Growing grass in places like Iowa could help reduce the Gulf of Mexico’s dead zone.
New Music Monday for August 8, 2016
Listen to this week’s playlist on YouTube and Spotify.
“By no means is jazz dead—that’s essentially why Louis Hayes and I formed this band.” So wrote Woody Shaw in 1976 in response to the much-heralded death of jazz. It was people like Shaw, Hays and others who proved that it was only outdated preconceptions of what jazz was which were dead and that jazz itself was alive and well. “The Tour: Volume One” is a real gem from Shaw’s greatest period—a previously unissued quintet session recorded in Germany with drummer Hayes, tenor man Junior Cook, Ronnie Matthews on piano and Stafford James on bass. Cook’s Trane-tinged flurries, Shaw’s boppish bursts, Mathews’ ever-intensifying solos and Hayes’ thunder-and lighting drumming create an energy and esprit very much in the Blakey tradition but without ever losing track of the identity or sight of their collective goal.
Damian Draghici was born in Romania in 1970 to a Gypsy family whose musical heritage dates back at least seven generations. In the mid-‘90s, he came to the States to study at the prestigious Berklee College of Music, placing great emphasis in introducing his favorite instrument, the pan flute, to the high ranks of contemporary American jazz. He then relocated to Los Angeles, where he started working with major Hollywood film composers, and highly acclaimed jazz musicians like Dave Weckl, Eddie Daniels, Vinnie Colaiuta, Oscar Castro Neves and others. For his new CD, “The American Dream,” Draghici is joined some of those same players along with Arturo Sandoval, Christ Botti, Michel Camilo, Luciana Souza and Frank Gambale. In a side note, back home in Bucharest, Damian has served as a senator in the Romanian Parliament and an adviser to the Prime Minister.
Also this week, saxophonist Eric Hargett makes his auspicious debut as a leader, in the company of B-3 ace Joey DeFrancesco and drummer Gerry Gibbs, on “Steppin’ Up”.
Veteran pianist, composer and Chicago native Greg Murphy releases his fourth outing as a leader, “Summer Breeze”.
Keyboardist Brian Charette pays homage to the great Hammond organists past and present on “Once & Future.”
Talking Pictures – 8-4-16
Star Trek Beyond, Bad Moms, Batman:The Killing Joke, How To Be Single, Captain Fantastic, Jason Bourne with Dennis Green, Denny Lynch and Monica Schmidt
Kirkwood Board of Trustees to meet August 11, 2016
The regular meeting of the Kirkwood Board of Trustees will take place August 11, 2016.
Time, place, and meeting agenda can be found at this link.
KCCK’s Featured CD for August 2016
The KCCK Featured CD for August is “Twenty” by Metalwood. This Juno Award-winning Canadian-based quartet formed in 1997 to pay homage to the pioneers of jazz fusion, releasing a half-dozen well-received recordings of original material. All leaders in their own right, the members decided to go their separate ways in 2003. After thirteen years apart, Ian Froman, Mike Murley, Chris Tarry and Brad Turner reformed in January of this year for a gig at Toronto’s historic jazz club, The Rex, and went into the studio to record eleven brand new tracks. The resulting disc — “Twenty” — is from Cellar Live Records. Click here to purchase the CD.
This Week’s Shows: Week of August 1 – 7
Short List with Bob Naujoks
Monday – Friday at 8:35 AM and Saturday at 7 AM
The Short List: Cats On The Keys 3 (Eddie Heywood)
Eddie Heywood
Our summer Shortlist “Cats on the Keys” series 3 continues with Eddie Heywood. Heywood had several big pop hits in the 1950s, but also led a late 1940s swing sextet that recorded with the soulful Billie Holiday and megastar Bing Crosby. Heywood’s career was interrupted twice with paralysis of the hand.
Jazz Profiles with Nancy Wilson
Monday at 6:00 PM
Al Hibbler: Unchained Melodist 
One of the most popular romantic singers of the 50s—Al Hibbler was remarkable for more than his beautiful baritone. He first established himself with the Duke Ellington orchestra in the 40s and then became one of the first black male vocalists to sing love songs for mainstream audiences. He was also one of the first blind performers to make it big. It’s a tribute to the irrepressible Al Hibbler, singer and musical groundbreaker.
Jazz Corner of the World with Craig Kessler
Monday, 7:00 PM – 11:00 PM (follows Jazz Profiles)
“Birthday Celebration for Reedman, James Spaulding”
Craig helps to celebrate the 79th birthday of noted alto saxophonist and flautist, James Ralph Spaulding, Jr. (born 7/30/37 in Indianapolis), by spinning selections from throughout his stellar career. Although Spaulding made about ten recordings as a leader from between 1976 to 2006, he is, by far, best known for his dozens of classic Blue Note releases as a sideman on records by the likes of Horace Silver, Wayne Shorter, Freddie Hubbard, McCoy Tyner, Duke Pearson, and many others. Don’t miss this fascinating look at the unsung and overlooked reedman, JAMES SPAULDING!
New Orleans Calling with George Ingmire
Tuesday at 6:00 PM
Ponderosa Stomp: The Doctor Is In
Ira “Dr. Ike” Padnos
We all have at least one friend who is a complete record geek, an aficionado of Americana, or a passionate purveyor of obscure music. For some, this love of music grows into something much bigger than they could ever imagine. New Orleans’ own Dr. Ike is a perfect example -– a man whose quest for music has made him into a walking encyclopedia of American pop culture: rock and roll, soul, R&B, swamp pop, jazz, cajun, zydeco, garage rock, blues, and more.
Not only is Dr Ike an encyclopedia – he’s also one of the main people responsible for the Ponderosa Stomp, a music festival that celebrates the unsung heroes of American music. This week we hear how his quest for the perfect wedding band led him to create a New Orleans institution, and brought him to Lincoln Center and beyond. Plus we have a set from Eddie Daniels, recorded live at the 2013 Ponderosa Stomp!
Jazz Night in America with Christian McBride
Wednesday at 6:00 PM
DC Jazz Loft 
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? How do talented musicians make it happen? In search of some answers, we sought out the DIY concert producers of Capitalbop in Washington, D.C. as they presented three musicians from the Baltimore-Washington metropolis. Jazz Night In America presents highlights from CapitalBop’s warehouse loft stage at the 2015 DC Jazz Festival, featuring three trios led by vibraphonist Warren Wolf, bassist Kris Funn, and alto saxophonist Gary Thomas.
Wednesday Night Special
7:00 PM (Follows Jazz Night in America)
First Friday Jazz: Mike Maas Quartet at Opus Concert Café (Encore Broadcast)
Mike Maas Quartet at Opus Concert Café
Small in size but not in sound, this quartet of fine seasoned musicians features Mike Maas (guitar, vocals), Carlis Faurot (violin), John O’Connell (drums) and Ben Soltau (bass). Playing a range of genres, audiences will be entertained by the eclectic mix of Jazz, Swing, Cajun, Original and Folk. Surprising, never ordinary!
The Opus Concert Cafe, located next to the Paramount Theatre in downtown Cedar Rapids, continues its First Friday Jazz series August 5th with Traffic Jam featuring Devin van Holsteijn on saxophones, Jim Hauer on bass and guitar and Mike Crist on percussion.
The First Friday Jazz Series features an eclectic mix of jazz, Latin and contemporary music the first Friday of every month. Doors at Opus open at 4:30 p.m. with live music from 5-7 p.m.
If you can’t be there in person, the first set of each performance of the series is broadcast live on KCCK. The Opus Concert Cafe is operated by Orchestra Iowa. More information at: http://www.artsiowa.com/opus
Jazz Corner of the World with Craig Kessler
Saturday, Noon – 4:00 PM and Monday, 7:00 PM – 11:00 PM
“Important Jazz Performance Venues of the Past—The Black Hawk — Part Two”
The Black Hawk in San Francisco
Once again, Craig spotlights the legendary nightclub, THE BLACK HAWK, which was located at the corner of Hyde and Turk in San Francisco, California. We’ll hear more fabulous performances from the likes of Mongo Santamaria, Cal Tjader, Miles Davis, Ahmad Jamal, Shelly Manne, Thelonious Monk, and others. Some truly astonishing music!
Tropical Heat (hosted by Kpoti Senam Accoh)
Sunday, 5:00 PM – 8:00 PM
Featured Album: “Heart to Heart: Solo Piano” by Alan Broadbent 
http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/alanbroadbent3
While only Broadbent knows the exact reason for waiting so long to return to this format, it’s safe to assume that it has something to do with his in-demand status in so many other musical arenas. Much of his work has been dedicated to the art of the trio, supportive sideman stints, and arranging jobs, leaving him precious little time to explore things on his own. Many people, in fact, aren’t even aware of his pianistic prowess, knowing him only as the man who creates musical drapery for everybody from songbook kingpin Michael Feinstein to Natalie Cole to Sir Paul McCartney; those people are missing out. Broadbent’s piano work—solo or otherwise—is pure poetry in motion, filled with sophisticated musical trappings that tickle the ear and fuel the imagination.
KCCK’s Midnight CD
The Monday – Sunday Midnight CD for this week can be found at:
New Music Monday for August 1, 2016
Listen to this week’s playlist on YouTube and Spotify.
With the release o
f “One for Marian,” New York-based pianist, composer and bandleader Roberta Piket shines a warm, loving light on an extraordinary but underappreciated aspect of the career of the beloved pianist and public radio host Marian McPartland–her vast body of work as a composer. An uncommonly probing improviser in both free and straight-ahead settings, Piket came up with the idea for the recording after putting together a concert of her arrangements of some of McPartland’s music that she performed at the 2014 Wall Street Jazz Festival. The disc features a stellar line-up including Steve Wilson on sax and flute, Virginia Mayhew on tenor sax and clarinet and bassist Harvie S. Singer Karrin Allyson is also a special guest on one tune.
John Beasley has shared stages with some of the most important names in jazz during his three-decade career. From his days as a member of Freddie Hubbard’s quintet and one of Miles Davis’ last touring bands to his role as music director for Jazz Day galas for the Thelonious Monk Institute, Beasley has had first-hand involvement with the genre’s never-ending evolution. As the centennial of Monk’s birth rapidly approaches, Beasley—pianist, conductor and arranger—has grappled with the composer’s legacy with his versatile big band riffing on the wit and unmistakable architecture of the Monk songbook with irrepressible energy and swinging abandon on “MONK’estra, Volume 1.”
Also this week,
Chilean-born vocalist, guitarist and composer Camila Meza blends jazz with her broad musical world that includes Latin American, Brazilian, folk and pop on her fourth disc as a leader, “Traces”.
Guitarist Charlie Hunter’s new collection of songs is steeped in the blues and R&B on the whimsically titled “Everybody Has a Plan Until They Get Punched in the Mouth”.
Saxophon
ist Ed Calle follows up his 2015 Latin Grammy-winner with an array of jazz styles spanning blazing bop to the sound of New Orleans on “360.”