form, joining Max Roach’s ensemble in the 1950s, the Miles Davis Quintet, along with the bands of Herbie Hancock, Chet Baker and Elvin Jones. His work as a leader has inspired generations of saxophonists. Now, following in the footsteps of greats like Charlie Parker, Cannonball Adderley, Stan Getz and Ben Webster, Mr. Coleman presents his first recording backed by a string orchestra. The lush arrangements are the work of Bill Dobbins, who was principal director and arranger for the WDR Big Band of Cologne, Germany, for eight years and who has taught composing and arranging courses at the Eastman School of Music.
“West of Broadway” is the third album from vocalist Rachael Price (also of Lake Street Dive) and guitarist, singer and songwriter Vilray, an exquisitely out-of-time vision of their beloved New York City. The disc unfolds in a series of sharply drawn vignettes—offbeat tales of love and heartache along city streets—inspired by a recent fascination with classic musicals. “There’s so much imagery in the lyrics, and I think a fun way to listen to the record would be to go for a walk and let the songs play out like a little movie in your mind,” say Rachael.
Also this week, trumpeter Josh Lawrence unveils “Still We Dream,” a bold and lyrical exploration of music by Thelonious Monk and Frederic Chopin, reimagined through a vibrant, contemporary lens; on “Nueva Timba,” the new album by Cuban-born pianist Harold Lopez-Nussa, the jazz vanguard meets multiple eras of Cuba’s musical history with results that are at once accessible, life-affirming and strikingly accomplished; and, inspired by the Robert Frost poem of the same name, pianist Joe Policastro’s “Mending Wall” explores concepts of identity and borders through a musical landscape of selections from Italy, Hong Kong, symphonic themes, movie scores, pop tunes, and even a cowboy tune written by a Russian classical composer.
Big Mo Pod Show 077 – “Passin’ The Torch”
Welcome back to the show! On this week’s musical journey we discuss a smattering of blues artists, their history, and the ways their work makes us feel! Songs featured in the episode:
- Mud Morganfield – “She’s Getting Her Groove On”
- The New Mastersounds – “MRG”
- Tom Hambridge – “Willie Dixon’s Gone”
- Mike Zito & Albert Castiglia – “Soulard Serenade”
- Bob Corritore & Jimi Primetime Smith – “I Got The World In A Jug”
Podcast (bigmopodshow): Play in new window | Download
Subscribe: RSS | Subscribe to the Big Mo Pod Show
Culture Crawl 1118 “This is Nigel from America’s Got Talent”
Lynne Waggoner-Patton, Cedar Rapids native and Kirkwood alum, joins Dennis in the studio ahead of the highly anticipated “Love Happens” fundraising event with American’s Got Talent Golden Buzzer winning dance troupe, The Silhouettes. It’s Sunday, Oct 19, 2pm at Paramount Theatre in Cedar Rapids.
Tickets and more info at artsiowa.com, creventslive.com & thesilhouettes.com.
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.
Where The Rubber Hits The Road
You’ve heard a lot from us over the past few months about federal funding and the budget gap KCCK now has after the elimination of CPB. We’re so grateful for the response of our community. At Jazz Under the Stars, gifts were four times our normal average! If you have made an extra donation in response to the funding rescission, thank you so much!
But now reality sets in. The $140,000 dollars taken away from us is not a one-time event, but are funds we will have to raise every year just to stay even, let alone allow for inflation and increased costs. We’re in uncharted territory. Like the music we love, we have to improvise as we look for solutions.
Heading into our fall fund drive, I am asking each member of our community who is able, to increase their annual donation. How much is up to you but if you’re a sustainer, please consider increasing your monthly gift by 5 dollars. Many members have pledged to increase their giving by 20%, the approximate percentage of KCCK’s budget that federal funds formerly provided. For a $120 annual gift, that would mean an extra $25.
If you increase, or are a new donor this fall, we’ll send you our “Heroes of Jazz” t-shirt. This limited edition wearable is exclusive to KCCK members, and won’t be sold to the public. It will be a visible reminder to everyone that just like Miles, Louis, and Duke, you are a Hero of Jazz when you give to KCCK.
If you believe KCCK makes our community more vibrant, inspires our youth, and is a dependable companion during these tough times, then show your support with a contribution today. We’re optimistic about the future, a tomorrow powered by you.