Lindsey Cline and Katie Colette from the Old Creamery Theatre talk about the planned chaos that is “Nutcrackers,” the holiday installment in the “Nunsense” series, where the Little Sisters of Hoboken take on the Holiday TV special, with predictable results.
Running Nov. 19 – Dec. 20 on the OCT MainStage. Reservations at www.oldcreamery.com.
Listen to this week’s playlist on Youtube and Soundcloud.
It’s rare for one man to change the face of an instrument, and before he turned forty, but Joey DeFrancesco has been performing since he was a child, following a lineage of jazz musicians. A seasoned musician by his teen, having already shared the stage with Hank Mobley and Philly Joe Jones, DeFrancesco was truly honored when, at 17, Miles Davis asked him to join his touring band. Today, he is a Grammy-nominated artist with over 30 recordings as a leader and numerous collaborations with masters of modern jazz. On his new CD, “Trip Mode,” Joey continues his mastery of jazz organ as well as showcasing his exceptional musical versatility that includes piano, trumpeter and vocals. Along for the journey are DeFrancesco’s touring comrades, Dan Wilson on guitar, bassist Mike Boone and Jason Brown on drums.
Houston Person still remembers the day in 1950 that changed his life. A typical 16-year-old who sang in the high school choir and glee club, he was mostly interested in football and basketball. Then, Christmas morning, his parents gave him a surprise gift: a tenor saxophone. Several decades, hundreds of albums, and thousands of concerts later, his life and career remain centered around the tenor sax. Through all the different styles coursing through those decades, Person has been steadfast in his dedication to the soul-jazz genre. All of his trademarks are presents on his newest recording, “Something Personal.” With the phenomenal vibes of Steve Nelson and the top-flight rhythm section ably led by pianist John DiMartino, Person and Company caress the ballads with lush melodicism and swing heartily through the up-tempo pieces.
Also this week, drummer, composer and bandleader Kenneth Salters, who h
as become 
a fixture on Manhattan’s West Village independent jazz scene with his band Haven, presents his debut album as a leader, “Enter to Exit”; tenor saxophonist Doug Webb unveils his second release this year for Posi-Tone Records, “Back East”; and New York City-based B3 organ specialist Adam Scone documents his first twenty-years playing jazz and ballads with “I Scream Scone!”
Internationally-renown Blues and Boogie Woogie pianist Chase Garrett stopped by KCCK for a chat with Dennis Green ahead of his 6th annual Blues and Boogie Woogie Piano Stomp, Nov. 13 and 14 at the Englert Theatre.
Tickets at www.pianostompfestival.com.
Special guests include fellow pianists Daryl Davis, Balazs Daniel, and Fabrice Eulry; along with Colorado-based vintage jazz band Joe Smith and the Spicy Pickles, and the CR Jazz Big Band.
Chase has created a full-fledged festival around his concerts, with free Boogie Woogie dance lessons at Nolte Academy, a piano master class, and a Swing Dance After Party at the Sheraton.
Chase gave Dennis a demonstration of the differences between Ragtime, Blues, and Boogie Woogie on the historic Danceland Grand piano, on loan from the History Center.
Watch the full interview, which includes two Chase Garrett numbers:
https://youtu.be/WrGH3wfbKdU
Joey DeFrancesco will be performing at Valley High School in West Des Moines Sunday evening, November 15. He spoke by phone with KCCK’s Bob Stewart.
From First Friday Jazz – Eddie Piccard Trio. Posted by Jazz 88.3 KCCK-FM on 11/06/2015 (4 items)
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Short List with Bob Naujoks
Monday – Friday at 8:35 AM and Saturday at 7 AM
The Short List: Jazz Clubs Live – London House (Chicago) / Jazz Standard (NYC)
The Jazz Standard in NYC
This week there is a short survey of the at one-time sophisticated, now long closed, London House in Chicago and then it’s on to The Jazz Standard jazz club in New York. A local website describes the venue this way: “falling somewhere between the gaudy Times Square tourist traps and the smaller, serious West Village clubs, offering jazz, blues and barbque in its swanky spread out space.” It’s a throwback to the clubs of the 1930s and 1940s in that it is located in a basement below a Southern cuisine restaurant. The food comes from upstairs and the music is mostly straight-ahead jazz playing seven days a week. Their “Mingus Mondays” with the Charles Mingus Big Band are quite popular as are the Sunday afternoon “Jazz for Kids” programs.
Jazz Profiles with Nancy Wilson
Monday at 6:00 PM
Sun Ra: ‘Cosmic Swing’
Sun Ra
Whether he was disdained as a charlatan or revered as a pioneer, there is no denying the influence of Sun Ra on several generations of musicians. He was an avatar of free improvisation and was the first to bring electronics and synthesizers into jazz. But, this space traveler was also a pianist for the Fletcher Henderson big band. This show showcases Sun Ra’s musical cosmic swing.
Jazz Corner of the World with Craig Kessler
Monday, 7:00 PM – 11:00 PM (follows Jazz Profiles)
“The Incomparable Artistry of Andrew Hill – Part Four”
Craig brings us the 4th and final installment of this series of shows spotlighting the music of ANDREW HILL….one of the most innovative jazz pianists and composers of the last 65 years! In this show, we’ll examine more material from Mr. Hill, including groups under his leadership, as well as some of the many appearances of Hill as a sideman.
New Orleans Calling with George Ingmire
Tuesday at 6:00 PM
Subject: TBA
George Ingmire
For one hour each week, NEW ORLEANS CALLING brings the music, stories, sounds, and people of the Crescent City to non-commercial radio stations around the country and the world. Using exclusive live performances and interviews, immersive sound, rare archival recordings, and all the musical depth of WWOZ, the program provides a window into New Orleans life for a listener not in the city, while bringing new authentic stories and surprises to discerning local WWOZ audiences.
Jazz Night in America with Christian McBride
Wednesday at 6:00 PM
Marquis Hill Blacktet in Chicago
Marquis Hill Blacktet
Trumpeter Marquis Hill has shot to international renown recently, especially after winning the Thelonious Monk Competition — a sort of international Heisman Trophy for young jazz artists. But it takes a village to raise a musician. Jazz Night in America caught up with Hill when he returned to his native Chicago for a string of shows, touring his old South Side haunts, interviewing his former teachers, and catching a rehearsal. Then we got to see it all come together at the Jazz Showcase downtown in a performance by Hill’s tight working band, the Blacktet.
Wednesday Night Special
7:00 PM (Follows Jazz Night in America)
Iowa City Jazz Festival 2015: COLOSSUS
COLOSSUS at the 2015 Iowa City Jazz Festival
COLOSSUS, a 17-piece modern jazz orchestra, contains the most incredible music talent from all across Iowa. Along with award-winning composers Dave Chisholm and Levi Saelua, Mike Conrad (of Bettendorf, IA) co-founded this band made up of current and former students of the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, New York.
While the initial incarnation of COLOSSUS played the music of all three founding members, this Midwest version of the band has been developing an identity of its own playing more and more of Mike Conrad’s original compositions. It’s very rare these days to find a large jazz ensemble devoted to playing new and original music.
Piano Jazz with Marian McPartland
Thursday at 6:00 PM
Allen Toussaint (1938 – 2015)
Allen Toussaint
Remembering Allen Toussaint with guest host Elvis Costello
Ten years ago New Orleans was devastated by Hurricane Katrina, but the city’s music scene is indestructible. Piano Jazz pays tribute to the Crescent City and one of her favorite sons — legendary pianist, singer, composer and producer Allen Toussaint who passed away this past Monday at the age of 77. Elvis Costello sits in as guest host for this special session which features Toussaint singing and playing his hit tune, “Southern Nights, and a duet with Costello on “Ascension Day”.
Jazz Corner of the World with Craig Kessler
Saturday, Noon – 4:00 PM and Monday, 7:00 PM – 11:00 PM
“Contemporary Records – 1955” 
Craig travels back 60 years to look in on the beginnings of Lester Koenig’s CONTEMPORARY RECORDS in 1955 (and earlier!). 1955 was the first big year for Contemporary, with Koenig having recorded some 28 different sessions for the label that year, from “west coast jazz” artists like Hampton Hawes, Lennie Niehaus, Howard Rumsey, Barney Kessel, Lyle Murphy, Shelly Manne, and others. We’ll also look at a handful of west coast sessions that Koenig recorded from July, 1952 through December, 1954. CONTEMPORARY RECORDS will always be known as one of the premier “west coast jazz” record labels!
Riverwalk Jazz
Sunday at 5:00 PM
The Unsung Genius of Kenny Davern: Traditional Jazz Clarinet Virtuoso
Kenny Davern
Jazz writer Nat Hentoff says clarinetist Kenny Davern “never received the credit he deserved” in spite of his “continuous imagination and vitality.” A look back at Kenny Davern’s funniest stories and hottest performances from his Riverwalk Jazz appearances.
Tropical Heat with Kpoti Accoh
Sunday, 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM
Featured Album: TBA
KCCK’s Midnight CD
The Monday – Sunday Midnight CD for this week can be found at:
