TKM Productions presents “Always… Patsy Cline” by Ted Swindley, directed by Tom Milligan. In the studio is Tom Milligan and Deb Kennedy (Patsy Cline) with insights into the show.
It’s August 14-16 & 21-23, Fridays & Saturdays at 7:30pm, Sundays at 3pm at The Amana Performing Arts Center.
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.
Listen to this week’s playlist on YouTube and Spotify
Bassist, composer and arranger John Clayton presents his eighth album as a leader, “The Two-o Duo Project,” featuring vocalist Rene Marie and John’s son Gerald Clayton on piano. Rooted in the intimacy of duo playing, the record spans a wide range of material across cultural eras. They draw on repertoire personally meaningful to Ms. Marie, alongside original compositions from the younger Clayton. The project grew organically in the studio and eventually expanded into trio settings, brilliantly capturing the kind of unspoken connection that only deepens between close collaborators over time.
Afro-Caribbean music and jazz have long been pals, standing alongside each other and generally having a grand time. The Paul Carlon Trio—saxophonist Carlon, bassist Alex Ayala and percussionist Chembo Corniel—celebrate that state-of-affairs on “Between Us Three.” Sparse arrangements that eschew a harmonic instrument draw attention to both the melody and the rhythm, keeping the tracks simple and direct. Carlon plays riffs, Ayala and Corniel give them a foundation, and the songs practically frolic across their timespans.
Also this week, one of Chicago’s most celebrated working bands since the late 1990s makes its recorded debut, “WaBaSH,” with bassist ClarkSommers, tenor saxophonist Geof Bradfield, drummer Dana Hall, and multi-reedist John Wojciechowski; the Robert Jospe Quartet began their journey in 2022 and after three-and-a-half years of collaboration, that musical partnership has culminated in the album, “The Night Sky”; and guitarist Jacques Lesure delivers sophisticated improvised soulfulness with his quartet “Live at Lavender Blue” in Inglewood, California.
Host Craig Kessler spins some classic soul jazz, heavy on the Hammond B-3 organ. We’ll hear such legends as Jimmy Smith, Brother Jack McDuff, and Shirley Scott, as well as jazz innovators Dr. Lonnie Smith and prodigy Joey DeFrancesco.
Wednesday Night Special
Garaj Mahal at the Iowa City Jazz Festival
Guitarist Fareed Haque and Garaj Mahal played an eclectic, high-energy set for 2009’s Iowa City Jazz Festival. Their music is a rich blend of deep multicultural grooves that shows off their command of jazz and world music.
Jazz Corner of the World (Encore)
Saturdays from 12 noon to 4:00pm
A Listen to Sunnyside
Host Craig Kessler samples choice cuts from the Sunnyside record label. What began in 1982 as a means to release a Harold Danko album has grown into one of today’s premier jazz labels. Sunnyside has given us standout work from Lee Konitz, Charlie Haden, Rufus Reid, and many others.
KCCK’s Midnight CD (August 10 – August 16)
Every Night at Midnight
KCCK features a new album every night, played start-to-finish.
Evolution by the Django Festival All-Stars on Monday; Legacy by Elias Haslanger on Tuesday; Balaios by Antonio Adolfo on Wednesday; Rick Braun Plays Chuck Mangione by Rick Braun on Thursday; Most of the Time by Peter Parcek on Friday; Sugar for Sugar by Catfish Keith on Saturday; Little Black Book by Leslie Vincent on Sunday.
Hey, Jazz fans! Be sure to tune in this week as we celebrate the birthdays of pianists Jess Stacy, George Shearing, Jeannie Cheatham and Ben Sidran, saxophonists Arnett Cobb and Lynne Hart, vibists Eddie Costa and Steve Nelson, guitarists Joe Puma and Pat Metheny, singers Lorez Alexandria Patti Austin, Cyrille Aimée and more. We’ll also mark the recording anniversary of Pat Martino’s “Remember: A Tribute to Wes Montgomery” (2005) and many others, Mondays thru Fridays and at noon on JAZZ MASTERS on Jazz 88.3 KCCK.
Week two of KCCK’s Jazz Under the Stars concerts features the Paul Lichty Jazz Orchestra with young artist opener group, Jazz on 76th, from Prairie High School. Director and composer, Paul Lichty, is in the studio with insights into the inner workings of this non-traditional big band. It’s JUTS week two, Thursday 8/13, music starting 6:30pm at Noelridge Park.
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.
“Shout Sisters: a Boswell Sisters Project” featuring Betsy Hickok, Lynne Rothrock, and Evelyn Rush comes to the Opus Concert Cafe August 14 & 15. Lynne Rothrock and Betsy Hickok join Dennis over zoom to chat about this roaring twenties, New Orleans jazz inspired performance.
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.
Country blues musician, Catfish Keith, is in the studio ahead of his upcoming show at The James Theater on August 8, 7:30pm. Tune in to hear Catfish talk about his Iowa City roots, steel guitars, and his new album, “Sugar for Sugar.”
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.
Listen to this week’s playlist on 
Jazz Corner of the World (Encore)
Jazz Corner of the World (Encore) 