Culture Crawl 367 “Marching Band on Steroids”

Cedar Rapids has a long history in drum corps, fielding its own high energy show group, the Emerald Knights, for many years. Interest in drum corps remains strong in the community, which is why the Tournament of Drums has grown to become one of the leading drum corps competitions in the nation. Nancy Andreasen and Jenifer Vick tell Dennis that groups are coming not just from around the country, but from as far away as the Netherlands to compete on Aug. 3.

 

Tickets are $13 in advance, $15 at the gate. Advance tickets available at Hills Bank and West Music locations. More information at www.tournamentofdrums.com.

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August Means Jazz Under the Stars

Noelridge Park and McGrath Amphitheatre will be the scene for great music again this year as KCCK’s Jazz Under the Stars returns for 2018.

Kevin “B.F.” Burt

One season highlight will certainly be a performance by 2018 International Blues Challenge winner Kevin “B.F.” Burt. Kevin’s talent is no secret here in the Corridor, but he took the annual Memphis competition by storm with a soulful rendition of “Eleanor Rigby” to beat out entrants from all over the world.

Coe professor and CR Municipal Band Director Steve Shanley directs an all-star big band who will accompany singers you’ve seen onstage and in sold-out cabaret shows.

Steve Shanley

Audience favorites The Funk Daddies return to Jazz Under the Stars after a 10-year absence, and The Jazz Standard, led by Cedar Rapids’ own Paul and Gail Williams, rounds out the series.

Funk Daddies

Music fans will also have the chance to add to their personal collections, as KCCK’s CD Sale will take place a the August 16th concert, thousands of CDs and vinyl records available for just a dollar a disc.

 

 

 

Here is the full concert schedule:

August 2 – The Jazz Standard (Paul & Gail Williams, Peter Hart, Dan Oline, Tim Crumley) at Noelridge Park

August 9 – Kevin “B.F.” Burt and the Corridor Blues All-Stars at Noelridge Park

August 16 – Funk Daddies at Noelridge Park

August 23 – Eastern Iowa All-Star Big Band with Singers (directed by Steve Shanley) at McGrath Amphitheatre.

All concerts begin at 7pm. In case of rain, listen to KCCK-FM for rain location or cancellation information.

 

Bring a picnic or enjoy one our terrific vendors:

                       

Road Rooster

 

Major support for Jazz Under The Stars comes from

                               

Additional support provided by Kirkwood Community College, Latta Harris CPA & Consultants,That Cellular Place, and West Music.

 

 

 

Jazz Under the Stars 2014

Each August KCCK sponsors four free Thursday night concerts in Cedar Rapids. The first three take place in Noelridge Park, the final one at the McGrath Ampitheatre.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SaveSave

Talking Pictures 7-11-18

Won’t You Be My Neighbor?, The First Purge and Ant-Man and the Wasp with Hollis Monroe, Denny Lynch and Phil Brown

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Culture Crawl 366 “Fabulous Flutes!”

The flute takes center stage this week with the Cedar Rapids Municipal Band, as director Steve Shanley tells Dennis that the program will include a feature from the Coe Youth Flute Ensemble, July 11 and 22. The July 18 & 29th concerts will be the band’s annual Czech and Bohemian music feature, including selections from “Rent,” which is based, of course, on “La Boheme.” (Get it?)

Full schedule and concert locations at www.crmuniband.org.

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This Week’s Special Programs – July 9 through July 14

Short List with host Bob Naujoks    

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

Formidable Flutes: Herbie Mann

Herbie Mann began his career playing tenor saxophone and clarinet. Eventually, however, he made his mark as one of very first jazz musicians to specialize on flute. Mann emphasized the groove approach in his music. His album, Memphis Underground, is still considered the epitome of a groove record. He was also among the first early practitioners of world music and smooth jazz. Mann brought African rhythms and musicians to America following a tour of the continent. He did the same following an extended stay in Brazil. He was instrumental in the American obsession with Brazilian jazz.

 

 

 

 

Jazz Corner of the World with host Craig Kessler

Monday, 6:00 PM – 10:00 PM

Birth Date Anniversary Celebration for Tenorman Hank Mobley   

Craig celebrates Mobley’s contributions to modern jazz with a look back at his recordings, both as a leader and as a sideman.  We’ll hear his own recordings on the Prestige and Savoy labels, but most importantly, his more than two dozen records on Blue Note.  We’ll also hear Mobley in the company of Art Blakey, Donald Byrd, Miles Davis, Grant Green, and many others.  Hank was an important cog in the always changing jazz scene of the 1950s and 1960s.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Jazz Profiles with host Nancy Wilson    

Monday at 11:00 PM 

Johnny Hartman, ‘the Romantic Balladeer’

He followed in the wake of Billy Eckstine and Nat “King” Cole, two singers who personified the “black baritone movement” of the late ’40s and ’50s. Overshadowed by these two, Hartman never achieved the popularity he deserved. Through the release of the soundtrack to Clint Eastwood’s Bridges Of Madison County and the re-release of a recording with John Coltrane, the public has rediscovered this wonderful balladeer.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Wednesday Night Special

6:00 PM   

Goose Town at the 2017 Jazz Under the Stars 

The countdown begins for KCCK’s Jazz Under the Stars 2018! Four great bands from all over the jazz spectrum will light up Thursday Nights in August at Noelridge Park. To get ready for 2018, KCCK presents the four hot groups who made 2017 a year to remember. First up is Goose Town, a jazz, rock, and soul ensemble who had the crowd on the lawn grooving. Join us for a rebroadcast of Goose Town, live at Jazz Under the Stars 2017.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Jazz Night in America with host Christian McBride

Thursday at 11:00 PM

Henry Butler, In Memorium 

Jazz Night in America presents a special rebroadcast in honor of pianist Henry Butler, who died on Monday, July 2, 2018. Pianist Henry Butler and trumpeter Steven Bernstein are featured at the Jazz Standard in New York City, playing many of their signature tunes with highlights from their 2014 album, Viper’s Drag.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Jazz Corner of the World with host Craig Kessler

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

Riverside Records in 1958 

Craig travels back 60 years to look in on the recording activities of Riverside Records in 1958.  We’ll hear important recordings from great jazz artists like Wynton Kelly, Sonny Rollins, Thelonious Monk, Abbey Lincoln, Johnny Griffin, Cannonball Adderley, Bill Evans, and many others. This is the real deal!

 

 

 

 

KCCK’s Midnight CD

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

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

Culture Crawl 365 “Too Short to be Buddy”

Theatre Cedar Rapids opens its 85th consecutive season with “My Fair Lady” in September. Other highlights include “Elf,” “The Full Monty,” and “Shakespeare in Love.”. Artistic Director Angie Toomsen breaks the season down.

Tickets are on sale for the full season at www.theatrecr.org.

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New Music Monday for July 9, 2018

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

The merging of Brazilian music and American jazz changed the trajectory of modern music. The inceptions of bossa nova, samba jazz and other fusions enabled Brazil to make its mark on jazz and beyond, via some incredible musicians and composers, including the legendary Dom Salvador. The remarkable pianist and his classic trios made an impression on many during the mid-1960s, including a young Duduka da Fonseca. “Duduka da Fonseca Trio Plays Dom Salvador” was born from the leader’s love of Salvador and his music and Fonseca’s effort to make a proper tribute to his friend and mentor.

 

 

     The Black Art Jazz Collective’s mission statement celebrates African-American cultural and political icons. At the core is a modernism that conjure up the classic bands of Art Blakey and acoustic Miles Davis. But with contemporary soul-fueled solos and locked-in rhythms, the band is more likely to launch into a counterpoint riff or the spacious funk of hip-hop than the svelte lines of a classic walking bass. With their new CD, “Armor of Pride,” the Collective delivers strong original tunes and purposeful, form-hugging improvisation that keeps things looking forward rather than back. And with trumpeter Jeremy Pelt in ebullient form, and saxophonist Wayne Escoffery’s muscularity contrasting with the tenderness of James Burton III’s trombone, the focus never wavers or becomes diffuse.

 

Also this week, tenor saxophonist JD Allen delivers a beautiful and intensely interesting ballads album, “Love Stone”.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Keyboardist Geoffrey Keezer returns to the piano trio format with “On My Way to You”. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Harmonica ace Hendrick Meurkens pairs up with pianist Bill Cunliffe on “Cabin in the Sky.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Culture Crawl 364 “Vampires & Witches & Big Swords, Oh My!”

Twenty-four Iowa authors will converge on the Marion Columbus Club on July 21 for “Imagine Other Worlds with Authors” (I.O.W.A.), a book fair where you can browse, learn about each author’s work, and buy the ones that intrigue you.

Kristine Plum and Aaron Bunce talk about their books, and invite everyone to stop by. Admission is free.

Saturday, July 21, 10am – 2pm at the Marion Columbus Club, 3650 Kacena Ave. More information at www.ia-otherworlds.com.

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