KCCK’s Jazz Under the Stars 2016 – Day after Christmas Special! 

Eddie Piccard Quintet at the McGrath Amphitheatre for Jazz Under the Stars 2016

Monday, December 26th 6:00 AM – 12:00 PM (repeated 12:00 PM – 6:00 PM)

Mirage (indoors at Parlor City Pub)  6am – 8:am / 12pm – 2pm

A downpour forced our 2nd scheduled Jazz Under the Stars concert of the 2016 season indoors at Parlor City Pub in Cedar Rapids, but that didn’t put a damper on the area’s newest band from playing their own unique brand of high energy Fusion-Celtic-Funk, or keep the crowd from groovin’ to the music. Mirage, led by violinist and long-time area educator Natalie Brown, plays a lot of Jean-Luc Ponty – classics such as New Country, Mirage, Enigmatic Ocean, Infinite Pursuit and Ponty collaborations with Frank Zappa and Mahavishnu Orchestra. Mirage also performs Ponty influenced fusion, jazzy funk, and their own, original creations! In addition to Natalie, the band features Ryan Phelan – guitar, vocals Luke Viertel, – keys, vocals, Richard Wagor – bass and Matthew Bernemann – drums. Check them out at: http://www.facebook.com/mirageponty

SUMMIT  8am – 9:55am / 2pm – 3:55pm

SUMMIT plays tunes from jazz standards to jazz/funk/fusion to new jazz artists and originals. The quartet is comprised of some of the top jazz professionals and music educators in the creative corridor with over 60 years combined experience playing and teaching music of all types. The SUMMIT features Peter Hart; tenor saxophone, John Reasoner; guitar, John Hall; bass, and Dennis McPartland on Drums.

Eddie Piccard Quintet  10am – 11:55am / 3:55pm – 6pm  

Eddie Piccard grew up only a few miles from Cedar Rapids, but soon left for the jazz scene in Chicago, for famous Rush Street and the playboy clubs, appearing opposite the likes of Ramsey Lewis and George Shearing.

After cutting his chops with his first trio in Chicago, Piccard moved on to the lights of the Florida resorts. Later, he formed another trio in Florida, which became a favorite of Jackie Gleason’s.

A class act in Cedar Rapids for many years, Piccard and his sidemen delight with everything from Sinatra standards to an amazing Ray Charles tribute.

The group has entertained couples spending a night out for live music, family birthday parties, anniversary celebrations, office parties, ballroom dancers, friends who just want to enjoy live jazz–and even music students who just come to take notes. Eddie has been a jazz fan since the age of sixteen when Mr.Penn, one of his teachers, introduced him to jazz; and a family friend, Homer Monk, loaned him his personal jazz record collection. Eddie was hooked!!

Eddie loves jazz, but he does have other interest as well. Playing golf and collecting wine! When he is not performing, you can find him on the golf course, or out searching for some new “find” for his wine collection. He is fondly called “The Wine Bully” by his closest friends.

The Eddie Piccard Quintet is: Eddie Piccard, Piano and vocals; Scott Barnum, Bass; Jon Wilson, Drums; Rich Martin, Vibraphone; and Dave Richter, Guitar. Check Eddie out at: http://eddiepiccardjazz.com/

Short List with Bob Naujoks   

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

The Short List: International Jazz Stars (Dave Holland)

Dave Holland

The final Short List International Jazz Stars series introduces English bassist Dave Holland. He has been a prominent musician on the jazz scene for over five decades. His first major gig was with the Miles Davis Quintet in the late 1970s. In that group was pianist Chick Corea, saxophonist Wayne Shorter and drummer Philly Joe Jones. That Miles group set the standard for fusion jazz. Holland would go on to record with the ECM label for three decades and pair up with many of their top stars. In the early twenty-first century Holland formed a big band and won two Grammy awards with it. He’s still a busy guy who has reaped many awards over the years.

Jazz Profiles with Nancy Wilson    

Monday at 6:00 PM

Sidney Bechet, ‘Soprano Sax King’

Sidney Bechet

Sidney Bechet (1897-1959) started playing the clarinet when he was 13 years old. By the time of his death, at age 62, he was considered one of the most innovative and original clarinetists and soprano saxophonists in jazz. He brought to the instrument an unequaled energy, clarity and verve and was best known for his heavy vibrato. Temperamental and creative, Bechet left a profound mark in the way the clarinet and the soprano saxophone is played today. His autobiography, “Treat It Gentle” is still considered one of the best personal accounts of the life and times of a jazzman. This show explores his legacy.

Jazz Corner of the World with Craig Kessler

Monday, 7:00 PM – 11:00 PM (follows Jazz Profiles)

“Tribute To Mose Allison – Part Two”                                   

In a special live MONDAY EVENING broadcast (7pm to 11pm), Craig continues his tribute to the recently departed jazz and blues master, Mose John Allison, Jr. We’ll hear additional goodies from his 150+ original compositions, as well as more material from his work as a sideman and more of his own recordings. Don’t miss it!!

New Orleans Calling with George Ingmire     

Tuesday at 6:00 PM 

Let The Good Times Roll 

Basin St. Station in New Orleans

This week’s episode of New Orleans Calling takes us on a visit to Basin St Station, which sits on layers of history and memories, from being a hub of boat and train commerce to witnessing the meetings of many different cultures and neighborhoods, resulting in the creation of jazz, R&B, and rock and roll as we know it. It’s a site that resonates with musicians, and on the show we’re showcasing five different artists performing just for New Orleans Calling at Basin St Station: Topsy Chapman and Solid Harmony, the Leroy Jones Quintet, the Mario Abney Septet, Doreen Ketchens, and Seva Venet and the Storyville String Band.

All the interviews and live tracks you hear in this show were recorded at Basin St Station.  This historic building, now described as “the cultural crossroads of New Orleans,” is indeed a location with layers of history, and stands at the edge of what was once Storyville, and overlooks the famous St Louis No 1 cemetery, Basin Street, Congo Square, and the French Quarter.  In the 1800s it was the site of the “turning basin,” the final destination of boats reaching the center of the city from Lake Pontchartrain via Bayou St John and the Carondelet Canal.

After the canal was filled in around the turn of the 20th century, the current building was constructed and served as the administrative offices of the Southern Railway.  In the 21st century, the building has been renovated, and its facade now emulates the original Southern Railway Passenger Station, which once stood several blocks away at Canal and Basin Streets.

Jazz Night in America with Christian McBride

Wednesday at 6:00 PM

In Memoriam

Toots Thielemans: April 29, 1922 – August 22, 2016

Jazz Night in America commemorates some of the legends we lost this year, including Bobby Hutcherson, Toots Thielemans and Victor Bailey with never-before heard live recordings from Jazz at Lincoln Center.

Wednesday Night Special               

7:00 PM (Follows Jazz Night in America)

Eddie Piccard Quintet at KCCK’s Jazz Under the Stars 2016                                      

(Please see program description at the top of this post under KCCK’s Jazz Under the Stars 2016 – Day after Christmas Special!)

 Jazz Corner of the World with Craig Kessler     

Saturday, Noon – 4:00 PM and Monday, 7:00 PM – 11:00 PM

“Birth Date Anniversary Celebration for Gil Melle”      

Craig celebrates the birthday of painter, sculptor, jazz artist, film composer, and pioneering inventor of electronic instruments, GILBERT JOHN MELLE (b.12/31/1931).  We’ll hear a variety of amazing recordings made by Melle, including his respected Blue Note and Prestige dates, most of which fall into the category of “overlooked” and “underrated”.

Tropical Heat (hosted by Kpoti Senam Accoh)

Sunday, 5:00 PM – 8:00 PM

Featured Album:   

(pre-empted this week for KCCK’s Special Holiday programming)

KCCK’s Midnight CD

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

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