Latest Posts – Page 79 – Jazz 88.3 KCCK

Big Mo Pod Show 067 – “Grab a Twelve Pack and be Somebody”

The pod show’s back again! This week’s episode features a selection of tracks from newer artists in the blues scene, but the discussion of each leads into a commentary about the very beginning of blues and rock & roll. Listen in to hear how that story unfolds! Songs featured in the episode:

Robert Randolph – “Sinner”
The Allman Betts Band – “King Crawler”
Ally Venable & Christone Kingfish Ingram – “Brown Liquor”
Kenny Brown – “Miss Maybelle”
Gary Clark Jr. – “Gotta Get Into Something”

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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New Music Monday for June 23, 2025

Listen to this week’s playlist on YouTube and Spotify
In the late 1990s, the great Cuban-American woodwind master Paquito D’Rivera was enjoying a quiet evening at his New Jersey home when car pulled up nearby. A handful of young musicians called out to him, explaining they were Cuban musicians living in Spain who wanted see where he lived. That was how D’Rivera met Pepe Rivero and the other Cubans, thus beginning a long and fruitful musical relationship. After nearly two decades of inspired collaborations, D’Rivera and the Spanish contingent have come together to form the Madrid-New York Connection Band and record their first album together, “La Fleur de Cayenne.”

The infectious spirit of Brazilian music in all its forms is impossible to deny. Musicians from around the world succumb to the elements of samba, forro and bossa nova. For Brazilian musicians, the essence of these sounds and rhythms is tied up in all the music they create. The new collective ensemble Unity Quartet, featuring Helio Alves, Guilherme Monteiro, Gili Lopes and Alex Kautz, weave their Brazilian influences into a forward-thinking version of jazz, as can be heard on their new recording, “Samba of Sorts.” The members all hail from different parts of Brazil but have made New York their home, meeting and playing with one another in various projects.

Also this week, two of the most highly respected figures in the world of jazz—Dee Dee Bridgewater and Bill Charlap—document their critically-acclaimed, sold-out live concerts on their first collaborative album, “Elemental”; pianist Steve Holt’s latest album with his Jazz Impact Quintet, “Impact,” is a celebration of fresh, original compositions crafted over more than a year; and “The Best of Berlin” is an inspired presentation of Irving Berlin songs re-arranged and reinterpreted by the reed-playing brothers Peter & Will Anderson.

Culture Crawl 1086 “No One Will Be Tied To Railroad Tracks”

Robin Crow from Playtime Poppy Children’s Theatre is in the studio ahead of this year’s Summer Theatre Adventure, “Rascals Under The Big Top.” Kids aged 9-14 spend the week learning their roles at the new Eastern Iowa Arts Academy and put on a performance at the end of the week.

It’s Jun 23-27 with the performance on Jun 27 at 7 PM. Registration is closed but the performance is open and free to the public.

For more info visit playtimepoppy.org or their Facebook page at facebook.com/PlaytimePoppy.

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 6-18-25

“From the World of John Wick: Ballerina” (2025) and “Titus” (1999) with Hollis Monroe, Phil Brown and Ron Adkins.

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Culture Crawl 1085 “Musicians Don’t Want To Mess With All That”

Creighton Gaynor is in the studio ahead of the first concert in the One World Music Series put on by his organization, Natural Talent Music. Playing this show is Irish band Blame Not the Bard and Mediterranean fusion band KERAK. The show is Fri Jun 27, 7:30 PM at The James Theater in Iowa City.

Tickets and more info at thejamesic.com.

Keep up with Natural Talent Music on socials:

Facebook: www.facebook.com/nattalmus/.

Instagram: @nattalmus

More info on Blame not the Bard at blamenotthebard.com.

More info on KERAK on their instagram: @kerakmusic

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Culture Crawl 1084 “Double Header”

The CR Municipal Band is headed into week three of their summer season and director Steve Shanley is back in the studio with the line up.

Wed Jun 18: McGrath Amphitheater with Iowa Brass starting at 7 PM and CRMB at 8 PM.

Sun Jun 22: Bever Park with Iowa Brass starting at 7 PM and CRMB at 8 PM.

More Muni Band info at crmuniband.org.

Facebook Livestreams at facebook.com/CRMuniBand/.

To find out more about Iowa Brass visit iowabrass.com.

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Culture Crawl 1083 “Sister Rosetta Tharp Is My Queen”

Guitarist Molly Miller joins us today ahead of upcoming gig at The Ideal Theater & Bar in Cedar Rapids with her trio (Andre de Santanna on bass and Tamir Barzilay on drums). It’s June 19 (Juneteenth!) starting at 7:30 PM with local musician Nassor Cooper opening.

To purchase tickets visit idealtheaterandbar.com.

For more info about Molly Miller you can visit mollymillermusic.com.

For more info about Nassor Cooper you can visit their Facebook page at facebook.com/p/Nassor-Cooper-Music-100063474670825/.

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This Week’s Shows June 16 thru June 22

Jazz Corner of the World (Encore) (June 2)

Mondays at 6:00pm

Chick Corea In the 60s

Craig commemorates the birth date anniversary of jazz legend Armando Anthony “Chick” Corea by spinning fine examples of Chick’s early work with Mongo Santamaria, Herbie Mann, Dave Pike, Blue Mitchell, Miles Davis, Bobby Hutcherson, and a host of others. n noting Chick’s birth date anniversary, Craig will spin fine examples of Chick’s early work with the likes of Mongo Santamaria, Herbie Mann, Dave Pike, Blue Mitchell, Miles Davis, Bobby Hutcherson, and a host of others.

Wednesday Night Special

Wednesdays at 6:00pm

Jackson Churchill, the MJ Group on the Side Stage

Our listen back to last year’s incredible side stage performances at the Iowa City Jazz Festival continues with trombonist Jackson Churchill & Good Question, along with the MJ Group, featuring Marvin Truong and Jerome Gillespie II.

Jazz Night In America

Thursdays at 11:00pm

Father’s Day Special

We’re celebrating the dads in the jazz world – from musicians raising musical kids to fathers who inspired a love of music at home. Hear touching stories and great performances from Chick Corea, Bobby and Madison McFerrin, Cory Wong, Catherine Russell, Benny Green, and more in this special Father’s Day episode.

Jazz Corner of the World

Saturdays from 12:00 noon to 4:00pm

Birthday Salute to Eric Dolphy

Although multi-reed instrumentalist Eric Dolphy’s career was relatively short, only spanning late 1958 to mid-1964, he left behind a rich cornucopia of essential, cutting edge jazz. Craig samples Eric’s brilliant career with material from Dolphy’s own recordings, as well as his time performing with John Coltrane, Chico Hamilton, Charles Mingus, Andrew Hill, George Russell, and many others.

KCCK’s Midnight CD

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

First Impressions by Marcello Carelli on Monday; Talk to Me About Mulgrew by John Clayton & Mulgrew Miller on Tuesday; Snap Happy by Greg Murphy on Wednesday; Pivot Point by Behn Gillece on Thursday; Soul in Blue by Tad Robinson on Friday; Live at Space by Dave Specter on Saturday; The Book of Isaiah: Modern Jazz History by Isaiah J. Thompson on Sunday.