By Laura Eckles, KCCK Programming Intern

Edmar Castaneda, the Colombian harp player is arguably one of the most original players hailing from the Big Apple. Castaneda pursued jazz trumpet once moving to New York from Bogota; but, he soon realized that he wanted to apply the jazz techniques he had learned to his original instrument, the harp. The harp has been utilized in jazz improvisation before by players like Dorothy Ashby, Zeena Parkins, and a few others, but is definitely an outlier where jazz instruments are concerned

Edmar Castaneda currently has four albums out, the latest being released in 2015, “Edmar Castaneda World Ensemble: Live At the Jazz Standard.”

In 2012, Castaneda produced an album featuring Miguel Zenon, “Double Portion.” Castaneda uses an assortment of influences like joropo, Latin, tango, Brazilian, and flamenco vibes to create his music. He has comprised a talented trio, but you may be surprised what he accomplishes on his harp alone. He plays lead melodies, harmonizes, lays down bass lines, and even adds rhythmic depth to the trio.  The Edmar Castaneda Trio will be performing at the Iowa City Jazz Festival on Sunday, July 3, at 4 p.m. on the Main Stage.

By Laura Eckles, KCCK Programming Intern

Larry Fuller, based in New York City, is a hard swinging mainstream jazz pianist. Floyd “Candy” Johnson helped Fuller to start a professional musical career at the age of thirteen in Toledo, Ohio. Fuller obtained the position of musical director and pianist for Grammy-nominated vocalist Ernestine Anderson by his early twenties. He spent some time playing with the Jeff Hamilton Trio before joining what would be the final lineup of the Ray Brown Trio, prior to Brown’s death. Larry Fuller has played with many talented musicians including Harry “Sweets” Edison, Phil Woods, Clark Terry, and many others.

The Larry Fuller Trio’s latest album was released in 2014, “Larry Fuller.” Fuller embodies swing and drive in all of his playing. Fuller brings an eclectic mix of repertoire into this album from opulent ballads, “Reflections in D/ Prelude to a Kiss,” by Duke Ellington to “Celia,” by Bud Powell. “He brings vitality! He swings hard and I like that,” Ray Brown. The Larry Fuller Trio will be performing at the Iowa City Jazz Festival on Sunday, July 3, at 2 p.m. on the Main Stage.

By Laura Eckles, KCCK Programming Intern

One of the most influential Afro-Cuban jazz percussionists is without a doubt, Poncho Sánchez. Sánchez has been performing for more than three decades. Apart from his solo career, Sánchez has been featured on many albums including Tito Puente, Freddie Hubbard, Terrence Blanchard, and many others. His “Latin Soul,” received a Grammy award in 1999 for Best Latin Album.

Sanchez’s first big break came when his idol, vibraphonist Cal Tjader, hired him after hearing him play just one set with Tjader’s band. His last album released was, “Chano y Dizzy (2011),” a collaborative album with Terrence Blanchard. Sánchez and Blanchard emit ebullient and passionate playing into this afro-cuban jazz album. . Today, Sánchez is internationally acclaimed by percussionists and jazz experts. His albums include the technique of layering Latin jazz, Afro-Cuban, salsa, bop, funk, and rhythm and blues. Poncho Sánchez will be performing at the Iowa City Jazz Festival on Saturday, July 2, at 9 p.m. on the Main Stage.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6lWSYD0tj2M

By Laura Eckles, KCCK Programming Intern

Vijay Iyer, Grammy-nominated composer and pianist, has been called “one of the most interesting and vital young pianists in jazz today,” by Pitchfork. In 2014 he began a permanent appointment as the Franklin D. and Florence Rosenblatt Professor of the Arts in the Department of Music at Harvard University. Vijay Iyer just released a new album with Wadada Leo Smith a couple months ago, “A Cosmic Rhythm with Each Stroke.” Vijay Iyer has released twenty albums including “Break Stuff,” the latest album from the Vijay Iyer Trio. The Trio twists jazz classics just enough to create compositions with rhythmic interactions. Their recent work includes pieces from both John Coltrane and Thelonious Monk. The Vijay Iyer Trio Will be performing at the Iowa City Jazz Festival on Saturday, July 2, at 7 p.m. on the Main Stage.

By Laura Eckles, KCCK Programming Intern

Marquis Hill, a Windy City native, recently won the 2014 Thelonious Monk International Jazz Trumpet Competition. Chicago’s jazz scene is what shaped Hill to be the fine musician that he is today. Hill’s early studies came from the Ravinia Jazz Scholar Program. He did his undergraduate work at Northern Illinois University with the recently retired Ron Carter (another IC Jazz Fest alum), and received his graduate degree from DePaul University.

The Marquis Hill Blacktet takes its name the band of one of Marquis’s friends, who had a group called The Bluestet. Marquis Hill’s latest album, “The Way We Play,” will be released June 24, 2016. Hill’s latest album displays a variety of fresh, bop-influenced ideas. This straight-ahead jazz will captivate you with a variety of clever syncopations and driving rhythms. Listen to KCCK’s Jazz Festival Channel to get an exclusive listen to his new album! Marquis Hill Blacktet will be performing at the Iowa City Jazz Festival on Saturday, July 2, at 5 p.m. on the Main Stage.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XfcVHLmtGvI

By Laura Eckles, KCCK Programming Intern

Phil Hey, a drummer from New York, currently teaches drum set at St. Olaf College and resides in Minnesota. He was privately instructed by Edward Blackwell while he attended the University of Minnesota. Hey has worked with many professionals including Benny Carter, Charlie Byrd, and Kenny Barron to name only a few. Hey toured with Dewey Redman for over twenty years. Phil Hey has been named “Jazz Musician of the Year, 2006” by the Twin Cities “City Pages.” He can be heard playing in many artist’s recordings as well as his own band’s the Phil Hey Quartet in 2005. The Phil Hey Quartet released an album in 2005, “Subduction: Live at the Artist’s Quarter.” This group has chemistry that collaborates in a way that provokes a unique sound. “Subduction: Live at the Artist’s Quarter,” showcases hard-bop jazz with tasteful yet hard swinging rhythms. The Phil Hey Quartet will be playing at the Iowa City Jazz Festival on Saturday, July 2, at 3 p.m. on the Main Stage.

By Laura Eckles, KCCK Programming Intern

The North Corridor All-Star Big Band, a newer addition to the festival, will be joining the lineup again this year. This group is similar to a group the IC jazz festival is very familiar with, the United Jazz Ensemble. The group is comprised of some of the most skilled high school jazz musicians from the North end of the Creative Corridor, Cedar Rapids to Cedar Falls. Coe College music professor Steve Shanley directs this band as they perform for the fifth time at the Iowa City Jazz Festival. This is a group of talented students you truly will not want to miss, especially if you enjoy swinging! The North Corridor Jazz All Stars take the stage Saturday, July 2, at 1 p.m.