Culture Crawl 289 “Ron’s Circle of Frenemies”
The History Center of Cedar Rapids presents its second “Satirical Undertaking” Sept. 29.
The event is a celebrity roast disguised as a mock funeral for outgoing Cedar Rapids mayor Ron Corbett. Two of the community’s top comedy writers, SPT Theatre’s David Martino and Adam Witte, have written an uproarious script, aided by a wine-soaked evening hearing stories from a group of what Ron will probably call former friends after he hears what they dished!
Tickets are going fast, but there are still a few available at www.historycenter.org.
Culture Crawl 288 “Formidable Female”
Marcia Hughes of Cedar Rapids has made something of a career playing some of the theatre’s iconic powerful woman roles, such as “Gypsy’s” Mama Rose, Miss Mona from “Best Little Whorehouse,” and yes, “The Little Mermaid’s” Ursula.
She sings the title role in “Mame, opening Sept. 22 at the Iowa City Community Theatre. Tickets at www.iowacitycommunitytheatre.com.
Use the code Mame2017 when you buy your tickets for $3 off!
Talking Pictures 9-13-17
It; Kill Me 3 Times; Love, Again and The Discovery with Hollis Monroe, Denny Lynch and Scott Chrisman
Special Programs: Week of September 11 – September 16
The Short List with host Bob Naujoks
Monday – Friday at 8:35 AM and Saturday at 7 AM
The Short List this week takes us to both coasts: Smalls in Greenwich Village and the Keystone Korner in San Francisco. Smalls is a unique place that records each performance and issues downloads and CDs of those sessions. The Keystone Korner started out as a topless bar but soon realized that music was a better fit. It was one of pianist Bill Evans favorite places and his final recordings were made there.
Jazz Corner of the World with host Craig Kessler
Monday, 6:00 PM – 10:00 PM
Tribute To Record Exec Joe Fields and His ‘Muse’ Label
Craig salutes the recently departed record producer and label owner, Joe Fields with an overview of Fields’s ‘Muse’ label. Craig will feature a variety of tasty jazz gems from Muse’s 500 + titles, many that are seldom heard. Don’t miss it!
Jazz Profiles with host Nancy Wilson
Monday at 11:00 PM
Bud Powell: Bebop Pianism
After being brutally beaten by police at age 21, Bud Powell spent the rest of his short life fighting mental illness. His music revealed this constant state of struggle. Known to improvise like one possessed, Powell’s right hand could race through the upper registers of the keyboard with astounding clarity while his left hand grounded the lines with irregularly spaced dissonant bass chords. Bud Powell created a ferocious body of music that shattered the limits of bebop and influenced all who followed him.
Wednesday Night Special
6:00 PM
Jazz In The Stacks Featuring The Latin Jazz of Carlos Santana
Guitar master Carlos Santana has crossed musical boundaries his entire career, infusing it all with the infectious rhythms and melodies of Latin America. Drummer Dennis McPartland and saxman Peter Hart lead their ensemble in the Latin jazz of Carlos Santana. Join us for this special performance, recorded live as part of Jazz In The Stacks series at the Cedar Rapids Public Library.
Jazz Night in America with host Christian McBride
Thursday at 11:00 PM
Eddie Palmieri’s Harlem River Drive (Revisited)
Pianist Eddie Palmieri turns 80 this month, and to celebrate Jazz Night in America presents the Latin jazz legend’s Harlem River Drive project, featuring an 18-piece orchestra recorded in Harlem. Eddie and the band trace the genesis and commercial failure of the 1971 cult album, and how the message is still relevant today.
Jazz Corner of the World with host Craig Kessler
Saturday, Noon – 4:00 PM and Monday, 6:00 PM – 10:00 PM
The Piano Artistry of Joanne Brackeen
Craig surveys the music of Joanne Brackeen, yet another amazing, yet largely overlooked and underrated pianist. She is truly an amazing and cutting edge musician and composer. We’ll hear from a number of her stunning releases as a leader, as well as some work with tenorman Stan Getz, vibraphonist Freddie McCoy, and others.
KCCK’s Midnight CD
The Monday – Sunday Midnight CD for this week can be found at:
New Music Monday for September 11, 2017
Listen to this week’s playlist on YouTube and Spotify.
Critically acclaimed and one of the top flute players on the modern jazz scene, Gerald Beckett is a skilled and versatile improviser within the jazz tradition. He’s travelled the world, with a focus on the U.S. coasts, playing some of the hottest jazz clubs. It wasn’t until he moved to San Francisco in 1985 that he began immersing himself in the jazz idiom. He started listening to various flutists, from Eric Dolphy, Frank Wess and Herbie Mann to Hubert Laws, Dave Valentin and Paul Horn. He spent eight years studying flute at the San Francisco Conservatory, eventually conducting Master Classes of his own across the globe. His newest CD, “Oblivion,” is the result of five different studio recording sessions, either as a quartet, quintet or string quartet, involving some of the finest Bay Area musicians.
If you check the newest edition of Modern Drummer magazine, you’ll find Steve Smith on the cover. He’s a winner in three of the polls in the issue. He was also recently inducted in to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame with the rock band Journey, and toured Japan last year with the super group Steps Ahead featuring Mike Mainieri, Randy Brecker, Bill Evans and Tom Kennedy. Since 1983, Smith has led the jazz fusion group Vital Information, and just a few years back began its offshoot, Vital Information NYC Edition. It’s that band that is featured on the new release, “Heart of the City,” with Baron Browne on bass, Mark Soskin on piano and Vinny Valentino on guitar.
Also this week, vibraphone ace Behn Gillece is joined by trombonist Michael Dease, saxophonist Walt Weiskopf and trumpeter Bruce Harris on new septet CD, “Walk of Fire”.
Australian-born reedman and flutist Adrian Cunningham offers up his fifth disc as a leader, “Jazz Speak”.
L.A.-based saxophonist Jeff Benedi
ct and guitarist Dave Askren lead a grooving quartet on “Come Together.”
Talking Pictures 9-7-17
Brigsby Bear, Wind River, Close Encounters of the Third Kind 40th Anniversary with Hollis Monroe, Denny Lynch and Monica Schmidt.
Culture Crawl 287 “Context Matters”
Orchestra Iowa’s 2017-18 season kicks off Sept. 9 with the 10th edition of “Brucemorquestra,” on the lawn of Cedar Rapids’ historic Brucemore mansion. The program will be Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony, “Ode to Joy,” which was also performed at the very first Brucemorquestra, just weeks after the 2008 flood. Joining the Orchestra will be Cedar Rapids Opera Theatre, and college choruses from Kirkwood, Coe, and Mt. Mercy.
Tim Hankewich says this is no coincidence, as the symphony’s theme of brotherhood and standing together rings even more true today as ten years ago.
Tim also hints at some unique audience participation for the encore!
Tickets at www.orchestraiowa.org.