Big Mo Pod Show 056 – “Creatures Of Habit”

On this week’s tour of Friday night blues John and Noah discuss a mixture of new blues tunes and old Chicago classics and discuss the culture around music along the way! Tune in to learn more! Songs featured in the episode: 

  1. Bruce Katz – “Take The Green Line” 
  2. GA-20 – “Stranger Blues” 
  3. Slim Harpo – “I’m a King Bee” 
  4. Jimmy Dawkins – “You Just a Baby Child” 
  5. Jimmy Rogers – “Ludella” 

Listen to ‘da Friday Blues with Big Mo each week at 6pm, and catch the podcast for a behind the scenes look at the show!

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Culture Crawl 1046 “Reel Job”

Scott Chrisman & Eric Freesem are in the studio ahead of the Cedar Rapids Independent Film Festival coming up April 4-6 at the Collins Road Theatres. There’s something for everyone, so head over to their website (crifm.org) and check out the festival schedule and film synopses. 

For tickets and more info visit crifm.org. 

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.

 

 

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Culture Crawl 1045 “Docking Station in the Brain”

As the grounds of the Prairiewoods Franciscan Spirituality Center begin to come to life, Leslie Schwarting and the staff at Prairiewoods prepare for their 24th annual event, “Spirituality in the 21st Century.” This year’s event, “The Awakened Brain: The New Science of Spirituality & Our Quest for an Inspired Life,” will focus on mental health and features renowned researcher & author Lisa Miller, PhD. 

The event will be held over two days with multiple sessions to accommodate busy schedules. It’s Monday, May 5, & Tuesday, May 6 at First Lutheran Church (1000 3rd Avenue SE, Cedar Rapids, Iowa) & Online.

Tickets and more info can be found at prairiewoods.org. 

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.

 

 

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Talking Pictures 3-26-25

“Black Bag” (2025) and “Almos’ a Man” (1976 YouTube) with Hollis Monroe, Phil Brown and Ron Adkins.

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This Week In Jazz March 23 through March 29

Hey, Jazz fans! Be sure to tune in this week as we celebrate the birthdays of reedmen Ben Webster, James Moody and Lew Tabackin, bassists Ike Issacs, Larry Gales and Steve LaSpina, singers Sarah Vaughan and Stacy Kent, drummers Paul Motian and Steve Fidyk and more.

We’ll also mark the recording anniversaries of Duke Ellington’s 1952 Seattle Concert (1952), Miles Davis & John Coltrane’s “The Final Tour: The Bootleg Series, Vol. 6” (1960), Dexter Gordon and Ben Webster’s “Tenor Titans” (1972), Steve Kuhn Trio’s “Life’s Magic” (1986), Karrin Allyson’s “From Paris to Rio” (1999), Kait Dunton’s “trioKAIT Casual” (2016) and many others Mondays through Fridays at noon on Jazz Masters on Jazz 88.3 KCCK.

This Week’s Shows March 24 thru March 30

Jazz Corner of the World  (Encore)

Mondays at 6:00pm

Happy 85th Birthday Lew Tabackin

Craig spins from recording dates led by Lewis Barry “Lew” Tabackin, and from many sideman dates with top-notch jazz artists. We’ll also hear big band releases with his 95-year-old wife, pianist and bandleader, Toshiko Akiyoshi.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Wednesday Night Special

Wednesdays at 6:00pm

The IWJO Sextet at First Friday Jazz

Some of the most sought-after musicians in Iowa form this group-within-a-group of the Iowa Women’s Jazz Orchestra. Jen Tiede, Lynne Hart, Toni LeFebvre, Gail Williams, Vivian Shanley, and Farren Johnson jammed to charts from all styles of jazz, with many of the pieces written or arranged by Lynne Hart.

 

 

 

 

Myra Melford: Now & NowJazz Night In America  

Thursdays at 11:00pm

Myra Melford’s Creative Sparks

Pianist and composer Myra Melford draws inspiration from literature, architecture, and visual art—finding creative sparks in the works of James Joyce, Frank Lloyd Wright, and Joan Miró. Host Christian McBride explores the many facets of her artistry, from the interplay of Trio M (with bassist Mark Dresser and drummer Matt Wilson) to the expression of her Snowy Egret quintet. We’ll also hear Melford in a Big Band setting, joining forces with Wynton Marsalis and the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Jazz Corner of the WorldTete Montoliu: Piano For Nuria

Saturdays from 12:00 noon to 4:00pm

Happy Birthday Tete Montoliu

Craig celebrates the birthday anniversary of pianist Vicenc Montoliu I Massana, aka “Tete” Montoliu, born in Catalonia, Spain in 1933 and with us until August of 1997. Craig plays a number of absolutely wonderful solo and group recordings from this master of the piano. (Tete: Tay-tay, Montoliu: Mon-too-lee-oo)

 

 

 

 

 

KCCK’s Midnight CD

KCCK features a new album every night, played from start-to-finish.

Brighter Days by Jarod Bufe on Monday; It Takes 3 by Harry Allen, Rossano Sportiello, & Bryan Carter on Tuesday; Positive Energy by the Greg Abate Quartet on Wednesday; Bluegrass by the WDR Big Band on Thursday; Tommy Lee’s Jonesin’ by Tommy Lee Cook Friday; I Love Freddie King by Popa Chubby & Friends on Saturday; Mi Hogar II by Rachel Therrien on Sunday.

Big Mo Podshow 055 – “Fairly Fabulous”

This week we have another dissection of blues tracks from your hosts at the Singing Cowboys Studios! This episode features discussions on the unique ways various blues artists sing and play their instruments, listen in to learn their ways! Songs featured in the episode: 

  1. Albert Collins – “Don’t Lose Your Cool” 
  2. Eden Brent – “Getaway Blues” 
  3. Tedeschi Trucks Band – “Keep On Growing” 
  4. Joanne Shaw Taylor – “Hell Of A Good Time” 
  5. Ruthie Foster – “Milage” 

Listen to ‘da Friday Blues with Big Mo each week at 6pm, and catch the podcast for a behind the scenes look at the show!

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Culture Crawl 1044 “The Boys Took the Credit”

Kirkwood Community College presents “Silent Sky” by Lauren Gunderson, a five person play that explores the life of hearing impaired female astronomer Henrietta Leavitt as she defies odds in the early 1900s. In the studio to talk about the show are cast members Madeline O’Donnell (Henrietta Leavitt), Reuben Thomas (Margaret Leavitt), and Lyova Merkle (Peter Shaw). 

You can see the show in Kirkwood’s Ballantyne Auditorium Friday 3/28 at 7:30pm, Saturday 3/29 at 7:30pm and Sunday 3/30 at 2pm. 

Tickets and more info at kirkwood.edu/ballantyne. 

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.

 

 

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