Michelle Collier

We are pleased to announce that a familiar face will taking over KCCK’s fundraising efforts, as Michelle Collier will succeed Lisa Baum as KCCK’s Development Director. Since joining KCCK in 2015 as Office Manager and Development Assistant, Michelle has shown a keen interest in getting more involved in our fundraising. She took it upon herself to take grant-writing classes, and network with area development pros, as well as taking the lead in many of our fundraising events. 

Michelle is an Eastern Iowa native and a graduate from Belmont University in Nashville. Before coming to KCCK she worked in concert booking and artist management in Tennessee, and also at GreatAmerica in Cedar Rapids. She is married to Jeff Collier, CEO of Orchestra Iowa. The Colliers are expecting their first child this fall.

Taking over Michelle’s former position is someone who is also familiar in the Eastern Iowa music and arts community. Laura Carson has been involved with KCCK and many other organizations as a volunteer, donor, and performer for many years. She’s been active with Cedar Rapids Opera Theatre, the Iowa Ambassadors of Music, Chorale Midwest, and many other organizations, including KCCK, where she has been a donor for many years.

Laura comes to us from Skogman Realty, and previously worked at Kirkwood as a Customer Service Specialist at Eagle Tech. She also teaches Intro to Computers at Kirkwood. She has previously worked in IT, web design, and the travel industry. Laura is married to Bill Carson, director of Bands at Coe College (and frequent Corridor Jazz guest artist). Laura and Bill have two grown children.

Congratulations to Michelle and welcome Laura!

Short List with host Bob Naujoks    

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

Corridor Shortlist: Matt Bernemann & Rich Medd

Featured this week on the Short List are short sketches of drummer Matt Bernemann and trombonist Rich Medd. Bernemann has been a teacher and player for two decades and has appeared with Shade of Blue, Saul Lubaroff and his own Bernemann Brothers Band. As well as being a top-tier musician with Ritmocano and Three Dogs and a Bone, Medd is also the award-winning educator and director of the Iowa City High School Jazz Band for over 20 years.

Jazz Corner of the World with host Craig Kessler

Monday, 6:00 PM – 10:00 PM

Prestige Records in 1968 – Part One

Craig travels back 50 years to look in on the recording activities at Bob Weinstock’s Prestige Records during the year 1968.  We’ll hear classic “modern jazz” fare from the likes of Pat Martino, Sonny Criss, Don Patterson, Harold Mabern, Willis Jackson, Barry Harris, and many others.  Prepare yourself for a healthy, heaping helping of “Soul Jazz”!

Jazz Profiles with host Nancy Wilson    

Monday at 11:00 PM 

Bobby Hutcherson Tribute

Said one critic of Bobby Hutcherson, “It looks like he’s levitating when he’s playing!” Join host Nancy Wilson as she details the “whole body experience” and the incredible palette of colors that vibes master Bobby Hutcherson brings to his art.

Wednesday Night Special

6:00 PM   

Tom Harrell at the 2014 Iowa City Jazz Festival

KCCK’s Program Director Bob Stewart has heard countless world-class musicians as they’ve played the Iowa City Jazz Festival. This month, we dedicate our Wednesday Night Specials to some past performances Bob considers some of the best. This week, its Tom Harrell’s set at the 2014 Iowa City Jazz Fest. Trumpeter and flugelhornist Tom Harrell has dozens of albums to his credit as a band leader. As a sideman, he’s sat in with the likes of Lionel Hampton, Lee Konitz, and Gerry Mulligan. His big band album was nominated for a Grammy award. Harrell played an energetic set for the crowd on the UI Pentacrest. Enjoy this encore of Tom Harrell, hand-picked by Bob Stewart, on the Wednesday Night Special.

Jazz Night in America with host Christian McBride

Thursday at 11:00 PM

D.C. Jazz Loft Trios  

Jazz has its capital cities: major gathering places like New York, Chicago, and New Orleans. But the music manages to live plenty well in many other places, too. What goes into those smaller ecosystems to enable jazz to thrive? In search of some answers, we sought out the DIY concert producers of Capitalbop in Washington, DC, as they presented musicians from the Baltimore-Washington metropolis. Jazz Night In America looks in on the 2015 DC Jazz Festival, featuring three trios led by vibraphonist Warren Wolf and bassist Kris Funn.

Jazz Corner of the World with host Craig Kessler

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

The Modern Jazz Artistry of Joe Chambers

Craig examines the recording career of drummer, pianist, vibraphonist, and composer Joe Chambers.  We’ll hear from his dozen recordings as a leader, as well as from his 60+ recording dates as a sideman, with the likes of Hubert Laws, Sam Rivers, Joe Henderson, Miles Davis, Chick Corea, Wayne Shorter, and many more!  This is excellent listening from one of the overlooked and underrated giants of jazz!

KCCK’s Midnight CD

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

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