Culture Crawl 318 “Donuts With Some Meat”

Iowa City Community Theatre presents “Superior Donuts,” a play written by Pulitzer Prize-winning Playwright Tracy Letts, and the inspiration for the CBS comedy of the same name.

Arthur Przybyszewski, a former 60s radical, must adjust to his new, energetic assistant who wants to update Arthur’s rundown donut shop.

Director Barry Schreier says the play is deeper and more dramatic than the sitcom it shares its name with, while still providing many hilarious moments to balance the pathos.

January 19-28 at the Iowa City Community Theatre. www.iowacitycommunitytheatre.com for tickets and information.

Talking Pictures 1-10-18

The Killing of a Sacred Deer and Molly’s Game with Dennis Green, Scott Chrisman and Phil Brown.

Special Programs: Week of January 8 – January 13

Short List with host Bob Naujoks    

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

Vocal Short List: Beverly Kenney

This week’s Short List spotlights a singer who is a cult figure in Japan but long obscure in the United States. Beverly Kenney had a glorious six years on the jazz scene in the mid-to-late-1950s. Her voice is somewhere between Billie Holiday and Julie London — a soft and swinging vocalist. Her first album in 1955 was with the renowned guitarist, Johnny Smith. She would make five subsequent albums — one a year — until 1960. That year she took her own life and left the vocal jazz scene much poorer. Hear Beverly Kenney’s story and songs each weekday morning at 8:30 and Saturday morning at 7:00 on Iowa’s Jazz Station, 88.3 KCCK, and with our free mobile app.

 

 

Jazz Corner of the World with host Craig Kessler

Monday, 6:00 PM – 10:00 PM

The Career of Trumpet Master Woody Shaw, Part One

This first show (in a series of 3) begins a general overview of Woody’s outstanding jazz career.  Craig will look at Shaw’s time in Paris, his work with Eric Dolphy, his Blue Note years, and his collaborations with many jazz greats, like Jackie McLean, Herbie Hancock, Chick Corea, Andrew Hill, and others.  Don’t miss this 3-part loving tribute to one of the true jazz giants!!

 

 

 

Jazz Profiles with host Nancy Wilson    

Monday at 11:00 PM 

Betty Carter: Fiercely Individual

For nearly 50 years, Betty Carter was an irrepressible and incomparable practitioner of jazz vocal tradition. She was a “pure” jazz singer whose strong musical style and instrument-like voice was keenly original and distinct. She was also a fiercely dedicated and demanding bandleader who helped hone the skills of gifted young musicians like Cyrus Chestnut and Jacky Terrasson. This program explores Carter’s many sides and talents — as a song stylist, composer, a bandleader, and teacher.

 

 

 

 

Wednesday Night Special             

6:00 PM   

The Jazz Underground at Jazz Under The Stars

The Jazz Underground, another strong vote-getter in KCCK’s recent listener poll of their favorite Jazz Under The Stars performances, brought their full repertoire to a huge crowd in Noelridge Park. Led by drummer Dennis McPartland with pianist Dick Watson, Dr. Craig Dove on bass, Bob Dunn on guitar, and saxophonist David Sharp, Jazz Underground played the whole range of jazz – from straight-ahead, bop, Broadway classics, tunes from the Great American Songbook, and even a little Burt Bacharach. Vocalist D Pittam even sat in on a few numbers. It was a great night of jazz, and you can hear it again on the Wednesday Night Special. The Jazz Underground, live in Noelridge Park at KCCK’s Jazz Under The Stars!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Jazz Night in America with host Christian McBride

Thursday at 11:00 PM

Buster Williams: Something More 

Buster Williams, once a sideman renowned for his work with Herbie Hancock, Miles Davis, Jimmy Heath, Betty Carter, and others, now leads his own groups under the name “Something More.” Of this title, Williams says: “Music should be an experience. It shouldn’t be something that’s understood by mathematics or by categories. The objective is to always give the audience something more.” While the members of Something More rotate from project to project, their individual and collective standards of performance – as well as their long, diverse lists of musical accomplishments and collaborations – never falter. For this performance, the revered bassist brings Steve Wilson, George Colligan, and Lenny White to the stage. 

 

 

 

Jazz Corner of the World with host Craig Kessler     

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

Tribute To Roswell Rudd     

Jazz Corner of the World salutes the life and legacy of recently departed trombonist and composer, Roswell Hopkins Rudd.  Craig will spin some select examples from Roswell’s 20+ recordings as a leader, as well as from his 40+ recordings as a sideman.  Don’t miss this special tribute to the pioneering spirit of this complex and remarkable musician, composer, trombonist and jazzman!

 

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 January 8, 2018

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

Wayne Escoffery reaching is 40th birthday marked a period of big change for the award-winning saxophonist both artistically and in his personal life. He had reached a crossroads. Escoffery had spent a happy and successful decade in the band of trumpeter Tom Harrell but felt that it was time for him to step out more as a leader. At the end of 2016, he assembled a quartet of jazz’s most elite musicians that would record a live album, headline New York’s legendary Village Vanguard, and tour steadily for the next year. Escoffery presents this great quartet on an evocative new studio record, “Vortex,” which reflects the current dizzying maelstrom of racism, bigotry and hate in the U.S.  and the saxophonist’s renewed commitment to his responsibilities and artistic goals. Joining him are pianist David Kikoski, bassist Ugonna Okegwo and drummer Ralph Peterson Jr.

 

 

Saxophonists Dave Liebman and Mike Murley have performed together for more than a decade. Their second release, “Live at the U of T,” featuring bassist Jim Vivian and drummer Terry Clarke, came about as a result of Liebman’s appointment as Visiting Adjunct Professor at the University of Toronto, Faculty of Music. The natural rapport between the musicians on the recording is immediately apparent. Murley studied with Liebman in the 1980s at the Banff Jazz Workshop and in New York City. He and Vivian have worked frequently with Liebman over the years, primarily in the Toronto area but also at recording sessions and concerts in Halifax and Montreal. Clarke and Liebman are both veterans of the international jazz scene dating back to the late 1960s and their musical chemistry was instantaneous.

 

 

 

Also this week, marimba/vibes veteran Steve Hobbs honors his mentor and late friend Bobby Hutcherson with “Tribute to Bobby”.

Legendary organist Dr. Lonnie Smith and his trio are captured live at New York’s Jazz Standard for “All in My Mind”.

 

 

 

Pianist and composer Lisa Hilton is joined by saxophonist JD Allen, trumpeter Terell Stafford, bassist Greg August and drummer Rudy Royston for her 20th disc, “Escapism.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

Culture Crawl 317 “Ping, Pang, and Pong”

Cedar Rapids Opera Theatre celebrates its 20th season in 2018, and presents Puccini’s “Turandot,” January 19 and 21.

Set in China, it’s the story of the princess Turandot, who requires potential suitors to answer three riddles, with death the punishment for failure.

Calgary, Alberta native Chloe Olivia Moore sings the role of Liù, who director Daniel Kleinknecht says represents sacrifice for an ideal in Puccini’s work.

Orchestra Iowa accompanies the opera. Tickets at www.artsiowa.com.

Culture Crawl 316 “Really Flat Sculptures”

Mary Zeran is a third-generation artist who paints colorful abstacts on the same material Disney
animation cels use. She has an exhibit up at Gilded Pear Gallery through January 26. Visit with
Mary and hear more about her art at a free Artist Talk on January 11.

Gilded Pear Gallery owner Suzy McGrane-Hop also gives us a preview of the next exhibit at the
gallery, a utilizing neon light, video, and even images from a microscope.

Visit www.gildedpeargallery.com for details. View Mary’s work at www.maryzeran.com.

Talking Pictures 1-3-18

The Greatest Showman and Downsizing with Dennis Green, Denny Lynch and Phil Brown.

Kirkwood Board of Trustees to meet January 11, 2018

The regular meeting of the Kirkwood Board of Trustees will take place January 11, 2018. Time, place, and meeting agenda can be found at this link.