Iowa City Jazz Fest Profile – “In Orbit” with Jeff Coffin & Michael Occhipinti & Felix Pastorius

By Jordan Maldonado, KCCK Programming Intern

In Orbit (from left): Tom Reynolds, Michael Occhipinti, Davide Direnzo, Jeff Coffin, Felix Pastorius

 
In Orbit is a collective of musicians from both sides of the Canada-USA border, centered on the original compositions of saxophonist Jeff Coffin, and guitarist Michael Occhipinti, joined by Felix Pastorius, Nashville/Toronto pianist Tom Reynolds, and drummer Davide Direnzo.
 
These artists have a broad spectrum of influence that ranges from R&B, funk, jazz, rock, and most modern day guitar styles along with artist influences such as John Lennon or the Dave Matthews Band. This spectrum creates an innovative, energetic, and ever-flowing new genre of jazz in the modern age.
 
In Orbit performs at the Iowa City Jazz Festival on Friday, June 30th at 9 p.m on the Main Stage.
 
 

Iowa City Jazz Fest Profile – Jacob Garchik’s Ye Olde

By Jordan Maldonado, KCCK Programming Intern

 

Trombonist/Composer/Arranger Jacob Garchik comes to the Iowa City Jazz Festival this year with Ye Olde featuring a collective of Brooklyn Avant Guitarists, Mary Halvorson, Brandon Seabrook, and Jonathan Goldberger, Plus Drummer Vinnie Sperrazza. 

Named a “Rising Star” in the 2013 Downbeat Jazz Critic’s Poll, Garchik provides a vital role in the music scene of Brooklyn and downtown NYC. Ye Olde explores the progressive rock influences and the arts that Brooklyn has not seen.

Ye Olde performs on the main stage on Saturday, July 1st at 5pm.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Iowa City Jazz Fest Profile – North Corridor Jazz All Stars

By Jordan Maldonado, KCCK Programming Intern

The North Corridor Jazz All Stars return for their fourth performance at the Iowa City Jazz Festival. Much like the United Jazz Ensemble, this band features the most talented and well-versed jazz students in the North Corridor. 

Under the direction of professor Steve Shanley, these musicians present and preserve a diverse and thorough big band show and will guarantee a romping and swinging live jam.

The North Corridor Jazz All Stars will open the main stage for Saturday, July 1st at 1 p.m.

 

 

Iowa City Jazz Fest Profile – Rhythm Future Quartet

By Jordan Maldonado, KCCK Programming Intern

Led by violinist Jason Anick and guitarist Olli Soikkeli, this quartet performs dynamic and lyrical arrangements of both Gypsy jazz standards and original compositions that draw upon diverse international rhythms and musical idioms.
 
Featuring Max O’Rourke on second guitar and Greg Loughman on bass, these artists dedicate their skills to broadening the dynamics of Gypsy jazz and contemporary music. Jason Anick is a composer and professor at Berklee College of Music in Boston while Olli Soikkeli moved from Scandavia to New York City, quickly becoming a top call guitarist. Max O’Rourke was the winner of the 2015 Saga Award from DjangoFest Northwest and Greg Loughman is a top call bassist in Boston.
 
Their recent album, “Travels” was selected as one of the top jazz albums of 2016 by Huffington Post and All About Jazz.
 
Rhythm Future Quartet plays Friday, June 30th at 7 p.m on the Main Stage.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Iowa City Jazz Fest Profile – United Jazz Ensemble

By Jordan Maldonado, KCCK Programming Intern

 
Every May, this collaborative high school ensemble comes together to
prepare for the Iowa City Jazz Festival. Directed by Rich Medd and Ryan Arp, the band is comprised of students from Iowa City High School and West High School.
 
Among the many benefits of the United Jazz Ensemble is the name itself because it creates a healthy environment for these schools to work together. It’s a perfect opportunity for these students to bond and grow musically through jazz outside of the school year.
 
The United Jazz Ensemble performs on Friday, July at 5 p.m. on the Main Stage.
 

 

New Music Monday for May 22, 2017

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

 

With an assured maturity and vocal confidence far beyond her years, the young singer Jazzmeia Horn arrives with her debut recording, “A Social Call.” The Texas-born singer, who won the 2013 Sarah Vaughan International Jazz Competition and took top honors at the Thelonious Monk Institute  International Jazz Competition in 2015, offers up fresh takes on evergreen standards, hard bop anthems, songs of spiritual intent and R & B nuggets. “This album is a few things,” Jazzmeia explains. “It’s a call to social responsibility, to know your role in your community. It’s about being inspired by things that happen in your life and being able to touch others.”

 

 

 

Drummer Tina Raymond’s debut CD, “Left Right Left,” is a musical journey through the American Progressive movement. She conceived of the project in the aftermath of the recent presidential election, choosing a mix of patriotic songs and more recent tunes by 20th Century artists who are associated with the struggle for civil rights, anti-war activism, and equality, like Woody Guthrie, Pete Seeger and Joan Baez. With master musicians like Art Lande, who is considered one of the premiere improvisational jazz pianists today, and bassist Putter Smith, this adventurous effort will appeal to jazz lovers of any political persuasion.

 

 

Also this week, it’s the second album as collaborators by saxophonist Cory Weeds and the Jeff Hamilton Trio, “Dreamsville”.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Trombonist Chris Wasburne’s “Rags and Roots” is a bi-hemispheric ragtime revival, covering a century’s worth of compositions from New Orleans, New York, Haiti, Cuba, Mexico and Brazil.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lebanese pianist Tarek Yamani offers up stark, jazz-influenced original material on “Peninsular,” featuring a five-piece Emeriti percussion troupe performing in a Bedouin tradition rarely heard outside the Persian Gulf.

 

 

 

 

 

Culture Crawl 254 “It’s Much Easier to Paint Subjects Who Don’t Need a Bathroom Break”

While cleaning out her mother’s house, artist Tara Moorman discovered a trove of family photos, some dating back to the 1870s. This inspired her to paint a series of watercolors depicting those family members at the time the photos were taken. “Letters To My Ancestors” is on exhibit now through August at the Cedar Rapids Museum of Art. There will be an opening reception where you can meet Tara and learn more about the project on June 1.

Details at www.crma.org.

Culture Crawl 252 “John Williams Changed My Life”

Whether you think of yourself as a classical music fan or not, if you haven’t been inspired by the music of John Williams, check your pulse. You may not have a heart. Maestro Tim Hankewich reveals that hearing the Star Wars theme was one of the first experiences that got him excited about music.

Orchestra Iowa plays music from Jaws, Schindler’s List, Superman, Et, and of course, Star Wars, May 20 & 21 at the Paramount Theatre.

Tickets at www.orchestraiowa.org