New Music Monday for September 9, 2013

Kenny Garrett—Grammy winner, winner of Germany’s prestigious Echo Award, nominee for the NAACP Image Award, member of DownBeat’s Hall of Fame, and an Honorary Doctorate of Music from the Berklee College of Music are just a few of the accolades that have been bestowed on him. Garrett’s last CD paid homage to those who inspired him, and although the primary focus of his new disc, “Pushing the World Away,” is not on his tutelage of young musicians, the number of those who participated in this recording emphasize his mentorship. Escaping from the noise and distractions of daily life provided the creative environment for his work on this project, an exercise that could benefit us all in an attempt to obtain a clearer view of the world.

American saxophonist Scott Hamilton has teamed up with the Swedish pianist Jan Lundgren and his trio for “Swedish Ballads… & More,” choosing a repertoire of seven tunes associated with Sweden. Two of those are interpretations of jazz standards with the remainder written by Swedish composers. Hamilton’s love affair with the country has been ongoing since his first visit more than 30 years ago. He has many friends and fans in Sweden who have followed him closely over the years.

Also this week, flutist Ali Ryerson has put together a Jazz Flute Big Band for “Game Changer,” featuring guest flutists Hubert Laws, Nestor Torres and Holly Hofmann along with arrangements by Bill Cunliffe, Michael Abene, Mike Wofford and others; pianist Miles Black and his trio are joined by saxophonist Grant Stewart “Live at Cory Weeds’ Cellar Jazz Club”; and singer Kathy Kosins offers up her latest, “The Space Between,” featuring pianist Tamir Hendelman, bassist Robert Hurst and Eric Harland on percussion.

THIS WEEK’S SPECIAL PROGRAMS

Short List with Bob Naujoks                                           
Mon. – Thurs. at 8:35 AM and Saturday at 7 AM    
The Short List: B-3 Blitz Two: Richard “Groove” Holmes (new series)          
The Short List extends a listen to the great Hammond B-3 players on a new series starting with Richard “Groove” Holmes. He is a most accessible and soulful. Holmes was discovered by the pianist-singer Les McCann and was on an early recording with him. Holmes then  struck out on his own and was a crowd pleaser for three decades. What solidified his style was Holmes’ insistent, pulsating bass lines that one could say was in the “groove.”
Jazz Profiles with Nancy Wilson  
Monday at 6:00 PM    
(pre-empted for KCCK’s Special Labor Day Broadcast of the 2013 Iowa City Jazz Festival)            
Jazz Corner of the World with Craig Kessler
Monday, 7:00 PM – 11:00 PM (follows Jazz Profiles)
  
(pre-empted for KCCK’s Special Labor Day Broadcast of the 2013 Iowa City Jazz Festival)                  
              
Jazz at Lincoln Center with Wendell Pierce  
Tuesday at 6:00 PM
The Music of Billy Strayhorn
Duke Ellington described him as “my right arm, my left arm, all the eyes in the back of my head” — composer Billy Strayhorn penned some of Duke’s most enduring songs, but  himself remained in relative obscurity. Vocalist Jose James and the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra interpret Strayhorn classics including Lush Life, Take the “A” Train and Something to Live For. 
JazzSet with Dee Dee Bridgewater
Wednesday at 6:00 PM
Discovery Series at the Kennedy Center: Christie Dashiell / Alfredo Rodriguez Trio
Dashiell is a vocal and arranging student at Manhattan School of Music, onstage at the KC Jazz Club with a band of her brothers. Pianist Rodriguez from Cuba amazes with his prowess and originality.
Wednesday Night Special  
7:00 PM (Follows JazzSet)
The Pat Smith Quartet / John Carlson Quartet at Kirkwood (new)
Pat Smith grew up in Chicago playing in various blues and rock bands. He attended Coe College for two years and finished his bachelor’s degree at Cornell College. After graduating, Smith moved to the San Francisco bay area and played with various blues bands including the fusion band Io. In 1993, he formed the Penguin Jazz Quartet, which recorded two CDs that are available on iTunes. The Penguin’s second CD, On Ice, went to No. 6 on Berkeley’s KALX FM in 1998, and made KCCK’s top 20 for 1999.  Smith was a co-founder of Nossa Bossa, a Brazilian jazz quartet garnering excellent reviews throughout the bay area. The band helped introduce the Bose PAS system, a new kind of amplification system.  In 2008, Smith returned to Iowa and teamed with Bassist Richard Wagor. The duo released their first CD “Iowa Duets” in late 2011and it placed at #28 on KCCK’s Top 88 for 2012.    
This spring the John Carlson Quartet performed a concert program “Celebrating the Music of Dave Brubeck and Paul Desmond” at Kirkwood’s Ballantyne Auditorium. Originally from Peoria and Chicago, Illinois, John Carlson holds a degree in Saxophone Performance from Northern Illinois University where he studied under Professor Steve Duke. He played professionally in the Chicago area for 18 years and has backed entertainers such as Doc Severinsen, Lou Rawls, Maureen McGovern, The Four Tops, The Temptations, and Bill Cosby. John also worked for 10 years as a full time staff Music Director and Arranger at Willow Creek Community Church, one of the largest and most innovative contemporary churches in the country. John is also employed at Kirkwood’s Eagle-Tech store on the CR campus.    
Piano Jazz with Marian McPartland  
Thursday at 6:00 PM
Chuck Mangione
Flugelhorn player Chuck Mangione is widely known for the crossover success of his catchy mid-1970s tunes. But his jazz credentials are rock solid – his mentor Dizzy Gillespie once recommended him for a spot in Art Blakey’s Jazz Messengers. Mangione and bassist Gary Mazzaroppi team with McPartland for some dynamic trio work, including his famous tune, “Feels So Good,” and a few beloved standards.              
Jazz Corner of the World with Craig Kessler
Saturday, Noon – 4:00 PM
“Birthday Celebration for Sonny Rollins”    
Craig celebrates Sonny’s 83rd birthday with Part Seven of his chronological series, THE SONNY ROLLINS STORY, spinning exciting selections from the 70s and 80s.  We’re pleased to learn that Sonny is back in good health and on the road performing again.  Happy Birthday, Mr. Rollins!   
Riverwalk Jazz
Sunday at 5:00 PM
Ride, Red, Ride: New Orleans Trumpeter Henry ‘Red’ Allen Jr.
New Orleans trumpeter Henry ‘Red’ Allen Jr. made a name for himself on the 1930s’ New York jazz scene as a hot trumpet soloist, singer and entertainer. He later went on to hold a long residency as bandleader at Manhattan’s famed Metropole Café in Times Square. The Jim Cullum Jazz Band and special guests tell the story and perform tunes from Allen’s long career.          
KCCK’s Midnight CD
The Monday – Sunday Midnight CD for this week can be found at:

(No title)

Lee Konitz, now 85-years-old, began his career in the wake of Charlie Parker but after mentoring by Lennie Tristano and recording with Warne Marsh, he became arguably the only saxophonist to offer an alternative to Bird’s overwhelming influence at the time. The 1949 recording, “Intuition,” found the three men defining ‘free jazz’ a full decade before the term was coined. It’s not surprising then that Konitz would gravitate to the post-modern sensibilities of Ethan Iverson, best known as the pianist in the Bad Plus and a composer of extremely wide range and versatility. Together with Larry Grenadier and Jorge Rossy, they offer a wildly creative set list on their new disc, “Costumes Are Mandatory.”

In 1976, the Detroit-born guitarist Earl Klugh—a self-taught virtuoso whose broad influences included Bill Evans, Burt Bacharach, Laurindo Almeda and Chet Atkins—burst on the scene with his self-titled debut CD which easily crossed beyond the categories of jazz, country, classical, pop, R&B and world music. Four decades and over thirty recordings later, the Grammy Award-winner and 12-time nominee has recorded with a number of master musicians—from George Benson, Al Jarreau and Bob James to Stevie Wonder, Miles Davis and Chick Corea—in a myriad of settings. His newest CD, “Hand Picked,” is a soulful sixteen-track solo/duet recording featuring special guest guitarists Bill Frisell and Vince Gill on a program of standards and Klugh originals.
Also this week, legendary guitarist Kenny Burrell is captured live at the West Coast jazz Mecca, Catalina’s on “Special Requests (And Other Favorites)”; singer and lyricist Lorraine Feather works with her longtime co-writers Russell Ferrante, Shelly Berg and Eddie Arkin, and new collaborator Dave Grusin for “Attachments”; and the new disc from Brian Andres & the Afro-Cuban Jazz Cartel, “San Francisco,” makes a persuasive case for that city having it own distinctive Latin jazz sound.

New Music Monday for August 26, 2013

“Live Today” signals a new journey for bassist and composer Derrick Hodge as he embarks on a solo recording career. Even though Hodge has played with such jazz titans as Mulgrew Miller and Terence Blanchard, as well as R&B stars Jill Scott and Maxwell, he’s probably best known for anchoring the Grammy-winning Robert Glasper Experiment. Similar to how Glasper concocts a distinctive mélange of modern jazz, hip-hop, and R&B, the new CD too integrates those genres and more into something potent and personal.  “This whole album was putting on my composer’s hat, but letting go and making sure that I’m giving people raw examples of how I feel on any given day,” Hodge explains.

Pianist Joe Davidian has taken the jazz world by storm. Audiences revere his technical proficiency, inventive arrangements, and outstanding improvisational skills. His new release, “Live at the Jazz Cave: Volume One,” confirms his reputation as a leading voice in the jazz piano world.  Throughout college, he performed with jazz legends Joe Lovano, Dave Liebman, Bob Mintzer and Kevin Mahogany. While earning his Master’s Degree at the University of Miami, he met two musicians for whom he discerned an immediate affinity: bassist Jamie Ousley and drummer Austin McMahon. In 2008 the trio recorded its debut CD and has since been performing internationally at jazz clubs, universities and festivals.

Also this week, the San Francisco Bay-area octet Resonance, featuring an interesting fusion of instruments including a string trio, offers up “Introductions”; guitarist and composer PJ Rasmussen combines the contemporary with the old school hard bop vibe on his debut disc, “Adventures in Flight”; and veteran keyboardist Mike Wofford’s latest is a solo piano effort, “It’s Personal.”

THIS WEEK’S SPECIAL PROGRAMS

THIS WEEK’S SPECIAL PROGRAMS
Short List with Bob Naujoks                                           
Mon. – Thurs. at 8:35 AM and Saturday at 7 AM    
The Short List: Vocal Short List 11 (Al Bowlly)         
Al Bowlly was a little known British singer.  His career was short, but his sincere style makes him a favorite to many even to this day. The society orchestra background does not lessen his artistic impact because his unerring rhythm and pitch makes him most listenable. Bowlly was charming and handsome, and his tour with the British bandleader Ray Noble introduced him to American audiences. Bowlly could not gain a foothold against the stateside crooners like Bing Crosby, so he returned to England, but was killed in a London air raid.
Jazz Profiles with Nancy Wilson  
Monday at 6:00 PM 
Tito Puente
The late Afro-Cuban jazz giant Tito Puente, “El Rey,” was the king of the timbales and the mambo, and a recipient of the Presidential Arts Medal. This tribute takes us inside the man, probing the source of that energy and uncovering the secrets to Puente’s prolific and creative life.           
Jazz Corner of the World with Craig Kessler
Monday, 7:00 PM – 11:00 PM (follows Jazz Profiles) 
“Jazz Goes to the Movies”    
Craig “restarts” his annual look at a wide variety of jazz performances from motion pictures, Broadway shows, and TV soundtracks.  This week, we’ll hear from Art Blakey’s Jazz Messengers (“Les Liaisons Dangereuses”), Duke Ellington (“Anatomy Of A Murder”), Martial Solal (“A Bout De Souffle”), Shorty Rogers/Elmer Bernstein (“The Man With The Golden Arm”), and a number of other captivating performances. Bring the popcorn and come on in — it’s air-conditioned!!                 
              
Jazz at Lincoln Center with Wendell Pierce  
Tuesday at 6:00 PM 
Artistry in Rhythm: Stan Kenton Centennial
The bandstand wasn’t big enough for Stan Kenton’s musical ideas. His big brassy sound brought dozens of musicians to the stage including a “mellophonium” section and great West Coast innovators including  Bill Holman, Anita O’Day and Jazz Master Lee Konitz. Konitz  joins the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra for this Kenton celebration. 
JazzSet with Dee Dee Bridgewater
Wednesday at 6:00 PM 
Branford Marsalis Quartet at Napa Valley Opera House, Napa, CA
Personnel changes have been few over 20 years in the Branford Marsalis Quartet. The players are consistent, Marsalis says, but the music should evolve and be challenging, center on the melody and convey emotions. Branford’s tenor and soprano lead. Pianist Joey Calderazzo and bassist Eric Revis compose three of the four tunes. Justin Faulkner plays drums.
Wednesday Night Special  
7:00 PM (Follows JazzSet) 
Preservation Hall Jazz Band: That’s It! (One Hour Radio Special)
For over 50 years, Preservation Hall Jazz Band has brought life to the sounds of New Orleans. Some of the original members hailed from the beginning of Jazz itself.  The music that PHJB plays has been passed down through the generations.  Now they have written their first-ever album of entirely new songs that both respects their traditions and takes them into the future. 
In this one-hour radio special, you’ll hear about the band, life in New Orleans and the new music from members Ben Jaffe, Charlie Gabriel, and Rickie Monie, plus their co-producer Jim James of My Morning Jacket.
Piano Jazz with Marian McPartland  
Thursday at 6:00 PM 
Dave Douglas
Composer, trumpeter, and improviser Dave Douglas has a style that transcends the boundaries of traditional jazz. This approach has led to albums of experimental music both on his own and as a member of John Zorn’s band. On this Piano Jazz, Douglas and McPartland, joined by bassist James Genus, show their mutual love for Mary Lou Williams’ music on “Scratchin’ In The Gravel” and “Cloudy.”              
Jazz Corner of the World with Craig Kessler
Saturday, Noon – 4:00 PM 
“The Herbie Hancock Story — Part Two”    
Craig continues his chronological look at the music of Herbert Jeffrey Hancock.  In show #2, we’ll hear from Herbie’s recordings made in 1963 to 1965, featuring his own records as well as a number of dates where Mr. Hancock appears as a sideman with the likes of Miles Davis, Blue Mitchell, Bob Brookmeyer, Lee Morgan, and a host of others.  Herbie continues to be one of the foremost jazz pianists from the past 55 years.   
Riverwalk Jazz
Sunday at 5:00 PM 
Swinging at the Pearl: Catherine Russell, Dick Hyman
San Antonio’s historic Pearl Stable, once a 19th-century lodging for Pearl Brewery’s draft horses, is now a landmark venue and a perfect spot for a late-night jam session. Vocalist Catherine Russell and pianist Dick Hyman take the stage with The Jim Cullum Jazz Band and join in the fun.          
KCCK’s Midnight CD
The Monday – Sunday Midnight CD for this week can be found at: 

http://www.kcck.org/onair/midnight_cd.php

This Week’s Special Programs

Short List with Bob Naujoks
Mon. – Thurs. at 8:35 AM and Saturday at 7 AM

The Short List: Vocal Short List 11 (Lola Albright)

If the name Lola Albright doesn’t ring a bell, perhaps “Peter Gunn” will. “Peter Gunn” was a landmark television show from the late 1950s. Although it was done as a “film noir” detective series, it was Henry Mancini’s inventive jazz sounds that gave it class. Albright was cast as the singer in the jazz club and Gunn’s girlfriend. Her sultry, low-key voice and physical beauty made her a favorite with the viewers. Her singing career lasted just about as long as the show, 1958 to 1960.
Jazz Profiles with Nancy Wilson  
Monday at 6:00 PM    
Rosemary Clooney:  An American Treasure
For more than 40 years, Rosemary Clooney’s simple and exquisite singing style defined her career. Her dynamic career also included movie roles and a star turn in her own television show. Rosemary will always be remembered as one of America’s finest jazz-based vocalists.           
Jazz Corner of the World with Craig Kessler
Monday, 7:00 PM – 11:00 PM (follows Jazz Profiles)
“Birthday Celebration for “Duke” Pearson”     
Craig celebrates the birth date anniversary of pianist, composer, arranger, producer, and educator Columbus Calvin “Duke” Pearson, Jr., who was born in Atlanta, August 17th, 1932.  We’ll hear some of his famous compositions, fine examples of his tasteful keyboard work, and some fascinating displays of Duke’s arranging skills.               
              
Jazz at Lincoln Centerwith Wendell Pierce  
Tuesday at 6:00 PM
Basie and the Blues
Churning rhythms and unforgettable riffs – in the hands of William ‘Count’ Basie, caught the essence of Kansas City swing. The Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with guitarist James Chirillo, pianist Cyrus Chestnut and vocalist Gregory Porter join the Jazz at Lincoln Center to make the Basie classics burn.
JazzSet with Dee Dee Bridgewater
Wednesday at 6:00 PM
Sean Jones / Jeff Tain Watts at the Detroit Jazz Festival
Of 2011 Artist-in-Residence Watts’ group with Marcus Strickland, Lawrence Fields and Christian McBride, our photographer noted his opinion: “They put down a set that was both relentlessly swinging and beautiful… [It was] the highlight of the acts I caught . . . .” The day before Tain, everybody was saying that trumpeter Sean Jones had played the set to beat.
Wednesday Night Special  
7:00 PM (Follows JazzSet)
The Best of the 2012 Detroit Jazz Festival – Part Two
The Detroit International Jazz Festival, billed as the “world’s largest free jazz festival,” is held over Labor Day weekend along the downtown riverfront and features top international jazz stars performing on four stages. The artists at last year’s Jazz Fest have won a combined 100 Grammy Awards. Part Two features the Mack Avenue Super Band, Wayne Shorter, Poncho Sanchez, Preservation Hall Jazz Band and more!
Piano Jazz with Marian McPartland  
Thursday at 6:00 PM
Kenny Barron
Kenny Barron is one of the most highly regarded players of his generation. Playing professionally since the age of 15, Barron has worked with some of the jazz world’s best, including Ella Fitzgerald, Joe Henderson, and Roy Haynes. On this Piano Jazz he performs his original tune, “Clouds,” and pairs with McPartland for “How Deep is The Ocean?”              
The Jazz Corner of the World with Craig Kessler
Saturday, Noon – 4:00 PM
“Jazz Goes to the Movies”    
Craig “restarts” his annual look at a wide variety of jazz performances from motion pictures, Broadway shows, and TV soundtracks.  This week, we’ll hear from Art Blakey’s Jazz Messengers (“Les Liaisons Dangereuses”), Duke Ellington (“Anatomy Of A Murder”), Martial Solal (“A Bout De Souffle”), Shorty Rogers/Elmer Bernstein (“The Man With The Golden Arm”), and a number of other captivating performances. Bring the popcorn and come on in — it’s air-conditioned!!    
Riverwalk Jazz
Sunday at 5:00 PM
I Wish I Were Twins: The Fats Waller Bluebird Sessions
The Jim Cullum Jazz Band — with special guests Dick Hyman and Rebecca Kilgore — celebrates the Fats Waller “Bluebird Sessions.” Tunes include “I’m Gonna Sit Right Down and Write Myself a Letter” and “It’s a Sin to Tell a Lie.” 

KCCK’s Midnight CD

Monday – Sunday Midnight CD for this week can be found at:

http://www.kcck.org/onair/midnight_cd.php

New Music Monday


By Bob Stewart

New Music Monday – 8/12/2013

Paquito’s Brazilian Affair; Gadd’s Gadditude.

There are many artists who have developed a love affair with Brazil and its culture. The music of Brazil has been particularly intoxicating for musicians who appreciate well-written melodies and a strong rhythmic drive. The heralded Cuban-born clarinetist/saxophonist Paquito D’Rivera has never been shy to trumpet his Brazilian infatuation. Since his arrival in the United States, he’s made a point to collaborate with Brazilian musicians of all stripes, including figures in Brazilian jazz, folkloric and popular music. On his latest disc, “Song for Maura”, he’s accompanied by a fabulous contemporary jazz trio from Sao Paulo, Trio Corrente.

For “Gadditude”, his tenth outing as a leader, world class drummer Steve Gadd got a little help from his distinguished friends-guitarist Michael Landau, keyboardist Larry Goldings, trumpeter Walt Fowler and bassist Jimmy Johnson. Together they had already established a high degree of bandstand chemistry as the touring ensemble for singer-songwriter James Taylor. That goes a long way in explaining the sense of comfort and ease from track to track on this relaxed session. Together they put their own unique stamp on a pair of Keith Jarrett pieces, compositions by Radiohead and Abdullah Ibrahim, along with evocative originals by Landau and Goldings.

Burton at 70; Thompson Heads a Trio – Bob Stewart


Vibraphonist Gary Burton began his career at age 17 in an unlikely place for a jazz musician, recording in Nashville with luminaries Chet Atkins and Hank Garland. He cut his teeth touring with George Shearing and Stan Getz, went on to form his first quartet in 1967 and is celebrating 40-year long creative partnerships with both Chick Corea and Pat Metheny. He’s also been active for years in music education as a teacher and administrator at the famed Berklee College of Music. In a career rich with variety, collaboration and innovation, the vibraphone master now celebrates his 70th birthday with a brand new release — “Guided Tour.” The line-up of the New Gary Burton Quartet remains the same with Julian Lage on guitar, Scott Colley on bass and Antonio Sanchez on drums.

Drummer Chester Thompson has done it all. From embarking on world tours with Weather Report and Frank Zappa to performing in sports arenas with Phil Collins and Genesis, he is a seasoned veteran on the world’s music scene. And now, for the first time, he’s doing what he’s always dreamed of doing: leading a jazz trio with two of the country’s finest young lions on the new CD — “Approved.” Pianist Joe Davidian and bassist Michael Rinne join Thompson in blending influences from Brazil to Cuba to Tin Pan Alley and American mainstream, featuring pieces from Thompson’s past groups, originals by his trio mates, and inventive arrangements of pop and jazz standards by all three.