Among the topics for Clean Up Your Act for the week of April 30 are “Crocs are removed from the endangered list” and “Simple ways to live green.”

After three decades, the American crocodile is off the federal endangered species list. In 1975, the croc was close to extinction in the U.S., a victim of development, habitat loss and hunting. There were only about 200 of them left in south Florida — just 10 to 20 breeding females. Scientists say there now may be as many as 2,000. Wildlife experts credit sanctuaries set up to protect the predators. The crocodile does remain a “threatened” species.

Greg Horn is the author of the book “Living Green: A Practical Guide to Simple Sustainability.” He became interested in such matters while fighting a case of multiple chemical sensititives (MCS). In the book, Horn offers tips on how to live healthier through what we put into and onto our bodies, purchases for the home and energy use. Some simple steps include purchasing progammable thermostats, patching up leaks around doors and windows, putting carbon filters on shower heads, and reducing the use of chemicals on lawns.

Clean Up Your Act airs at 6:35 a.m. and 3:35 p.m. weekdays. Weekend editions are heard at 9:20 a.m. Saturday and Sunday and at 3:20 p.m. Saturdays.

George Dorman – News and Operations Director

KCCK hosted superstar Bassist Christian McBride over the weekend, when he came to Cedar Rapids for a residency and performance at Kirkwood. Christian was delightful, chatting in-studio with Bob Stewart for nearly an hour. Listen to that interview here.

The concert was outstanding, as Christian led the Kirkwood Jazz Ensemble and CR Jazz through tunes by Dizzy Gillespie, Horace Silver and even an original chart by Cedar Rapids’ own Denny Redmond. Christian also “walked the tightrope,” as he called it, playing one duet with piano using his bow.

Another highlight was Coe Senior and Kirkwood jazz alum Rene Ybarra stepping out with CR Jazz and just ripping up “A Night in Tunisia” with a soaring lead and torrid solos.

Kirkwood Media Services recorded the concert. It will be broadcast several times on the Kirkwood Channel, the first being May 12 at 10pm. Ch. 11 in most of Eastern Iowa. Check the program schedule here. KCCK will also feature the concert in a future Wednesday Special.

Topics for Clean Up Your Act for the week of April 23 include “Burning fat for your car” and “The Iowa River makes a list of endangered waterways.”

Tyson Foods plans to send fat from one of its plants in Texas to a nearby ConocoPhillips refinery where it will be mixed with diesel. It will be called “renewable diesel” and marketed for fuel. ConocoPhillips will produce 175-million gallons of renewable diesel per year and is experimenting with other sources like algae.

The Iowa River is on the list of Most Endangered Rivers in America for 2007 by the environmental group American Rivers. Growing loads of sewage from both humans and livestock are cited. Andrew Fahlund of American Rivers says the Iowa D.N.R. has neglected to write rules to help implement the Clean Water Act. The is the first time that an Iowa river has made the list.

Clean Up Your Act airs at 6:35 a.m. and 3:35 p.m. weekdays. Weekend editions are heard at 9:20 a.m. Saturday and Sunday and at 3:20 p.m. Saturdays.

George Dorman – News and Operations Director

It’s a busy week for live jazz in the area, starting tonight in the Washington High Auditorium with the Cedar 6 Jazz Festival. The 7pm concert features the six area high school jazz bands strutting their stuff. Thursday night is the first night of KCCK’s Jazz at the ‘Brary: Caliente! program, with Jim Drier and the U of I Latin Jazz Ensemble providing the jazz at the Iowa City Public Library at 7 & 9pm (the 9pm program is in Spanish). The Cedar Rapids edition will be Friday 4/20 at 7 & 9pm. Also this Thursday night, the U.N.I. Jazz Band One performs at 7:30pm at the Gallagher Bluedorn Center in Cedar Falls. Tuscan Moon in Kalona is hosting the Chicago vocal/guitar duo of Typhanie Monique and Neal Alger on Friday night…they’ll be stopping by the studios for a performance and interview around 1:30pm. You may know Alger’s work with Patricia Barber’s quartet. Also on Friday night the Coe College Gold Jazz Band plays Sinclair Auditorium on the Coe campus, and Kurt Elling is up in Decorah at Luther College.

Bob Stewart, Program Director bobs@kcck.org

I was just perusing a review by Steve Greenlee of The Boston Globe about yet another book coming out about Miles Davis. “It’s About That Time: Miles Davis On and Off the Record” is written by Richard Cook, who is one of the authors of “The Penguin Guide to Jazz on CD.” Each chapter of “It’s About That Time…,” says Greenlee, “focuses on a particular album while bringing into the fold just about every other recording he ever did…Cook is clearly a fan of Miles Davis but he’s far from a cheerleader. ‘It’s About Time’ brings fresh insight to a lifetime of music and can help even a longtime connoisseur hear it in a whole new way.” The book is from Oxford University Press.

I also notice a new cd is on the way in honor of the 90th anniversay of Ella’s birthday. “We All Love Ella: a Celebration of the First Lady of Song” features pop and R&B vocalists such as Linda Ronstadt, Gladys Knights, Chaka Khan and Natalie Cole taking on some of Fitzgerald’s signature pieces. Diana Krall and Dianne Reeves bring some jazz cred to the proceedings. Michael Buble is the lone male voice on the tribute, which is expected in June.

Bob Stewart, Program Director bobs@kcck.org

Topics for Clean Up Your Act for the week of March 19 include “Surveying coral reefs by satellite” and “The Brits tackle climate change.”

A new satellite survey has allowed scientists to pinpoint the location and assess the health of half-a-million square miles of coral reefs. Over-fishing is a problem.
With fewer fish to eat algae that grow on coral, the algae can overwhelm and kill entire reefs. Coral reefs support 9-million species of aquatic life.

Britain has become the first country to set hard and fast targets for tackling climate change. The goals are ambitious…a 26% cut in greenhouse gas emissions by 2020 and a 60% reduction by 2050. Can they do it? Energy experts say to cut emissions that much by mid-century, the British would have to scrap all their domestic appliances, rip out their central heating, give up foreign hoidays and get rid of their cars!

Clean Up Your Act airs at 6:35 a.m. and 3:35 p.m. weekdays. Weekend editions are heard at 9:20 a.m. Saturday and Sunday and at 3:20 p.m. Saturdays.

George Dorman – News and Operations Director

Boy, it was a great week for live jazz in Eastern Iowa this past week. With numerous opportunities to catch bassist Ben Allison and his Quartet and David Sanborn and his Quintet, it was a rare treat for us jazz fans. I caught Allison’s date at the Sanctuary on Monday night, after he and trumpeter Ron Horton stopped by the studios on Sunday for a chat and performance (which are now on the KCCK web site). The Quartet had a great time playing for the appreciative audience on Monday, presenting a few hours of their very forward-thinking jazz. And then, on the other end of the jazz spectrum, there was Sanborn at Hancher on Wednesday night playing a scorching set of his funked-up contemporary jazz. Despite some technical problems which had the players somewhat distracted for a large portion of the evening, it was a fine set. I could have done with fewer of his trademark ballads, but that didn’t detract too much. As for live music this weekend, Saul Lubaroff gets a two-night stand at the Tuscan Moon in Kalona, while Dick Watson and Eddie Piccard do their regular gigs. You can get specifics with our concert calendar at kcck.org.

Bob Stewart, Program Director bobs@kcck.org

Bassist Ben Allison and his quartet are in the area this week for a series of live performances. It starts with a gig at the Sanctuary in Iowa City tonight, then at the Redstone Room in Davenport on Wednesday, and the Reverb in Cedar Falls on Thursday before moving on to the Blue Room in Kansas City on Friday. We’re going to have Ben in studio this afternoon at 1pm, along with trumpeter Ron Horton, for a conversation and a performance.

Bob Stewart, Program Director bobs@kcck.org