Culture Crawl 1142 “Turkeys & Suppositories”

Iowa City Community Theatre presents “Inspecting Carol” Nov. 14-23. It’s the hilarious story of a broke theatre company attempting to stage their holiday production of “A Christmas Carol” while also waiting for an inspector to evaluate their organization for a federal grant that could save the theatre.

When they identify the wrong person as the inspector and start a campaign to suck up, trouble ensues.

Tickets at iowacitycommunitytheatre.org.

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.

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Talking Pictures 11-12-25

“Begonia” (2025 Comedy/Sci-fi) and “Frankenstein” (2025 Netflix Horror/Sci-fi) with Hollis Monroe, Phil Brown and Monica Schmidt.

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Iowa City Jazz Festival Returns July 3-5, 2026!

IOWA CITY, IA – Award-winning headliner ARTEMIS featuring Renee Rosnes, Ingrid Jensen, Nicole Glover, Noriko Ueda & Allison Miller, will perform on the Strauss Community Main Stage at 8:00 PM on Saturday, July 4th, 2026, as part of the Iowa City Jazz Festival. Summer of the Arts is thrilled to announce the dates for the 2026 Iowa City Jazz Festival, taking place July 3-5, 2026, in downtown Iowa City. This beloved summer tradition will once again bring three days of world-class jazz performances to the heart of the community—and admission is FREE for all.

This year’s festival will feature ARTEMIS, the powerhouse jazz quintet that has taken the jazz world by storm. Founded by renowned pianist and composer Renee Rosnes, ARTEMIS brings together five instrumental virtuosos: Rosnes on piano, trumpeter Ingrid Jensen, saxophonist Nicole Glover, bassist Noriko Ueda, and drummer Allison Miller.

The group has won Jazz Group of the Year in the Downbeat Readers Poll for two consecutive years (2023 and 2024), and their performances have earned widespread acclaim. NPR praised them as “a killer line-up of players, composers and performers…who converge on an extremely cosmopolitan, sleek, rhythm-forward, modern sound.” The band will be touring in support of their third Blue Note Records album “Arboresque,” released in February 2025.

Festival Details:

  • When: July 3-5, 2026
  • Where: Downtown Iowa City, two stages
  • Cost: FREE admission
  • What to Bring: Blankets, lawn chairs, and your love of music

The weekend will showcase a diverse lineup of well-known jazz musicians alongside emerging talent, with performances in downtown Iowa City. In addition to outstanding music, attendees can browse artist and organization booths, sample delicious food offerings, and enjoy the festival’s lively beverage garden.

“The Iowa City Jazz Festival creates a welcoming space for jazz music of all ages,” says Lisa Barnes, Executive Director of Summer of the Arts. “Whether you’re a longtime fan or new to jazz, this festival offers something special for everyone.”

Important Planning Note:

With the Savannah Bananas baseball games scheduled for July 3 and 4 at Kinnick Stadium, Iowa City will be bustling with visitors that weekend. Festival attendees are strongly encouraged to book hotel accommodations early to ensure availability.

The complete 2026 festival schedule, including additional performers and stage times, will be announced in early spring 2026. Stay tuned to www.summeroftheARTS.org for updates.

 

Culture Crawl 1141 “Gigs Are Kind of Fun”

Linn-Mar junior Everett Sams, looking for opportunities for his combo to play out in the community, struck on the idea of hosting a combo festival for student-led groups. He reached out to friends at other schools, including Griffin Shroyer at CR Washington, and Ben Hollinger at Prairie, and has organized the first Corridor Combo Festival, featuring their groups as well as ensembles from City High, West High, Waterloo West, and Coe. The evening will conclude with an open jam.

Sunday, Nov. 16, 5pm at the Opus Concert Cafe. Tickets are just $5, and available in advance at www.artsiowa.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.

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Culture Crawl 1140 “My Memory’s a Little Foggy”

In the late 60s and early 70s, what we now call progressive rock or album rock got its first exposure to much of the country, not on FM radio, but on an AM station out of Little Rock, Arkansas. DJ Clyde Clifford played underground rock & roll on a late-night show that could be heard all across the midwest, as far north as Canada and as far south as in Cuba. Clyde introduced tens of thousands of listeners to Jimi Hendrix, Cream, Led Zeppelin, and others.Nearly 20 years ago, a group pf Iowa All-Stars decided to get back to their roots, and The Beaker Brothers were born.

The Beaker Brothers, with some help from their friend John Heim, who does his own Beaker Street tribute Fridays on KCCK, bring back Beaker Street, with John portraying Clyde Clifford and Beaker Brothers playing the music live.

“From The Top of the Hill: Beaker Street Live,” at the Englert Theatre, Nov. 14, 7:30pm. Tickets at www.englert.org.

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.

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New Music Monday for November 10, 2025

Listen to this week’s playlist on YouTube and Spotify
Best known for his work with the Jazz Passengers and Groove Collective, Bill Ware has been an asset in collaborations across multiple genres, featuring in the work of well-known musicians and bands like Steely Dan and Elvin Costello. Ware has maintained his own ensembles for just as long. The vibraphonist and composer had been on an ambitious mission to write a vast catalog of music when he was struck by the need to simplify his sound. This led to new pieces for his elastic ensemble, the Club Bird All-Stars, as can be heard on Ware’s new recording, “Martian Sunset.”

The Scott Silbert Quartet marks the centennial of one of jazz’s most beloved voices, tenor saxophonist Zoot Sims, with a heartfelt tribute recording, “Dream Dancing.” Released to coincide with Sims 100th birthday anniversary on October 29, the album captures the warmth, humor and effortless swing that made Sims a cornerstone of the jazz tradition. Featuring Scott on saxophone, Amy Shook on bass, Robert Redd on piano and Chuck Redd on drums, the quartet offers an intimate set drawn from both classic standards and fresh originals.

                             

Also this week, the Flying Horse Big Band pushes the envelope of big band jazz and jazz improvisation with its ninth album, “Unbridled,” featuring tenor sax titan George Garzone; trumpeter Anthony Stanco’s third album, “In the Groove,” resides in the gritty, soulful world of hard bop, captured live at Traverse City’s The Alluvion; and “High Standards” is the first in what will be four releases in pianist Ted Rosenthal’s Trios in 4 Acts collection.

This Week’s Shows November 10 thru November 16

Jazz Corner of the World (Encore)

Mondays at 6:00pm

Trane, Miles, Monk & Mose – Prestige in the 1950s

Craig continues the Prestige story with a deeper look at more of the dazzling gems of modern jazz. We’ll hear from Jackie McLean, Art Farmer, Modern Jazz Quartet, Mose Allison, Annie Ross, “Moondog” (Louis Thomas Hardin Jr.), Gil Evans, and many more!

 

 

 

 

 

Wednesday Night SpecialNo photo description available.

Wednesdays at 6:00pm

Orquesta Alto Maiz at Taste of Jazz

Guests at 2023’s Taste of Jazz, KCCK’s gala fundraiser, were treated to the powerhouse Latin sounds of Orquesta Alto Maiz. Led by conguero Ed East, Iowa’s Salsa Band kept the dance floor full. Student group Yesternite, led by KCCK’s own Killian Ritland, started the party.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Moodsville Records - Music label - Rate Your MusicJazz Corner of the World

Saturdays at 12:00 noon

Prestige & Its Subsidiaries

Craig presents another listen to treasures from Prestige Records, including a look at their subsidiary labels, Swingville, Moodville, and Bluesville. We’ll hear from Coleman Hawkins, Ken McIntyre, Red Garland,  Lonnie Johnson, Tampa Red,  and many others!!

 

 

 

KCCK’s Midnight CD   (November 10 – November 16)

 Every Night at Midnight

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

A Centennial Salute to Tito & Tito by the Steven Latin Jazz Orchestra on Monday; Return of the Light by Joe Elefante’s Wheel of Dharma on Tuesday; Itai Doshin by Mike Clark on Wednesday; A Breath of Fresh Air by Sean Mason on Thursday; Farmhand Blues by Randy Lee Riviere on Friday; Man On a Mission by Manu Lanvin on Saturday; Took So Long by the Nat Adderley Jr. Trio on Sunday.

This Week In Jazz November 9 thru November 15

Hey, Jazz fans! Be sure to tune in this week as we celebrate the birthdays of cornetist Muggsy Spanier, saxophonist Houston Person, singers Ernestine Anderson and Samara Joy, trumpeter Buck Clayton, pianists Bennie Moten and Ellis Marsallis, drummer Gus Johnson, guitarist Kevin Eubanks and more. We’ll also mark the recording anniversaries of Stan Getz “At the Shrine” (1954), Dinah Washington “Dinah!” (1955), Wes Montgomery “Movin’ Wes” (1965), Art Blakey & The Jazz Messengers “I Get a Kick Out of Bu” (1988), McCoy Tyner “Reaching Fourth” (1962) and many others, Monday thru Friday at noon on JAZZ MASTERS on Jazz 88.3 KCCK.