Big Mo Pod Show 074 – “Crescendo”

Welcome back to another installment of the pod show! This week we take a look at an eclectic mixture of blues tracks and artists, as well as discuss how John decides to structure his shows. Tune in to learn more! Songs featured in the episode: 

  1. Reverend Shawn Amos – Bootleg
  2. Marcus King Band – “Ain’t nothing wrong with that” 
  3. Jonny Lang – “Before you hit the ground” 
  4. Greyboy Allstars – “Turn it on”
  5. Fiona Boyes – “Ramblified”  

Listen to ‘da Friday Blues with Big Mo each week at 6pm, and catch the podcast for a behind the scenes look at the show!

 

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New Music Monday for September 1, 2025

Listen to this week’s playlist on YouTube and Spotify
Surrounded by the brilliant musical family who have centered his band for years—bassist Rodney Whitaker, pianist Rick Roe and drummer Quincy Davis—guitarist Randy Napoleon calls back four of his fleet-fingered, virtuoso former guitar students to share the stage and build up something new for his 10th project as a leader, “Waking Dream.” Centered on compositions from the prolific Gregg Hill, along with several of his own, he arranged each for this 5-guitar choir of musicians, all connected through years of Napoleon’s mentorship, each fully evolved in their own artistry.

Twenty years after the first went head-to-head on 2005’s “The Battle,” saxophone heavy hitters Eric Alexander and Vincent Herring square off once again for a long-anticipated rematch. The ferocious swing and robust melodicism of “Split Decision” is the third in a trilogy of blistering summit meetings captured on stage live at Smoke Jazz Club. There’s also ample inspiration to be had when you’re working with the caliber of rhythm section that the pair enlisted for this date. Pianist Mike LeDonne and bassist John Weber reprise their roles from the two previous dates, this time joined by the legendary Lewis Nash on drums.

                                                   

Also this week, “My Latin Heart” originates from flutist Roger Glenn’s earliest inspirations growing up in a jazz family which included his father, jazz legend Tyree Glenn, and surrounded by a rich mix of cultures; saxophonist and composer Jaleel Shaw, who performed with Stefon Harris at this year’s Iowa City Jazz Festival, unveils “Painter of the Invisible”; and trumpeter Alex Sipiagin offers up his 14th release as a leader, “Reverberations.”

Iowa City Jazz Festival Labor Day Broadcast

KCCK wraps up the summer by reliving one of our favorite weekends of summer 2025, as we re-broadcast the Iowa City Jazz Festival. Listen all day Monday for every main stage and sidestage performance, plus our exclusive backstage conversations with all the headliners.

Here’s the schedule (times are approximate):

06:00 AM Alyssa Allgood Quartet
07:00 AM Kiersten Conway Sextet
08:00 AM United Jazz Ensemble
08:45 AM North Corridor Jazz All-Stars
09:30 AM Mike Conrad Trio
10:46 AM Ryan Middagh Jazz Orchestra feat. Joel Frahm
12:30 PM BYO Brass
02:00 PM Stefon Harris & Blackout
03:00 PM Jocelyn Gould Quartet
03:50 PM Mark Lettieri Group
04:55 PM Alyssa Allgood Quartet
05:55 PM Kiersten Conway Sextet
06:49 PM United Jazz Ensemble
07:23 PM North Corridor Jazz All-Stars
08:00 PM Mike Conrad Trio
09:00 PM Ryan Middagh Jazz Orchestra feat. Joel Frahm
10:30 PM Jocelyn Gould Quartet
11:00 PM Stefon Harris & Blackout

This Week’s Shows September 1 thru September 7

Kenny Drew | SpotifyJazz Corner of the World (Encore)

Mondays at 6:00pm

A Kenny Drew Birthday Celebration 

Craig celebrates the birthday anniversary of Kenny Drew, born August 28, 1928. We’ll hear a variety of choice jazz gems dating back to 1950 works and continuing throughout his lengthy career, with recordings from Blue Note, Storyville, Riverside, Steeplechase, Soul Note, and others.

 

 

 

 

 

Wednesday Night SpecialIMG_0572_edited.jpg

Wednesdays at 6:00pm

Carson Parker Trio at the ICJF

The incredible music from the 2025 Iowa City Jazz Festival was not confined to just the Main Stage. The Carson Parker Trio thrilled the crowd from the Side Stage with their blend of jazz, funk, and blues. Critics praise Parker’s distinctive piano work and the band’s unique style.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 HARLEM RIVER DRIVE / HARLEM RIVER DRIVE (LP) - HIP TANK RECORDSJazz Night in America

Thursdays at 11:00pm

Honoring Eddie Palmieri

Eddie Palmieri, an absolute giant in Latin jazz and American music, died on August 6 at age 88. Host Christian McBride celebrates Palmieri’s vision, his fire, and the legacy he leaves behind, including his genre-defying project, Harlem River Drive.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Jazz Corner of the WorldRepublic of Jazz: New Winter Releases from Sunnyside Records!

Saturdays from 12:00 noon to 4:00pm

Sunnyside Records, Show 4 

Craig continues his exploration of Sunnyside, a top-notch record label operated by Francoise Zalacain (founded in 1982). We’ll hear a variety of diverse selections from premier jazz artists such as Wayne Escoffery. Norma Winstone, John McNeil, Becca Stevens, Frank Kimbrough, Diego Urcola, and many others!

 

 

 

 

KCCK’s Midnight CD

KCCK features a new album every night, played from start-to-finish.

Hold On by Mark Winkler on Monday; Around the Horn by the Airmen of Note on Tuesday; Very Early: Remembering Bill Evans by the Jim Witzel Quartet on Wednesday; Reflections – Facing South by Conrad Herwig on Thursday; Sleeping While the River Runs by Mother Blues with Gerald McClendon on Friday; Heavy On the Blues by Rory Block on Saturday; Lady of the Lavender Mist by Anais Reno on Sunday.

 

This Week In Jazz August 31 thru September 6

Hey, Jazz fans! Be sure to tune in this week as we celebrate the birthdays of singers Velma Middleton and Teri Thornton, saxmen Art Pepper and Clifford Jordan, pianists Horace Silver, Richie Powell and Gene Harris, bassists Larry Ridley, Essiet Essiet and Lonnie Plaxico, drummer Sherrie Mericle, trumpeter/bandleader Gerlad Wilson and more! We’ll also mark the recording anniversaries of Curtis Counce’ “You Get More Bounce with Curtis Counce” (1957), Jackie McLean’s “Jackie’s Bag” (1960), Yusef Lateef’s “The Gentle Giant” (1971), Mal Waldron & Jackie McLean’s “Left Alone ’86” (1986), Eddie Harris & Wendell Marshall’s “The Battle of the Tenors” (1994), Curtis Fuller’s “Up Jumped Spring” (2003) and many others Mondays thru Fridays and at noon on JAZZ MASTERS on Jazz 88.3 KCCK!

This Week’s Shows August 11 thru August 17

 

Talking Pictures 8-6-25

“The Fantastic Four: First Steps” (2025) and “The Naked Gun” (2025) with Hollis Monroe, Phil Brown and Monica Schmidt. 

Culture Crawl 1110 “Traffic Cone-Feather Duster Themed Play”

Playwright Mary Swander & actor Rip Russsell are in the studio to talk about Mary’s new play, “Coop, a Story of an Amish C.O.” Local shows before the duo sets sails for Ireland are Sept 7, 6pm at 1107 Rochester Ave., Iowa City, IA & Sept 13, 7pm at Celebration Hall, Hillcrest Academy.

For more information visit maryswander.com.

Subscribe to The Culture Crawl at kcck.org/culture or search “Culture Crawl” in your favorite podcast player. Listen Live at 10:30am most weekdays on Iowa’s Jazz station. 88.3 FM or kcck.org/listen.