Culture Crawl 268 “When He Dances, Everything Stops”

Theatre Cedar Rapids presents the musical “Billy Elliot,” June 30 through July 22. Set against the backdrop of British political turmoil in the 1980s, it’s the story of a miner’s son who dreams of being a dancer. Tad Paulson plays Jackie, the blue collar dad who learns to adjust to and support the unique dreams of his son.

Director Angie Toomsen says much of the show rests on the shoulders of eleven-year-old Jesse Flaherty, in his very first singing and speaking role, but the young man is more than equal to the task. He is just one of a cast of thirty-eight who bring this complicated show to life.

Tad also gives us a little demo of Jackie’s dialect!

Information and tickets at www.theatrecr.org.

Talking Pictures 6-22-17

Cars 3, My Cousin Rachel, Wonder Woman Redux with Dennis Green,  Denny Lynch and Monica Schmidt.

Culture Crawl 267 “The Case of the Disappearing Director”

Get a good look at CR Municipal Band director Steve Shanley, as this will be your only chance this week. Kennedy High School’s Jared Wacker is guest director for the concerts on June 21 and 24. This week, the public is invited to bring an instrument and join the band! The Wednesday concert is at Cleveland School, Sunday at Bever Park.

The following week, Steve will be back to conduct the patriotic programs that the Band always performs around the Fourth of July, including the Armed Forces salutes, Stars & Stripes Forever, and a featured performance by nationally-renown gospel vocal group, The Marshalls. Those concerts will be June 28 at Noelridge Park and July 2 at McGrath Amphitheatre.

More details at www.crmuniband.org. Follow @crmuniband on Twitter for last minute schedule changes due to weather.

Special Programs: Week of June 19 – 25

Short List with Bob Naujoks    

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

Short List: Jazz Women – The Instrumentalists (Annette Peacock)                                   

The individualist composer-pianist-singer Annette Peacock was the wife of bassist Gary Peacock at a young age in the early 1960s. She became a typical bohemian artist living in Greewnich Village in New York, even to the extent of using drugs directly from Dr. Timothy Leary. She began a musical relationship with the avant-garde pianist Paul Bley in the mid-1960s and would eventually marry him. Together they received an early version of the Moog synthesizer from its inventor. Using the Moog to alter her voice, they went on the road with the Bley-Peacock Synthesizer Show. Her first album, I’m The One, is a classic from 1972. Peacock would influence several generations of pop singers including David Bowie.  

 

Jazz Corner of the World with Craig Kessler

Monday, 6:00 PM – 10:00 PM

“Blue Note Records In 1967 – Part Two”                                          

“The Piano Artistry of Malcolm Earl ‘Mal’ Waldron”

Craig examines the 50 year career of the brilliant pianist who began working in jazz in 1950. We’ll hear solo and group recordings under Mal’s name, as well as a number of classics featuring his piano work with John Coltrane, Billie Holiday, Charles Mingus, Eric Dolphy, Jackie McLean, and many others. Waldron was a true “jazz original”, who remains overlooked and underappreciated!                  

 

Night Lights (Classic Jazz) with David Brent Johnson

Monday, 10:00 PM – 11:00 PM (follows Jazz Corner the World) 

Night Lights, is a weekly one-hour jazz radio program hosted by David Brent Johnson, focusing on jazz from the 1945-1990 era—covering artists such as Jackie McLean, Charles Mingus, and Nina Simone and themes ranging from jazz recordings of spirituals to avant-garde interpretations of the Great American Songbook. Night Lights also features many lesser-known talents of post-1945 jazz. Every program is archived after broadcast for online listening. This week: “Norman Granz’s Jazz Scene”.  

www.indianapublicmedia.org/nightlights/archives/2017

 

Jazz Profiles with Nancy Wilson    

Monday at 11:00 PM (follows Nightlights)

Etta Jones: “The Best Kept Secret in Jazz” 

Etta Jones sang with clarity and precision reminiscent of Carmen McRae, but with the edge of Dinah Washington or Billie Holiday. She liked ballads and loved an accompanying saxophone, as evidenced by her long association with Houston Person.

 

 

 

 

 

Wednesday Night Special               

6:00 PM   

Highlights from the 2016 Iowa City Jazz Festival: Miguel Zenón Quartet

Miguel Zenón at the 2016 Iowa City Jazz Festival

Multiple Grammy Nominee and Guggenheim and MacArthur Fellowship recipient, Miguel Zenón was born and raised in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Zenón continued on to take over New York by receiving his bachelor’s in Jazz Studies from Berklee College and a master’s degree in Jazz Performance at the Manhattan School of Music. Zenón is a founding member of the all-star group, SFJAZZ Collective, and has worked with Fred Hersh, David Sanchez, and many others.

Miguel Zenón has been known to be one of the most influential saxophonists of his generation. His music concentrates on the balance between both Latin American Music and Jazz. Zenón’s newest album was released in 2014, “Identities are Changeable.” Spoken word along with instrumentals truly make this album unique and inspirational. Zenón’s produces a sound that is unmistakably original.       

 

Jazz Night in America with Christian McBride

Thursday at 11:00 PM

“Harpin’ on Jazz”

Brandee Younger

Jazz Night in America is exploring one of the least frequently used instruments in jazz — the harp!  Groundbreaking harpists, Edmar Castaneda and Brandee Younger take the stage for two concerts from Jazz at Lincoln Center.                      

 

 

 

 

Jazz Corner of the World with Craig Kessler     

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

“The Jazz Corner of The World’s Annual Iowa City Jazz Festival Preview Show” 

The Cookers perform July 1st at 9 p.m. at the 2017 Iowa City Jazz Festival

Craig samples the output from the artists who are appearing at this year’s fest…Friday June 30th, Saturday July 1st, and Sunday July 2nd. We’ll hear recordings from Main Stage acts….Stacey Kent, Jeff Coffin, Chris Merz, Jacob Garchik, Kris Davis, Billy Hart, George Cables, Cecil McBee, Eddie Henderson, Laura Caviani, Donny McCaslin, and others. We’ll also hear recordings from many of the Side Stage performers….The Dandelion Stompers, Laranja, Jim Buennig, Blake Shaw, and others.  It’s going to be another great year for THE IOWA CITY JAZZ FESTIVAL!!!….and, by the way, be sure to check out KCCK’s 24-7 Jazz Fest channel, and, if you can’t attend in person, the entire festival is broadcast LIVE on 88.3 and 106.9. You can find all of the details at KCCK.ORG!!                   

 

Tropical Heat (hosted by Kpoti Senam Accoh)

Sunday, 5:00 PM – 8:00 PM

Featured Album: TBA          

 

KCCK’s Midnight CD

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

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

New Music Monday for June 19, 2017

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

 

Resonance Records has dipped into the vaults again and come up with another previously unreleased gem, “Truth, Liberty & Soul—Live in NYC: the Complete 1982 NPR Jazz Alive! Recording.” The first official release authorized by the Jaco Pastorius estate captures the iconic bass innovator leading a 22-piece big band at Avery Fisher Hall in New York City as part of George Wein’s Kool Jazz Festival. Featuring a congregation of the top jazz musicians of the time, such as Peter Erskine, Bob Mintzer, Randy Brecker, Frank Wess, Lew Soloff and Toots Thielemans, the set showcases Jaco’s brilliant compositions for large ensemble with the electric energy of a live performance.

 

 

 

One of the most long-lived and acclaimed bands on the current jazz scene, Ryan Keberle & Catharsis, continue to evolve their unmistakable group sound while speaking out about our troubled times on their new outing, “Find the Common, Shine a Light.” With six years of recording and extensive touring under their belt, the band stays true to its “potent blend of cinematic sweep and lush, ear-grabbing melodies” (Los Angeles Times) while opting for a more layered and multifaceted approach in the studio. Even so, the signature Catharsis front line of trombonist Ryan Keberle and trumpeter Michael Rodriguez remains central. Vocalist Camila Meza assumes an added role on guitar and bassist Jorge Roeder appears more frequently than before on electric bass. Drummer Eric Doob brings not only his supple and animated playing to the project but also recorded the project at his studio.

 

 

 

Also this week, Cuban-born drummer Ignacio Berroa and his trio offer up a mainstream jazz album using old Cuban melodies from his youth on “Straight Ahead From Havana”.

 

 

 

Nigerian-born, London-raised saxophonist Zem Audu is joined by guitarist Mike Stern and bassist Ben Williams on his debut CD, “Spirits”.Award-winning composer and pianist Scott Routenberg unveils his fourth album, “Every End is a Beginning,” featuring the drum work of U of I alum Cassius Goens.

 

 

 

 

Culture Crawl 266 “Beating The Heat”

Sean Ulmer, executive director of the Cedar Rapids Museum of Art, and board member for the Iowa Cultural Corridor Alliance (ICCA), has some suggestions for fun activities for all ages. Most take place in the cool comfort of air conditioning.

He also reminds us that his organization, the Museum of Art has free admission all summer long, so plan to catch their current exhibits.

Remember, www.culturalcorridor.org is the place to check out thousands of events for all ages. The Museum of Art is at www.crma.org.

IC Jazz Festival Schedule Update

A few adjustments have been made to the schedule and lineup for this year’s Iowa City Jazz Festival.

The biggest change is for the Sunday schedule. Stacey Kent and the Donny McCaslin Group have traded time slots. Kent will now perform at 6pm, and McCaslin will close the Festival, taking the stage at 8pm.

The Cookers have announced that saxophonist Donald Harrison is unable to perform with the group. Stepping in is Jaleel Shaw. Shaw was the Downbeat 2014 Rising Star Saxophonist, and spent many years as a member of drummer Roy Haynes’ band. He’s also no stranger to Iowa City, returning to the Festival after a 2014 appearance with Tom Harrell Colors of a Dream.

Check out the full schedule of Jazz Fest performances and artist bios on our Jazz Fest page.

Clean Up Your Act 7-17-17

The University of Iowa continues to grow some of its fuel – including 2500 acres of miscanthus grass.