Culture Crawl 378 “More Than Just Horns On Your Tune”

Ian Draves formed the soul-funk band Soul Sherpa with musicians he met while a student at Kirkwood Community College. Today, it’s one of the Corridor’s busiest bands, and is putting on a unique, collaborative concert called The Corridor Record Project, where Soul Sherpa will arrange a tune written by another regional band, incorporating funk beats and their horn section.
 
Ian and Erika Pohlman tell Dennis that this means Soul Sherpa will incorporate the diverse elements of Folk, rock, blues, and hip-hop from the other bands into the tune they do together. It’s more than just adding horns. The concert will be recorded and distributed for free.
 
Guest musicians include:
• Jeremy Jacobs
• Evan Stock
• Ivory James
• Treesreach
• Joe Blesz (from 6 Odd Rats)
• Case the Joint
• Layton White
• Duchess
• Flash In A Pan
• The Uniphonics
 
Friday, Sept. 7 at The Englert Theatre. More information at www.englert.org.

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This Week’s Special Programs for August 20 thru August 25

Short List with host Bob Naujoks    

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

Formidable Flutes: James Newton

Musician, composer, educator, and author James Newton grew up immersed in the sounds of African-American music – including urban blues, R&B, and gospel. This background serves as inspiration for many cross-cultural projects throughout his career, including works for orchestra, chamber ensembles, and ballet. His opera, The Songs of Freedom, opened to stellar reviews. Newton has been voted Top Flutist for 23 consecutive years in Down Beat’s International Critic’s Poll.

 

 

Jazz Corner of the World with host Craig Kessler

Monday, 6:00 PM – 10:00 PM

The Chronological Early Years of Chick Corea, Part 3

Craig continues his survey of Chick Corea’s early recordings – 1968 thru 1969 – hearing Chick with Hubert Laws, the Chick Corea Trio, Armando Peraza, Bobby Hutcherson, Miles Davis’s studio recordings, Eric Kloss, Wayne Shorter, and others … all presented chronologically.  This is historically interesting and very important music from one of today’s pillars of jazz.

 

 

 

Jazz Profiles with host Nancy Wilson    

Monday at 11:00 PM 

Louis Armstrong – The Singer

After establishing himself as an innovative jazz instrumentalist, Louis Armstrong was given a chance to sing — and turned the jazz world upside down. His singing voice would become one of the world’s most recognized and enjoyed in jazz and popular music.

 

 

 

Wednesday Night Special

6:00 PM   

Eric Thompson Quartet at the Opus Concert Cafe 

Percussionist Eric Thompson has been drumming almost his entire life. He made his professional debut at age 2 ½ on local television. At age 6, he was performing beside Buddy Rich on the Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson. His decades of experience has made him one of the nation’s drumming powerhouses. Thompson brought his quartet to First Friday Jazz at the Opus Concert Café and showcased a well-received set. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Jazz Night in America with host Christian McBride

Thursday at 11:00 PM

Allison Miller’s Melodic Drumming

What would you say if someone told you that drums can sing? The best jazz drummers have always understood this as fact. Allison Miller has even made it a core part of her artistic mission — as drummer, a composer and a bandleader. Jazz Night in America recently caught up with Miller, who skillfully demonstrates the concept of “melodic drumming” — using her drums and cymbals, a Duke Ellington tune, and a new piece of technology. We also dropped in at Dizzy’s Club Coca-Cola for portions of an engaging set by Boom Tic Boom.

 

 

 

Jazz Corner of the World with host Craig Kessler

Saturday, Noon – 4:00 PM and Monday, 6:00 PM – 10:00 PM

A Birthday Celebration For Guitarist Pat Martino

Craig celebrates Pat’s 74th birthday. He spins a wide array of jazz gems spotlighting music featuring the dazzling guitar work of Pat Martino and his associates. You’ll hear his early recordings in 1963 and his more recent work in the 2000’s. Pat still performs live with organist Pat Bianchi, and the occasional drummer! This show is packed with fantastic material.   

 

KCCK’s Midnight CD

The Monday – Sunday Midnight CD for this week can be found at: 

http://www.kcck.org/midnight-cd/

Culture Crawl 277 “Music for a Short Attention Span”

KCCK’s Jazz Under the Stars swings to a dynamic conclusion Aug. 23 when Steve Shanley directs an All-Star Big Band with singers at McGrath Amphitheatre. Musicians from all over the state are coming to play, and singers include Amy Friedl Stoner, who has performed at New York cabarets, Iowa jazz legends Eddie Piccard and Craig Boche, Prairie student Lydia Jennison, and a talented singer that you know better as a KCCK DJ, Bob Stewart.

The big band players are truly a Who’s Who of Iowa Jazz:

Trumpets: Randy Grabowski, Dave Rezek, Laura Saylor, Steve King

Trombones: Rich Medd, Anthony Williams, Joel Nagel, Mike McMann

Saxophones: Rod Pierson, Eddie McKinley, Chris Merz, Jen Tiede, Jeff Schafer

Drums: Jim Dreier

Bass: Steve Charlson

Steve (who will play piano as well as direct) says there will be something for everyone in the program. If for some reason you don’t like a selection, wait a couple minutes, because you’ll probably love the next tune!

Things get busy at the end of August as school starts, but if you miss this show, we think you’ll kick yourself later.

7pm August 23 at McGrath Amphitheatre. Details at www.kcck.org.

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New Music Monday for August 20, 2018

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

 Puerto Rican trumpeter Charlie Sepulveda has been a fixture of the Latin jazz world since the late 1980s when he played in the band of pianist and composer Eddie Palmieri. During the 1990s, a renaissance period for el jazz Latino, the brassman toured and recorded with an array of great artists including Tito Puente, Dizzy Gillespie, Hilton Ruiz, Dave Valentin, Danilo Perez and Steve Turre. He launched his own group, The Turnaround, 25 years ago and has been turning the tables on the traditional Latin jazz format ever since. The inspiration for his new project with The Turnaround, “Songs for Nat,” is his new wife Natalia. He wrote all the songs right after a series of tropical storms ravaged the island of Puerto Rico late last year.

     Known for his fiery, emotive drumming from the last decade of touring and recording with Sonny Rollins, Bobby Broom and Kurt Elling, Kobie Watkins was at the same time visualizing musical concepts for his own compositions and group. First explored on his 2009 solo debut, Watkins’ new formation was created from the inside out, born and cultivated from his travels and experiences and realized through his several years performing with pianist Justin Nielson and his creatively connected bandmates. Though born and raised in Chicago and now based in North Carolina, the Grouptet was formed by happenstance in Idaho where they were each brought in to teach. The remoteness allowed them to freely explore their own collective voice resulting in a collection of nine inspired originals, along with a slinky new arrangement of “Manteca.”

   

Also in the mix this week is the debut album from one of San Francisco’s most respected and busiest percussionists Javier Cabanillas and his band Cabanijazz Project “Infrasonic”.

 

 

 

 

                    

 

 ; “Kinship” is the debut solo release from Toronto-based trumpeter John Pittman, who has been a member of both the Heavyweights Brass Band and the Composer’s Collective Big Band

 

 

       

The Dennis Dreith Band is comprised of some of Los Angeles’ top jazz and session musicians for their “Reunion” CD.

 

 

 

 

 

Culture Crawl 276 “Lifetime Learner”

Beverly Winkie’s husband Wallace spent his life pursuing knowledge and sharing that knowledge with his students, family and friends. His students memorialized his 20 years as a Drivers Ed instructor in a book called “Park It.” In his memory, the Wallace Winkie Foundation has created the Lifetime Learner Hall of Fame, honoring someone each year whose life exemplifies the value that Wallace lived by.

Nomination are open for the 2018 award. Application deadline is August 25.

For more information, and the application form, visit www.parkitvirtualmuseum.com.

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Talking Pictures 8-15-18

Black Klansman and The Meg with Hollis Monroe and Denny Lynch.

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This Week’s Special Programs – August 13 thru August 18

Short List with host Bob Naujoks    

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

Formidable Flutes: Charles Lloyd

Though he primarily plays tenor saxophone and flute, Charles Lloyd occasionally records on other reed instruments, such as alto saxophone and the Hungarian tárogató. Lloyd’s Quartet was the first jazz group to appear at the famed Fillmore Auditorium in San Francisco, where they fused improvisation, avant-garde jazz, and free jazz with the psychedelic rock of the 1960s. Lloyd is given credit for anticipating world music by incorporating music from other cultures into his compositions, as early as the late 1950s.

 

 

Jazz Corner of the World with host Craig Kessler

Monday, 6:00 PM – 10:00 PM

Blue Note Records in 1968, Part One

Craig travels back 50 years to look in on the recording activities at Blue Note Records in 1968.  In this first of 2 shows, we’ll hear from the recordings that took place in January through June.  We’ll enjoy interesting goodies from Herbie Hancock, Booker Ervin, Stanley Turrentine, Andrew Hill, Horace Silver, McCoy Tyner, and a host of other giants. Although the times were-a-changing, ’68 still provided lots of excitement in the world of modern jazz!

 

 

Jazz Profiles with host Nancy Wilson    

Monday at 11:00 PM 

Louis Armstrong – The Trumpeter

Louis Armstrong displayed a blend of talent and dedication that has not been matched by any trumpeter since. His improvisation paved the way for the jazz soloist. In this program, we trace Armstrong’s development as a trumpeter and reflect on his contributions. Jazz expression remains forever steeped in the innovations of Armstrong’s trumpet solos. The scope and magnitude of his virtuosity was nothing short of world-altering. Each time he held his horn up to his lips, he made melodies ring out in a joyful, brilliant tone.

 

 

 

Wednesday Night Special

6:00 PM   

Soul Sacrifice at the Opus Concert Cafe 

Veteran Eastern Iowa 7-piece, Soul Sacrifice, brought its high energy to First Friday Jazz for a gig at the Opus Concert Café. Their specialty is the music of Santana and other Latin/Jazz-based groups, and this band of accomplished musicians and music educators evoked not only the sound but the energy of Carlos Santana. They definitely had the audience feeling good and moving their feet.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Jazz Night in America with host Christian McBride

Thursday at 11:00 PM

The Ray Charles Songbook 

At age 21, trumpeter and music director Kenny Rampton (of the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra) launched his touring career with a nine-month stint in Ray Charles’ band.  In this episode, Rampton honors his former bandleader by presenting the most authentic Ray Charles experience possible. The band is full of Ray Charles alumni, the set lists are faithful recreations of actual Ray Charles sets, and the charts are transcribed from the original tour music.

 

 

 

 

Jazz Corner of the World with host Craig Kessler

Saturday, Noon – 4:00 PM and Monday, 6:00 PM – 10:00 PM

The Chronological Early Years of Chick Corea, Part 3

Craig continues his survey of Chick Corea’s early recordings – 1968 thru 1969 – hearing Chick with Hubert Laws, the Chick Corea Trio, Armando Peraza, Bobby Hutcherson, Miles Davis’s studio recordings, Eric Kloss, Wayne Shorter, and others … all presented chronologically.  This is historically interesting and very important music from one of today’s pillars of jazz.

 

 

KCCK’s Midnight CD

The Monday – Sunday Midnight CD for this week can be found at: 

http://www.kcck.org/midnight-cd/

Culture Crawl 275 “May The Funk Be With You”

Dennis and Ken Duncan of The Funk Daddies reminisce about the music scene in Iowa City and Cedar Rapids over the past several decades, conjuring up memories of groups like Kabala and Akasha, and clubs including Maxwell’s and Polly’s Penthouse, on the way to talking about Funk Daddies and their show Aug. 16 at KCCK’s Jazz Under The Stars.

7pm at Noelridge Park. Come early and peruse the selection at KCCK’s CD and Record Sale, hundreds of CDs and vintage vinyl for just $1 a disk.

www.kcck.org.

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