“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.
Jazz 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 World
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:
- Albert Collins – “Don’t Lose Your Cool”
- Eden Brent – “Getaway Blues”
- Tedeschi Trucks Band – “Keep On Growing”
- Joanne Shaw Taylor – “Hell Of A Good Time”
- 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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New Music Monday for March 24, 2025
Listen to this week’s playlist on YouTube and Spotify
Step into a world of extraordinary talent and unrivaled creativity with Steve Allee’s latest endeavor, “Naptown Sound.” Celebrating the rich musical heritage of Indianapolis, or Naptown as locals affectionately call it, the disc pays tribute to legendary Indy musicians such as Wes Montgomery, Freddie Hubbard, J.J. Johnson, Slide Hampton and more. An Indianapolis native himself, Allee has been meticulously crafting new compositions for his big band, drawing inspiration from the hometown heroes who shaped the city’s musical landscape.
Vocalist Mafalda Minnozzi is a touring artist with three home bases. She performs in New York City and returns regularly to her native Italy, where she performs in some of the country’s leading jazz festivals. Mafalda is a longtime resident of Brazil, where she has a long career collaborating with the likes of Milton Nascimento and Joao Bosco, and has also recorded with stalwarts Helio Alves, Don Byron, Dave Liebman, and John Patitucci. Her new release, “Riofonic,” is her homage to the music, the band, and the people of Rio for all they have given her over the years.
Also this week, Bay Area guitarist Mason Razavi breathes new life into the classic organ combo tradition, incorporating subtle, modern elements to the genre on “Even Keel”; the Bigger Badder Bones featuring Andre Hayward perform a variety of styles including funk, swing, samba, and light rock on their second release, “Sliders”; and multi-reedist John Ellis returns to original compositions with his new album, “Heroes,” inspired by mentors, legendary figures, friends and family.
Talking Pictures 3-19-25
“Novocaine” (2025) and “Lamborghini: The Man Behind the Legend” (2022) with Hollis Monroe, Phil Brown and Scott Chrisman.
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Culture Crawl 1042 “The Frog Has a Lot of Tritones”
Cedar Rapids Opera is gearing up for “Song of the Nightingale,” a contemporary opera by Lisa Despain and Melisa Tien. Here to tell us more about it is Zara Zemmels (Collector), Sophia Formella (Nightingale) & Simon Brea (Curator). This family friendly, short (by opera standards) production will be at Kirkwood’s Ballantyne Auditorium March 22 at 7:30pm and Coralville Center for the Performing Arts March 23 at 2pm.
For tickets and more info visit cropera.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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