Short List with host Bob Naujoks    

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

Cats On The Keys 4: Jaki Byard

This week’s Short List features the long-overlooked but excellent pianist Jaki Byard.  He has a legacy of 35 solo recordings and another 50 as a sideman. Byard played with the best – Charles Mingus, Eric Dolphy, Roland Kirk, and even the Duke Ellington Orchestra – and had an encyclopedic knowledge of piano jazz and jazz history. He became known as an effective, if unorthodox teacher at the New England Conservatory. Hear the music and stories of Jaki Byard this week on the Short List!

Jazz Corner of the World with host Craig Kessler

Monday, 6:00 PM – 10:00 PM

Verve Records in 1957     

Craig travels back 60 years to look in on some of the 240+ recording sessions that took place during 1957 for Norman Granz’ Verve Record label.  We’ll hear choice examples from Billie Holiday, Ben Webster, Stan Getz, Coleman Hawkins, Buddy DeFranco, and many others.  One of the top jazz labels in modern jazz!!

Jazz Profiles with host Nancy Wilson    

Monday at 11:00 PM 

Melba Liston: Bones of an Arranger

Melba Liston (1926-1999) made her mark as one of the few women to succeed as a jazz instrumentalist, composer, and arranger. A trombonist in the ’40s, ’50s and ’60s, she played in big bands and led her own group in the ’70s and ’80s. As an accomplished arranger, she brought musical life to the songs of artists as diverse as Billie Holiday, Gloria Lynne, Art Blakey, Milt Jackson, and even Marvin Gaye. And her musical collaboration with pianist Randy Weston for more than thirty years produced such critically acclaimed albums as The Spirits of Our Ancestors and Volcano Blues.

Wednesday Night Special               

6:00 PM   

Peter Schlamb Trio at the Opus Concert Café

Missouri-based vibraphonist Peter Schlamb brought his trio to First Friday Jazz as part of their recent national tour. He, along with bassist Karl McComas-Reichl and drummer John Kizilarmut, put on an excellent show that impressed the crowd at the Opus Concert Café. As local jazzman Bob Dunn commented, “these guys are the real deal.” The audience that evening learned that truth for themselves, as will you when you tune in to this week’s Wednesday Night Special!

Jazz Night in America with host Christian McBride

Thursday at 11:00 PM

Darcy James Argue’s Secret Society

Jazz Night in America presents Darcy James Argue’s Secret Society and their latest project entitled Real Enemies. Argue describes the piece as “an exploration of real world beliefs, of the present day folklore that we call conspiracy theories.” Musically, Real Enemies draws from on 12-tone compositional techniques along with a collage of found text and media from dozens of sources that trace the historical roots, iconography, ideology, rhetoric, and psychology of these conspiracies.

Jazz Corner of the World with host Craig Kessler     

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

HighNote Records     

As part of Craig’s tribute to the recently departed record producer and label owner, Joe Fields, we survey another jazz record label founded and operated by Joe Fields and his son Barney – HighNote Records.  Craig spins a tasty variety of jazz gems from this classy label that was founded in 1996.  Artists include the likes of Pat Martino, Etta Jones, Russell Malone, Tom Harrell, Larry Coryell, and a host of other present-day jazz greats!

KCCK’s Midnight CD

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

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

Short List with host Bob Naujoks    

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

Cats On The Keys 4: Mulgrew Miller

Pianist Mulgrew Miller is the subject of this week’s Short List. Miller started poking at the piano when he was six, and began formal lessons two years later. As a youth he would play in churches and by his high school years he had his own trio. But recognition came to him when he was part of Art Blakey’s Jazz Messengers. His Oscar Peterson-influenced piano became a mainstay for many great jazz sessions for two decades before his death in 2013.

Jazz Corner of the World with host Craig Kessler

Monday, 6:00 PM – 10:00 PM

70th Anniversary Celebration of The Jazz Showcase      

Craig celebrates 70 years of Chicago’s Jazz Showcase by spinning a tasteful mix of fine live recordings from one of the most important jazz venues in the world!  We’ll hear from giants Ahmad Jamal, Marian McPartland, Sir Charles Thompson, Hampton Hawes, and others. Craig will also share some quips from Joe Segal’s new book, “Stay On It” – a personalized journal by this NEA Jazz Master during his 70+ years of musical endeavors.  Don’t miss it!!!

Jazz Profiles with host Nancy Wilson    

Monday at 11:00 PM 

John Coltrane: Saxophone Icon, Part 2

John Coltrane’s never-ending quest for musical improvement and self-awareness distinguished his playing and compositions in the ’60s. It was driven by an increasing spirituality, most potently unveiled in his 1964 recording, A Love Supreme. Coltrane later created music of great turbulence and ecstasy, and he remains a powerful inspiration to artists of all disciplines.

Wednesday Night Special               

6:00 PM   

Trafficjam at the Opus Concert Cafe

Trafficjam – the jazz trio of Devin van Holsteijn on saxophones, Tim Fees on bass and guitar and Mike Crist on percussion – brought their energetic and innovative sound to First Friday Jazz at the Opus Concert Café. Their sound is all their own, and their repertoire explores the great music of the 20’s through today. Bebop can morph into reggae and the Beatles get even jazzier. Listen in as Trafficjam plays to an enthusiastic house on the Wednesday Night Special.

Jazz Night in America with host Christian McBride

Thursday at 11:00 PM

A Tribute to Grover Washington, Jr. 

One way or another, you’ve heard Grover Washington Jr.’s saxophone. Perhaps on “Mister Magic” or another of his instrumental hits, like “Winelight.” Or on “Just the Two of Us,” the smash hit featuring BillWithers. What Washington’s sound represents is soul, plain and simple, though it has often been associated with another word, “smooth.” Jazz Night in America recently traveled to Grover’s adopted hometown of Philadelphia, to present a tribute concert at the Temple Performing Arts Center. 

Jazz Corner of the World with host Craig Kessler     

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

Verve Records in 1957     

Craig travels back 60 years to look in on some of the 240+ recording sessions that took place during 1957 for Norman Granz’ Verve Record label.  We’ll hear choice examples from Billie Holiday, Ben Webster, Stan Getz, Coleman Hawkins, Buddy DeFranco, and many others.  One of the top jazz labels in modern jazz!!

KCCK’s Midnight CD

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

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