2024 Guest Djs – Solon

Meg Düster and Jameson Grimm from the Solon High School Jazz Orchestra joined us to talk about playing in “Mr. C’s” (Desmond Cervantez, Solon band director) mariachi band, how all the microphones in the Corridor Jazz recording studio are kind of intimidating, and working with this year’s guest artists, bassist Drew Morton.

Meg and Jameson’s playlist:

  • The Manhattan Jazz Quintet – ‘Round Midnight
  • Ella Fitzgerald, Paul Smith, Keter Betts & Bobby Durham – Willow Weep for Me
  • Wes Montgomery Trio – Moanin’
  • Duke Ellington and His Famous Orchestra – Ko-Ko
  • Wes Montgomery – Body and Soul
  • Ella Fitzgerald – Summertime
  • Solon High School Jazz Orchestra featuring Drew Morton – Come On, Come Over

News Digest 4-25-24

President Biden approves $95-billion in military aid for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan…planting season is underway in Iowa except in one area where rainfall has been unpredictable.

New Music Monday for April 29, 2024

    Listen to this week’s playlist on YouTube and Spotify
Nicole Glover
has been getting some well-deserved exposure recently in the context of groups like the Artemis sextet and the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra. But this tenor saxophonist is best appreciated on her own albums, where she fronts a saxophone-bass-drums trio. While not a common jazz format, this instrumentation has sired some classic recordings, beginning with a 1945 recording by Don Byas and Slam Stewart, through classics by Sonny Rollins, Joe Henderson and Ornette Coleman, to contemporary trios led by Branford Marsalis and JD Allen. Glover’s own trio on her new disc, “Plays,” features the rich, full-toned bass of Tyrone Allen and the sensitive, yet propulsive drumming of Kayvon Gordon. A special guest on the recording is vibes master Steve Nelson, who appears on four of the tracks.

The Shona word “Ngayibatanei” translates to a call for unity and kinship, emphasizing the interconnectedness of people—a very appropriate sentiment guiding the second album by Idit Shner & Mhondoro. The melding of traditional Zimbabwean music, American jazz, and an unescapable dose of the Pacific Northwest, the disc celebrates the sounds of its diverse roots with tart melodies sailing amongst inspired grooves, creating surprising moments throughout. Along with Ms. Shner, the Israeli saxophonist, Mhondoro is Zimbabwean vocalist & percussionist John Mambira, and the Oregon-bred rhythm section of pianist Torrey Newhart, bassist Garrett Baxter and drummer Ken Mastrogiovanni, who discovered their collective sound during the long days of the pandemic.

                                                           

Also this week, saxophonist and composer Chris Potter features a modern day supergroup including pianist Brad Mehldau, bassist John Patitucci and drummer Brian Blade on the new record “Eagle’s Point”; saxophonist and composer Melissa Aldana’s second Blue Note album, “Echoes of the Inner Prophet,” is a musical voyage to explore the depth of the spiritual journey; and Columbus, Ohio-based organist Tony Monaco demonstrates that he is still a stone-cold cooker on “Over and Over.”

 

Talking Pictures 4-24-24

Late Night with the Devil (2023) and Mr. Bates vs The Post Office (PBS Masterpiece 2024) with Hollis Monroe, Phil Brown and Ron Adkins.

News Digest 4-24-24

A tabloid publisher testifies how he was the “eyes and ears” for the Trump 2016 campaign…Gov. Reynolds’ “Thrive Iowa” program was among her proposals that made it through the 2024 legislature.

2024 Guest Djs-West Branch

Nina Torkelson, Kellen Dykstra, and Olivia Naber from the West Branch Jazz Ensemble join us for a fun show that included not only some great music, but a longer discussion of how Roller Derby is scored than you might expect on KCCK.

Nina, Kellen, and Olivia’s playlist:

  • Count Basie – Splanky
  • John Pizzarelli – Zoot Walked In/Morning Fun
  • Kashmere Stage Band – Kashmere
  • Arturo Sandoval – Closely Dancing
  • BYO Brass – Accidentally Agogic
  • Snarky Puppy – Tio Macaco
  • West Branch High School Jazz Ensemble featuring Ryan Middleton – True North
 
 
 
 
 
 

News Digest 4-23-24

Testimony will continue today in Donald Trump’s hush-money trial…Trees Forever launches the public phase of a fundraising effort to replace trees lost to the derecho in Cedar Rapids.

Corridor Jazz Project XVII Air Times

The 2024 edition of The Corridor Jazz Project album is out now, available as a download or CD in the KCCK Store. It’s also KCCK’s Featured Album for April Jazz Appreciation Month.

We’ll play tracks featuring each of the twenty bands throughout the next several weeks. Below are some approximate airtimes for each school’s tune. Most airings will be around :30 past the hour.

We will schedule the songs a few days ahead each week, so check back often to see when your favorite group will be featured!

Week of April 22

Monday 4/22

  • CR Washington 6am
  • Lisbon 10am
  • Independence 3pm

Tuesday 4/23

  • IC West 7am
  • Solon 1pm
  • Mt. Vernon 2pm

 

Wednesday 4/24

  • Kennedy  8am
  • Marion 11am
  • Prairie  4pm

 

Thursday 25

  • City High  9am
  • Anamosa 1pm
  • Linn-Mar  3pm
  • Williamsburg  8pm

 

Friday 4/26

  • Liberty  6am
  • City High  11am
  • West High 4pm

 

Sunday 4/28

  • Xavier 6pm

 

Week of April 15:

Monday 4/15

  • Mt. Vernon  9am
  • Marion  10am
  • Prairie  3pm

 

Tuesday 4/16

  • Xavier  7am
  • Clear Creek Amana 11am
  • Anamosa  2pm

 

Wednesday 4/17

CPU  8am

  • Independence 1pm
  • Linn-Mar 4pm
  • Week of April 8:

 

Thursday 18

  • Jefferson  6am
  • Liberty 11am
  • West Branch 3pm
  • IC West 8pm

 

Friday 19

  • Mid-Prairie  9am
  • Williamsburg  1pm
  • Lisbon  4pm

 

Sunday 21

  • Clear Creek-Amana  7pm

 

 

Friday 4/12

  • City High 7am
  • Xavier  11am
  • Kennedy  4pm

 

Sunday 4/14

  • Center Point Urbana  5pm