tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-69431120460236690852012-01-26T11:36:13.847-06:00Jazz 88.3http://www.blogger.com/profile/15416721245643527387noreply@blogger.comBlogger2071100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6943112046023669085.post-70404749516231217832012-01-23T15:54:00.002-06:002012-01-23T15:59:04.122-06:00

Whitney Jungjohann, a senior at Kennedy High School in Cedar Rapids, has been chosen as the winner of the Corridor Jazz Project CD Cover design. Jungjohann will receive a $100 cash prize from KCCK-FM and her design will adorn the cover of the “The Corridor Jazz Project V”, a compilation of recordings from the top jazz bands from Jefferson, Kennedy, Prairie, Xavier and Washington High Schools in

Dennis Greennoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6943112046023669085.post-31509499099573160832012-01-23T09:19:00.000-06:002012-01-23T09:21:27.227-06:00

Vocalist Catherine Russell is a native New Yorker born to musical royalty. Her father, the late Luis Russell, was a pioneering pianist/composer/bandleader and Louis Armstrong's long-time side-kick. Her mother, Carline Ray, is a bassist, guitarist and vocalist who performed with Mary Lou Williams, among others. After graduating with honors from the American Academy of Dramatic Arts, Catherine

Jazz 88.3http://www.blogger.com/profile/15416721245643527387noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6943112046023669085.post-16941687963915423222012-01-16T09:58:00.003-06:002012-01-16T10:41:53.616-06:00

"What comes through is Watts' essential lyricism. There are some players with Ernie Watts' total command of an instrument who focus more on showing their technical prowess than on creating music. They equate showers of notes with saying something.But Watts is always saying something-as musicians put it-through the mastery of his horn. Never in the least tentative, his authority comes through from

Jazz 88.3http://www.blogger.com/profile/15416721245643527387noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6943112046023669085.post-85630457412012257752012-01-09T09:16:00.000-06:002012-01-09T09:18:23.741-06:00

The contributions of pianist, composer, arranger and bandleader Bill Evans to the language and appreciation of jazz continue to have profound influence on musicians. Pianist Chick Corea leads Evans Trio alumni Eddie Gomez and the late Paul Motian on "Further Explorations", a live set recorded at the Blue Note in New York in 2010. For bassist Gomez and drummer Motian, the connection to Evans was

Jazz 88.3http://www.blogger.com/profile/15416721245643527387noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6943112046023669085.post-75115048911754369832012-01-02T08:36:00.000-06:002012-01-02T08:43:42.210-06:00

The bond between old friends gives life meaning. When the friends are improvising musicians sharing the stage, their common language cements a mutual trust that can ignite the bandstand. Music has been the glue binding the friendship of bassist Omer Avital, pianist Aaron Goldberg and drummer Ali Jackson for nearly 20 years. Though they have performed in many combinations and under the aegis of

Jazz 88.3http://www.blogger.com/profile/15416721245643527387noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6943112046023669085.post-7946692554291824292011-12-27T09:46:00.001-06:002011-12-27T09:48:32.380-06:00

With hundreds of performances worldwide, a shelf full of music awards, and praise from jazz legends like Phil Woods, Lee Konitz and Dave Brubeck, 18-year-old Grace Kelly has firmly established herself as a star on the rise in the jazz world. Her new release "Grace" marks a new direction for the accomplished saxophonist into the genre of gospel jazz.The journey to make a spiritually driven disc

Jazz 88.3http://www.blogger.com/profile/15416721245643527387noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6943112046023669085.post-54030157444066503952011-12-19T10:18:00.001-06:002011-12-19T10:20:05.510-06:00

Over the years, Chick Corea has been a pioneer in two-piano performance, partnering with Herbie Hancock, Gonzalo Rubalcaba and others in acclaimed concerts and recordings. "Orvieto" is the first release by the exciting duo of Corea and Stefano Bollani, a live set drawn from New Year performances at the Umbria Jazz Winter Festival. Chick and Stefano have been giving such concerts, mostly in the

Jazz 88.3http://www.blogger.com/profile/15416721245643527387noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6943112046023669085.post-88890000766486923982011-12-12T11:10:00.001-06:002011-12-12T11:14:05.062-06:00

The name Cinque will be unfamiliar, but its membership includes some genuine musical legends. Joey DeFrancesco is considered by many to be the greatest exponent of B3 organ playing in jazz, while Steve Gadd has long been the first call drummer for Chick Corea, Al DiMeola, David Sanborn and others. Bassist Peter Cardinali's lengthy resume includes the likes of Oscar Peterson, the Brecker Brothers

Jazz 88.3http://www.blogger.com/profile/15416721245643527387noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6943112046023669085.post-67809567570310468102011-12-05T12:11:00.002-06:002011-12-06T11:59:26.519-06:00

As a title, "So Nice" might imply a sleepy and quite possibly uninspired session calculated to avoid challenges. That notion is quickly dispelled by the sprightly and imaginative solo Houston Person takes on "Blues Everywhere" that kicks off this collection. Person, of course, is a master of understated elegance, a balladeer of the highest order. But he's equally capable of playing tough, soulful

Jazz 88.3http://www.blogger.com/profile/15416721245643527387noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6943112046023669085.post-11936828298914697302011-11-28T09:26:00.001-06:002011-11-28T09:29:54.095-06:00

Despite its time-honored traditions and universally familiar iconography, Christmas remains a holiday celebrated by each family and even each individual in their own personal style. Pianist/composer Geri Allen offers up her own interpretation with "A Child is Born" -- a new collection of traditional and original Christmas music that is profound and exuberant, spiritual and intimate. She refers to

Jazz 88.3http://www.blogger.com/profile/15416721245643527387noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6943112046023669085.post-19708831255084661342011-11-21T09:52:00.000-06:002011-11-21T09:53:59.435-06:00

For over a half a century, Etta James has been a musical force and a major hit-maker, earning numerous accolades including six Grammy Awards, among them the prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award, a Best Jazz Vocal Performance and two Hall of Fame Awards. She has crossed all musical genres and styles and has been cited as a major influence by a wide range of singers from Janis Joplin to Irma

Jazz 88.3http://www.blogger.com/profile/15416721245643527387noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6943112046023669085.post-52537922625815176532011-11-14T09:05:00.000-06:002011-11-14T09:06:47.315-06:00

Long before he became a world renowned jazz virtuoso, guitarist Pat Martino was a sideman in small combos that prominently featured the Hammond B-3 organ. He's never lost his affection for that particular group dynamic, nor his quiet flair for moving back and forth between the roles of supporting player and compelling soloist. On his new CD -- "Undeniable" -- recorded live at Blues Alley in

Jazz 88.3http://www.blogger.com/profile/15416721245643527387noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6943112046023669085.post-53020422454859034562011-11-07T09:28:00.000-06:002011-11-07T09:30:36.390-06:00

"The sound of the West Coast Jazz that enjoyed great popularity in the 1950s...has been kept alive by several groups through the years. One of the preferred formats was the mid-sized group or small big band that was typified by Shorty Rogers and his Giants, the Marty Paich Dek-tette and the Dave Pell Octet. One keeper of the flame for this style of jazz is the Phil Norman Tentet. Their sixth

Jazz 88.3http://www.blogger.com/profile/15416721245643527387noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6943112046023669085.post-57361816676988330142011-10-31T08:38:00.001-06:002011-10-31T08:41:08.341-06:00

Since their explosive touring days as the Jean-Michel Pilc Trio, Pilc, Francois Moutin and Ari Hoenig have grown considerably in stature both as leaders and sidemen. Pilc moved to New York City in 1994, continuing his steady rise as a major pianist on the European and Canadian circuits while also gaining a reputation in the U.S. as one of the most exciting and unpredictable pianist/composers in

Jazz 88.3http://www.blogger.com/profile/15416721245643527387noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6943112046023669085.post-55141930321047676852011-10-24T08:17:00.000-06:002011-10-24T08:18:29.486-06:00

One of jazz's most acclaimed, distinctive improvisers, virtuoso saxophonist James Carter, returns to a favored format and simpatico colleagues with "At the Crossroads" -- his third release showcasing his long-standing Organ Trio. Enjoying consistently inspired play with fellow Motor City stars organist Gerard Gibbs and drummer Leonard King, Jr., Carter gets down in his inimitable way on a program

Jazz 88.3http://www.blogger.com/profile/15416721245643527387noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6943112046023669085.post-57580919072167117522011-10-17T07:34:00.001-06:002011-10-17T07:36:58.147-06:00

The songs sung by 2011 Grammy-nominee Freddy Cole speak of love and life in a voice that is as comforting as it is familiar. His is a well-seasoned sound which, while bearing a strong familial resemblance to his late brother Nat King Cole, is unmistakably all his own. It's steeped in the earthiness of the blues, yet possesses a silky sound as suave as the debonair man himself. On "Talk to Me"

Jazz 88.3http://www.blogger.com/profile/15416721245643527387noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6943112046023669085.post-59011266436740413652011-10-12T10:25:00.006-06:002011-10-12T10:36:36.039-06:00

It was about this time of year in 1994 that we lost Bill Bell. The KCCK personality was stricken during a meeting at the station and died a short time later at Mercy Medical Center at the age of 61. Bill had come to KCCK in 1984 and became known for his unique personality and short commentaries that he delivered during his jazz show. Before coming to Iowa, he had worked at top radio stations in

Jazz 88.3http://www.blogger.com/profile/15416721245643527387noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6943112046023669085.post-29241611413883461182011-10-10T07:38:00.001-06:002011-10-10T07:41:58.072-06:00

In a career that spans five decades, more than 30 recordings as a leader and 10 Grammy Awards, NEA Jazz Master George Benson has used his jazz roots as the foundation for an engaging mix of pop, R&B and other shades that add up to a style that appeals to a broad mainstream audience. Along the way, he has also established himself as a formidable jazz singer. But his new CD -- "Guitar Man" --

Jazz 88.3http://www.blogger.com/profile/15416721245643527387noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6943112046023669085.post-66385549048173372732011-10-03T09:53:00.002-06:002011-10-03T09:56:42.027-06:00

For more than three decades as both a leader and a sideman, conguero Pancho Sanchez has stirred up a fiery stew of jazz, gritty soul music, and infectious melodies and rhythms from a variety of Latin American and South American sources. Among the more prominent figures that inform his music are two of the primary architects of Latin jazz-conga drummer and composer Chano Pozo and trumpeter Dizzy

Jazz 88.3http://www.blogger.com/profile/15416721245643527387noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6943112046023669085.post-69566367786917843922011-09-26T07:16:00.001-06:002011-09-26T07:26:03.716-06:00

A bona fide guitar hero and masterful improviser, John Scofield has covered a wide spectrum of musical styles with rare authority over the last four decades. From funk and fusion to swinging standards, rock-fueled jams, lush orchestral collaborations, earthy blues and old-time gospel music, Scofield has imbued each style with his distinctive six-string voice, earning accolades for his triumphs

Jazz 88.3http://www.blogger.com/profile/15416721245643527387noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6943112046023669085.post-45262330705389064492011-09-19T08:58:00.001-06:002011-09-19T09:00:19.607-06:00

Drummer Roger Humphries has been on the jazz scene since 1962 when he joined Stanley Turrentine and Shirley Scott in Pittsburgh, then joined Horace Silver's quintet two years later and appeared on three of the pianist's classic recordings. Since then, he has provided the rhythmic beat for such greats as Ray Charles, Herbie Mann, Phil Woods, James Moody and Lee Morgan. "Keep the Faith" is the

Jazz 88.3http://www.blogger.com/profile/15416721245643527387noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6943112046023669085.post-77393344926397685642011-09-12T07:30:00.000-06:002011-09-12T07:32:19.970-06:00

A collaboration that has spanned 18 years, the Tierney Sutton Band has garnered considerable critical praise throughout the world. The acclaimed vocalist is joined by instrumental virtuosi Christian Jacob, Trey Henry, Kevin Axt and Ray Brinker to form a partnership in musical unity. Together they have received three consecutive Grammy nominations, and received numerous nominations from the Jazz

Jazz 88.3http://www.blogger.com/profile/15416721245643527387noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6943112046023669085.post-71792585553670320032011-09-08T05:42:00.002-06:002011-09-08T05:44:48.377-06:00

When the news broke of the the first plane crashing into one of the World Trade Center towers in New York Sept. 11, 2001, we at KCCK were just finishing up our 6-9 a.m. news and entertainment block.Because it was apparent that big news was happening, we did twice-an-our updates on the situation throughout the rest of the day. Late that afternnon, we did an extended summary of the day's events

Jazz 88.3http://www.blogger.com/profile/15416721245643527387noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6943112046023669085.post-21802996795408217262011-09-05T10:01:00.002-06:002011-09-05T10:04:17.687-06:00

The work of trumpeter Claudio Roditi has inspired such accolades as "one of the very best performers in jazz" from the All Music Guide, earned praise from the Los Angeles Time for his "intelligence and music focus," and led the Chicago Reader to comment that Roditi has "a New York grasp of swing, the Brazilian gift for graceful and pungent lyricism, and an innate sense of how best to combine them

Jazz 88.3http://www.blogger.com/profile/15416721245643527387noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6943112046023669085.post-19071639953589338882011-08-29T08:51:00.001-06:002011-08-29T08:53:05.062-06:00

Throughout his illustrious career, the legendary Ron Carter has played it all-jumping in headlong as an integral member of Miles Davis' classic '60s quintet, anchoring the groove for almost every CTI Records session in the '70s, then launching into multifarious new projects, including his cello-infused, chamber jazz nonet and his piano-guitar-bass trio. But in his lifelong calling to find the

Jazz 88.3http://www.blogger.com/profile/15416721245643527387noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6943112046023669085.post-36426969074619358712011-08-22T08:28:00.000-06:002011-08-22T08:29:43.249-06:00

Gil Scott-Heron, who died in May, was an American poet, musician, and author known primarily for his work as a spoken word performer. He made music that reflected the turbulence, uncertainty and increasing pessimism of the early '70s, merging soul and jazz and drawing on an oral poetry tradition that reached back to the blues and forward to hip-hop. Giacomo Gates is an extraordinary vocal stylist

Jazz 88.3http://www.blogger.com/profile/15416721245643527387noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6943112046023669085.post-7322386278959783952011-08-15T08:17:00.000-06:002011-08-15T08:18:29.635-06:00

Gerald Veasley, the former bassist for Grover Washington, Jr. and the Joe Zawinul Syndicate, has released eight discs as a leader featuring original jazz, funk, and soul-tinged compositions. For his brand new CD -- "Gerald Veasley's Electric Mingus Project" -- he has re-imagined the works of acclaimed jazz composer and fellow bassist Charles Mingus. "We reacted to what was essential about Charles

Jazz 88.3http://www.blogger.com/profile/15416721245643527387noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6943112046023669085.post-35872962571771699052011-08-08T08:12:00.001-06:002011-08-08T08:13:59.388-06:00

Dave Valentin enjoys a fine reputation as a composer, arranger, and band leader in addition to being the most celebrated Latin flutist today. After studying with the great Hubert Laws, the multi-Grammy nominee developed the unusual techniques that feature slapping the keys of his instrument so it sounds like a percussion instrument, and singing into the flute while playing, generating harmonies

Jazz 88.3http://www.blogger.com/profile/15416721245643527387noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6943112046023669085.post-79061649825506506022011-08-01T08:17:00.001-06:002011-08-01T08:19:49.457-06:00

Legendary trombonist Roswell Rudd has reached yet another milestone in his celebrated and remarkably varied career, his 75th birthday. Through the years, Rudd has shown an affinity for music and musicians from all over the world with a love for collaboration. He's played with luminaries Cecil Taylor, Archie Shepp and Steve Lacy. He's recorded with musicians from Mali, Mongolia, and Latin masters

Jazz 88.3http://www.blogger.com/profile/15416721245643527387noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6943112046023669085.post-2988515596918433642011-07-25T08:20:00.000-06:002011-07-25T08:21:58.711-06:00

For many years, Jay Ashby and Steve Davis sat side by side in both the Dizzy Gillespie All-Star Big Band and Slide Hampton's World of Trombones, and no matter where they were, the two were constantly mistaken for one another. Chalk it up to an uncanny physical resemblance or their common roots in upstate New York, their shared musical influences, the fact that they both play large horns, or a

Jazz 88.3http://www.blogger.com/profile/15416721245643527387noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6943112046023669085.post-3625571549039676682011-07-18T08:11:00.000-06:002011-07-18T08:13:02.991-06:00

Grammy-winner and multiple nominee Phil Woods is one of the top alto saxophonists alive, and he has lost neither his enthusiasm nor his creativity throughout his illustrious career. He's worked with a who's who of the jazz world, including Thelonious Monk, Dizzy Gillespie and Quincy Jones. Pianist Bill Mays has his own long-standing trio, plus he's worked with such artists as Gerry Mulligan,

Jazz 88.3http://www.blogger.com/profile/15416721245643527387noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6943112046023669085.post-51011980118920868712011-07-11T08:11:00.002-06:002011-07-11T08:14:37.189-06:00

A 2010 Downbeat Magazine Critic's Poll Rising Star, pianist and composer Gerald Clayton has been steadily honing his craft since high school. With the release of his Grammy-nominated debut CD in 2009, Clayton began to make his mark as a leader in the jazz community. His dynamic sound has been praised by publications such as Jazz Times, the Los Angeles Times and the New York Times. His second disc

Jazz 88.3http://www.blogger.com/profile/15416721245643527387noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6943112046023669085.post-83315485663407359252011-07-04T12:50:00.002-06:002011-07-04T12:54:26.159-06:00

Gerald Wilson, the reigning composer/orchestrator in jazz today, pays homage to his adopted hometown of Chicago on his new CD-- "Legacy" -- featuring his "Yes Chicago Is..." suite. Composers Igor Stravinsky and Giacomo Puccini also receive Wilson's musical tips of the hat. Wilson's son, guitarist Anthony Wilson, and grandson Eric Otis are also represented by a composition/arrangement apiece.

Jazz 88.3http://www.blogger.com/profile/15416721245643527387noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6943112046023669085.post-60423517369411755962011-06-27T07:33:00.000-06:002011-06-27T07:34:34.811-06:00

Following his Grammy-winning 2001 solo acoustic record, Pat Metheny began regularly playing the specially tuned baritone guitar he used on that album in the breaks between sound check and the show when he was on the road. "Almost every day as I worked through one well-know tune or another, various visitors or local crew people would come up to me and ask which record it was on, and I would have

Jazz 88.3http://www.blogger.com/profile/15416721245643527387noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6943112046023669085.post-49246246678071029572011-06-20T08:17:00.000-06:002011-06-20T08:19:07.229-06:00

Vibraphonist Stefon Harris, saxophonist David Sanchez and trumpeter Christian Scott bridge the cultural and musical divide between the United States and Cuba with their brand new collaboration, "Ninety Miles." Recorded entirely in Havana, with the help of some highly talented Cuban players, the nine-song set is an experiment that examines the fascinating chemical reaction that takes places when

Jazz 88.3http://www.blogger.com/profile/15416721245643527387noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6943112046023669085.post-73711339574133358312011-06-13T10:08:00.000-06:002011-06-13T10:17:10.196-06:00

Well known throughout his five-decade career for his quartets, beginning with his 1967 group featuring Larry Coryell, Roy Haynes and Steve Swallow, Gary Burton has returned to that configuration for the first time since the mid-'90s with the new disc, "Common Ground." The Grammy-winning pioneer of the four mallet technique of playing the vibes is not only delivering his first studio release in

Jazz 88.3http://www.blogger.com/profile/15416721245643527387noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6943112046023669085.post-14945118908190293792011-06-06T09:43:00.001-06:002011-06-06T09:46:36.608-06:00

Pianist Chick Corea, bassist Stanley Clarke and drummer Lenny White have done more in recent decades to redefine jazz-rock fusion and push the limits of its potential than any other musicians today. Together they formed the core of the classic lineup of Return to Forever, the legendary seminal electric jazz fusion band. After reclaiming the jazz-rock world in 2008 with the triumphant return of

Jazz 88.3http://www.blogger.com/profile/15416721245643527387noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6943112046023669085.post-23053067195344189482011-05-30T17:43:00.003-06:002011-05-30T17:47:15.080-06:00

Groundbreaking banjoist/composer/bandleader Bela Fleck has reconvened the original members of his band The Flecktones for a brand new disc -- "Rocket Science" -- marking the first recording by the initial line-up of the group in almost two decades. Pianist and harmonica player Howard Levy is back in the fold alongside Fleck, bassist Victor Wooten and percussionist Futureman. All manner of genres

Jazz 88.3http://www.blogger.com/profile/15416721245643527387noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6943112046023669085.post-43069992464876205042011-05-29T21:12:00.002-06:002011-05-29T21:16:37.354-06:00

With the arrival of Memorial Day 2011, some KCCK staffers' relatives, who are no longer with us, are being remembered for their service during war-time.George Dorman's father, Jack Dorman, was in the U.S. Army for nearly four years during World War II. Most of that time was spent in northern Africa, where he was a crytopgrapher, encoding and decoding secret messages.Bob Stewart's dad, Allan,

Jazz 88.3http://www.blogger.com/profile/15416721245643527387noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6943112046023669085.post-59534666408881859682011-05-23T08:27:00.001-06:002011-05-23T08:29:31.882-06:00

In his colorful and wide-ranging career, Alphonse Mouzon has long been considered one of the most skilled and versatile drummers in the music business. He was a member of the original versions of Weather Report and Larry Coryell's Eleventh House, and worked with Gil Evans, McCoy Tyner, Herbie Hancock, Miles Davis and Jean-Luc Ponty. He's led a couple dozen of his own recording sessions ranging

Jazz 88.3http://www.blogger.com/profile/15416721245643527387noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6943112046023669085.post-77401035074702725342011-05-16T08:30:00.001-06:002011-05-16T08:32:05.195-06:00

If you've spent any time at all in a movie theater or in front of a TV set during prime time over the past four decades, chances are good you've encountered Dave Grusin along the way. In addition to a formidable body of work as a jazz recording artist, the pianist, composer, arranger, and winner of 10 Grammys and an Oscar has scored some of the most entertaining and enduring films and TV series

Jazz 88.3http://www.blogger.com/profile/15416721245643527387noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6943112046023669085.post-28705158957382627102011-05-09T08:52:00.001-06:002011-05-09T08:55:09.349-06:00

"James Farm" is a collaborative band featuring saxophonist Joshua Redman, bassist Matt Penman, drummer Eric Harland and keyboardist Aaron Parks. The band uses traditional acoustic jazz quartet instrumentation for its song-based approach to jazz and incorporates the members' myriad influences: rock, soul, folk, classical and electronica, among many others. The quartet has received critical acclaim

Jazz 88.3http://www.blogger.com/profile/15416721245643527387noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6943112046023669085.post-53168395667221782732011-05-02T10:00:00.002-06:002011-07-07T07:57:26.836-06:00

The 2011 edition of the Corridor’s longest-running jazz series will include one of the most talked-about young jazz performers in the country, the legendary Blue Band, and more in four exciting August concerts.For the 24th consecutive year, we're proud to present Jazz Under The Stars in Cedar Rapids Noelridge Park.Here's the lineup:•August 4 – Ariel Pocock•August 11 – Funk Daddies•August 18 –

Dennis Greennoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6943112046023669085.post-80200220623632180022011-05-02T08:34:00.001-06:002011-05-02T08:37:55.424-06:00

For ten years, saxophonist, pianist and Grammy-winning composer/arranger Gordon Goodwin has been driving a train that won't stop. He first assembled his Big Phat Band in 2000-an ironic starting point for an 18-piece big band, given that the fleeting neo-swing craze of the late '90s was just winding down. In the decade since their ambitious beginnings, the Big Phat Band has burned up stages and

Jazz 88.3http://www.blogger.com/profile/15416721245643527387noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6943112046023669085.post-23566547662893124742011-04-29T07:52:00.001-06:002011-05-04T13:05:06.364-06:00

This Thursday and Friday, Iowa's Jazz Station takes you to the French Quarter with two afternoons of live broadcasts from the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival.We're partnering with WWOZ-FM, to bring a little New Orleans to Iowa with performances from a variety of great jazz and blues players.It'll be like having a spot right in front of the speaker. And best of all, no standing in line for

Dennis Greennoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6943112046023669085.post-58884565906763820962011-04-25T09:20:00.001-06:002011-04-25T09:22:00.342-06:00

For guitarist Steve Khan, his new release -- "Parting Shot" -- marks the first time since 1994 that he has reunited his band Eyewitness, with Anthony Jackson on bass, Dennis Chambers on drums, and Manolo Badrena on percussion. This time there is something different, though. They now combine the looseness of their improvisations while adhering to the tenets of Latin music and the clave. To achieve

Jazz 88.3http://www.blogger.com/profile/15416721245643527387noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6943112046023669085.post-70317536010548792372011-04-18T08:48:00.002-06:002011-04-18T08:52:24.666-06:00

Billy Strayhorn is widely considered to be one of the great composers of our time, and his three-decade-long collaboration with Duke Ellington furnished the American songbook with a number of timeless classics. Trumpeter Terell Stafford's sense of melody and uniquely expressive sound make him ideal for Strayhorn's repertoire. His new CD -- "This Side of Strayhorn" -- offers unique and refreshing

Jazz 88.3http://www.blogger.com/profile/15416721245643527387noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6943112046023669085.post-89358935319542154302011-04-11T08:48:00.001-06:002011-04-11T08:50:17.013-06:00

Given the rousing artistic and commercial success of the first recorded collaboration of legendary troubadour Willie Nelson and jazz statesman Wynton Marsalis in 2008, it's not surprising that the pair would rendezvous again. The first meeting took place in the Allen Room of New York's Jazz at Lincoln Center in 2007. Their encore appearance was also staged at the heralded jazz house, this time

Jazz 88.3http://www.blogger.com/profile/15416721245643527387noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6943112046023669085.post-71315972976689745812011-04-11T07:29:00.002-06:002011-04-11T07:32:34.584-06:00

The following is a guest opinion run in the Iowa City Press-Citizen on April 11, 2011. Read it on their site.Much of the dialogue regarding proposals in the U.S. Congress to reduce or restrict funding for public broadcasting has focused on the impact those cuts will have on news and information stations such as Iowa Public Radio that carry National Public Radio programming.While many public

Dennis Greennoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6943112046023669085.post-15111885521073957532011-04-04T08:36:00.001-06:002011-04-04T08:38:45.492-06:00

Following the much ballyhooed "Return to Forever" reunion tour of 2008, guitarist Al Di Meola began refocusing his energies on his World Sinfonia band with a concert tour in 2009 and a live disc documenting the shows. Di Meola's rhythmically-charged flamenco and tango inspired originals revealed his knack for advanced harmonies along with his embracing of simple, beautiful, alluring melodies. And

Jazz 88.3http://www.blogger.com/profile/15416721245643527387noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6943112046023669085.post-68399334125810956832011-03-28T08:06:00.001-06:002011-03-28T08:08:50.825-06:00

In Hal Leonard's 2005 book -- "The Greatest Jazz Pianists of All Time" -- Monty Alexander placed in the top five of all time. In his homeland of Jamaica, he received the highest honor bestowed on an artist, Commander in the Order of Distinction. He has spent the majority of his career traveling the globe playing the great concert halls. The master pianist is at the pinnacle of his illustrious

Jazz 88.3http://www.blogger.com/profile/15416721245643527387noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6943112046023669085.post-43927793792505916802011-03-21T08:59:00.001-06:002011-03-21T09:02:18.346-06:00

Pianist and composer Lynne Arriale has been sharing her prolific body of audio and video work all over the world since winning the 1993 Great American Piano Competition. Collaborations with Benny Golson Kenny Barron, George Mraz and Randy Brecker speak to her considerable skill and stature within the jazz community. She's also performed to packed houses at prestigious venues and jazz festivals

Jazz 88.3http://www.blogger.com/profile/15416721245643527387noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6943112046023669085.post-42455292818364950502011-03-14T08:20:00.001-06:002011-03-14T08:22:13.244-06:00

Many things have changed since the founding of pianist/composer Abdullah Ibrahim's Ekaya. Starting in 1983, this mid-sized jazz ensemble, whose name means "home", presented Ibrahim's most powerful musical statements during an important time of protest against apartheid in his native South Africa. His new CD -- "Sotho Blue" -- shows a new side of the band as compositions of the past that had been

Jazz 88.3http://www.blogger.com/profile/15416721245643527387noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6943112046023669085.post-65803493621553702022011-02-28T08:14:00.001-06:002011-02-28T08:16:19.534-06:00

The Los Angeles Times says, "(Brad)Mehldau's technical mastery can be enough to make your head spin, but the feeling is invigorating". The Financial Times gives four stars to the "enthralling album", as does The Daily Telegraph. And The Huffington Post says "what he is able to say musically as a soloist within the context of each song combined with his improvisations is simply masterful." They're

Jazz 88.3http://www.blogger.com/profile/15416721245643527387noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6943112046023669085.post-83177128415828936662011-02-21T09:19:00.001-06:002011-02-21T09:21:14.744-06:00

From the outset, it was inevitable that two of the major creative forces of the 20th century would find a productive way to overlap and inspire each other. Jazz-with its boundless appetite for new sounds and original melodies-and Disney, that bottomless font of images, words and songs, churning out fresh musical gems with uncanny consistency over the years. That Disney came of age at the end of

Jazz 88.3http://www.blogger.com/profile/15416721245643527387noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6943112046023669085.post-58822291529625759062011-02-14T08:43:00.002-06:002011-02-14T09:10:15.032-06:00

The New York Times is one of numerous publications to declare Kurt Elling as the "standout male vocalist of our time"...and the Washington Post says, "Since the mid-1990s, no singer in jazz has been as daring, dynamic or interesting as Kurt Elling." The legendary producer Don Was had expressed the desire to work with Elling, an opportunity which the singer found irresistible. The resulting

Jazz 88.3http://www.blogger.com/profile/15416721245643527387noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6943112046023669085.post-66278964448672245052011-02-07T08:43:00.002-06:002011-02-07T08:54:03.535-06:00

Honest-to-goodness, real-life jazz singing is almost as rare these days as a nickel cup of coffee. There are far too few remaining practitioners of the honorable art of singing good songs with the lift, the swing and the subtle blending of music and emotion that characterizes the work of the best jazz improvisers. Jazz legend Ernestine Anderson is one of those rare beings. On her new release -- "

Jazz 88.3http://www.blogger.com/profile/15416721245643527387noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6943112046023669085.post-22307285922676369482011-01-31T09:17:00.001-06:002011-01-31T09:19:32.666-06:00

With more than a half-century of experience in the jazz world, it would be safe to consider Phil Woods not only one of the music's living legends but a true aficionado of his fellow instrumentalists. So it speaks volumes that the first time he shared the stage with a then-14-year-old Grace Kelly, he was moved to remove his iconic leather cap and place it on her head-the first time he'd ever made

Jazz 88.3http://www.blogger.com/profile/15416721245643527387noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6943112046023669085.post-77058117896037397862011-01-24T09:16:00.000-06:002011-01-24T09:17:08.774-06:00

U.K. saxophonist Jake Fryer joins the legendary alto saxophonist Bud Shank and Shank's outstanding rhythm section of pianist Mike Wofford, bassist Bob Magnusson and drummer Joe LaBarbera for a stellar be-bop session on the new CD, "In Good Company." This was, sadly, the final recording of Bud Shank as he passed away the day after it was recorded. Shank's playing on the disc, while not as sharp as

Jazz 88.3http://www.blogger.com/profile/15416721245643527387noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6943112046023669085.post-18284296841934235252011-01-10T08:44:00.002-06:002011-01-10T09:05:32.076-06:00

Although we've heard them play together on a track here and there on Papa John's albums over the years, the Brothers DeFrancesco had never before recorded an entire project together--until now. Keyboardist Joey and guitarist Johnny come together on the new disc, "DeFrancesco Brothers." While Joey has consistently been winning Downbeat Magazine Critics and Readers Polls since 2002 and playing with

Jazz 88.3http://www.blogger.com/profile/15416721245643527387noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6943112046023669085.post-61988857535660011852011-01-03T08:38:00.002-06:002011-01-03T08:42:58.347-06:00

Bob Sheppard has long been one of the top reed players based in Southern California. Among his most important associations was his eight year tenure with Freddie Hubbard, along with work in the bands of Chick Corea, Herbie Hancock, Michael Brecker and others. "Close Your Eyes", just his fourth release as a leader, gives Sheppard an opportunity to present his own music with some of his favorite

Jazz 88.3http://www.blogger.com/profile/15416721245643527387noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6943112046023669085.post-45387532400336609982010-12-27T08:16:00.000-06:002010-12-27T08:25:38.155-06:00

Norma Winstone was long considered Britain's most distinctive jazz singer when, in 2007, she was honored as a Member of the British Empire by Queen Elizabeth. She began her recording career in 1977 with the group Azimuth, and has appeared on discs by Kenny Wheeler and Eberhard Weber. Since the mid-'80s, she has been a recording artist in her own right. From the beginning of her life in jazz,

Jazz 88.3http://www.blogger.com/profile/15416721245643527387noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6943112046023669085.post-68981277013766631662010-12-20T08:14:00.000-06:002010-12-20T08:16:23.415-06:00

Longtime Los Angeles-based guitarist Doug MacDonald is a native Philadelphian who was raised in Hawaii. As a sideman on both coasts and some stops elsewhere, his live performances are in the hundreds, including those with Stan Getz, George Shearing, Joe Williams, Sarah Vaughan, and Buddy Rich, among many others. Scott Yanow of Jazz Times describes MacDonald as,"...a fine bop-based guitarist in

Jazz 88.3http://www.blogger.com/profile/15416721245643527387noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6943112046023669085.post-89943017494969390922010-12-14T09:06:00.005-06:002010-12-14T10:48:44.151-06:00

Amidst homework, final exams and holiday concerts at area high schools, the halls are also buzzing with the sound of jazz. Students at ten Corridor-area high schools are in final preparation stages to put their best musical foot forward as they record with a professional jazz educator for the Corridor Jazz Project.The bands from Cedar Rapids Prairie and Washington recorded their submissions last

Dennis Greennoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6943112046023669085.post-22310101894282721602010-12-13T10:44:00.001-06:002010-12-13T10:45:53.371-06:00

Lizz Wright spent her previous three releases defying categorization-contemporary jazz stylist? Neo-soul/neo-folk/Americana artist? None or all of the above? So it's no surprise that "Fellowship" would introduce yet another wrinkle into the mix: gospel. As the daughter of a Georgia pastor, Wright listened to and sang nothing but religious fare before fate and/or the Lord led her to Atlanta's

Jazz 88.3http://www.blogger.com/profile/15416721245643527387noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6943112046023669085.post-60585772912973571612010-12-06T08:10:00.001-06:002010-12-06T08:13:25.098-06:00

After 20 years and a dozen CDs, in an industry that has undergone sweeping transformations in the past decade, Fourplay knows that the only thing that's certain, in music or any other business, is change. The latest proof of that axiom is the new face in their lineup-that of guitarist Chuck Loeb, who makes his compelling debut with the quartet on the band's new recording, "Let's Touch the Sky."

Jazz 88.3http://www.blogger.com/profile/15416721245643527387noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6943112046023669085.post-11906235435125883512010-11-29T08:30:00.002-06:002010-11-29T08:33:09.219-06:00

It might be the parties. Or maybe it's the roasting of chestnuts. Or the caroling out in the snow. Whatever the reason, most people consider the holiday season to be the most wonderful time of the year. That's exactly the case among the members of Take 6, the a cappella group that has been mixing elements of jazz, gospel, R&B and vintage doo-wop for nearly 25 years. Recipients of 10 Grammy Awards

Jazz 88.3http://www.blogger.com/profile/15416721245643527387noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6943112046023669085.post-44461426973775572152010-11-22T10:24:00.001-06:002010-11-22T10:27:17.178-06:00

Steve Gadd has had a remarkable career during the past 40 years, working with everyone from Dizzy Gillespie and Chick Corea to Maynard Ferguson and George Benson. When it comes to his own projects, the drummer loves to play good-time groove music that has the danceable qualities and bluesiness of the best R&B along with the adventurous solos and impeccable musicianship of jazz. On his new CD -- "

Jazz 88.3http://www.blogger.com/profile/15416721245643527387noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6943112046023669085.post-1857961154697233412010-11-15T08:38:00.002-06:002010-11-15T08:46:05.627-06:00

Russell Malone has been a significant figure in the jazz world for more than two decades. One of his most pivotal career-shaping experiences was as part of organist Jimmy Smith's band in the late-80s. He's also spent time working in the bands of Diana Krall, Harry Connick Jr., Sonny Rollins, and Ron Carter among other notables. For his ninth release as a leader -- "Triple Play" -- he once again

Jazz 88.3http://www.blogger.com/profile/15416721245643527387noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6943112046023669085.post-54714165596093111182010-11-10T19:35:00.001-06:002010-11-10T19:37:09.489-06:00

Veterans Day 2010 - we note several KCCK staffers who are veterans of military service.Mark Yother was in the Air Force for three years. He was editor of the base newspaper at Ent Air Force Base in Colorado, then worked in radio and television with the American Forces Korea Network (AFKN) for a year.George Dorman spent two years in the Army, including a year in Korea -- first in field artillery,

Jazz 88.3http://www.blogger.com/profile/15416721245643527387noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6943112046023669085.post-20468661410015665822010-11-08T10:15:00.002-06:002010-11-08T10:17:53.861-06:00

Drawing on the Hot Club style of Django Reinhardt and Stephane Grappelli, Hot Club Sandwich adds in classic Latin American, old-world European and other influences, including a bit of West Coast twang. The fourth release from the Seattle-based band -- "And If Only" -- takes listeners from the smoky cafes of Paris to the hipster backstreets of 1930s Harlem, careening along a winding musical road

Jazz 88.3http://www.blogger.com/profile/15416721245643527387noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6943112046023669085.post-39062256303149477252010-11-01T07:31:00.001-06:002010-11-01T07:33:58.174-06:00

The piano trio is hardly a new concept in jazz. Certainly Cyrus Chestnut has established himself as a giant in that format, through CDs stretching back to his recording debut in 1990 and his countless appearances at clubs, concert halls and festivals throughout the world. Even so, his new release -- "Journeys" -- marks a watershed moment in his ongoing growth as a pianist, composer and bandleader

Jazz 88.3http://www.blogger.com/profile/15416721245643527387noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6943112046023669085.post-89148901905573844932010-10-25T08:32:00.001-06:002010-10-25T08:44:37.664-06:00

Passionate, robust singers with the sensitivity of a Carmen McRae and the sass of a Dinah Washington aren't exactly thick on the ground these days, which is what makes Mary Stallings' return to the studios a cause for rejoicing. Her voice is, at once, contemporary and timeless, encompassing the entire history of jazz vocals. For her newest release -- "Dream" -- the former colleague of Cal Tjader,

Jazz 88.3http://www.blogger.com/profile/15416721245643527387noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6943112046023669085.post-21931190108226407952010-10-18T08:58:00.001-06:002010-10-18T08:59:45.294-06:00

The problem with jazz singing is that almost no two listeners can agree on exactly what it is. Fans of unbridled scatting tend to dismiss vocalists with a more lyrical side; listeners who enjoy lyrical storytelling have less regard for performers who use words as vehicles for ostentatious display. This makes the singing of Denise Donatelli particularly remarkable, since her style is able to

Jazz 88.3http://www.blogger.com/profile/15416721245643527387noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6943112046023669085.post-32058546520742249682010-10-11T07:36:00.002-06:002010-10-11T07:43:37.420-06:00

It seems perfectly natural that a musician having developed a distinctive sound and approach to his instrument would want to broaden his palette. Guitarist/composer Rez Abbasi has been perfecting his own guitar voice, mainly playing electric, for some time. With his new CD, "Natural Selection", Abbasi forgoes the electric and turns to the acoustic guitar along with a new, unique ensemble. The Rez

Jazz 88.3http://www.blogger.com/profile/15416721245643527387noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6943112046023669085.post-86589234707525864962010-10-04T08:58:00.001-06:002010-10-04T08:59:52.593-06:00

Jazz has a long history of taking popular songs of the day and making them vehicles for improvisation. Organist Joey DeFrancesco's current exploration of the music associated with Michael Jackson, "Never Can Say Goodbye", is merely the latest addition to the list. Though this music is linked with the undisputed "King of Pop," this is jazz at its finest. Jackson and his music have become part of

Jazz 88.3http://www.blogger.com/profile/15416721245643527387noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6943112046023669085.post-51481928752188858692010-09-27T09:19:00.001-06:002010-09-27T09:21:38.995-06:00

Connoisseurs of the Kansas City barbecue scene are certainly familiar with the world renowned Gates Barbecue. Saxophonist Bobby Watson, who leads the jazz studies program at the Conservatory of Music and Dance at the University of Missouri-Kansas City, is a huge fan. "Kansas City is the Napa Valley of barbecue," he says. "Gates' Barbecue stands alone as king of the valley!" He's such a big fan

Jazz 88.3http://www.blogger.com/profile/15416721245643527387noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6943112046023669085.post-84559176228661554282010-09-20T07:40:00.001-06:002010-09-20T07:42:59.048-06:00

The collaboration heard on John Scofield's new CD -- "54" -- had its origins back in the '90s when Vince Mendoza asked the guitarist to play on his first album. Scofield has since been on two more of Mendoza's records. When Mendoza assumed directorship of the Metropole Orchestra of the Netherlands in 2005, he and Scofield decided to collaborate again with primary focus on Mendoza's arrangements

Jazz 88.3http://www.blogger.com/profile/15416721245643527387noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6943112046023669085.post-59364828287543671542010-09-13T07:33:00.001-06:002010-09-13T07:36:21.172-06:00

Born in Quivican, Cuba, in 1941, Chucho Valdes is one of Cuba's most famous pianists, bandleaders, composers and arrangers. Perhaps best known for founding the famous Latin jazz band Irakere in 1972, Chucho's illustrious career has also garnered him six Grammy wins and 16 nominations over the past three decades. He's recorded over 80 CDs and performed with everyone from Herbie Hancock and Dizzy

Jazz 88.3http://www.blogger.com/profile/15416721245643527387noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6943112046023669085.post-59754067418534052142010-09-06T09:02:00.002-06:002010-09-06T09:05:55.127-06:00

Few can match Steve Turre's skill as a trombonist. His technical mastery has seen him win five Down Beat magazine polls. Since his formative experience as a teenager playing alongside Rahsaan Roland Kirk, Turre has gone on to play with artists such as Ray Charles, B.B. King, Woody Shaw, Art Blakey, Dizzy Gillespie and McCoy Tyner. He can also be found playing in Cuban maestro Arutro O'Farrill's

Jazz 88.3http://www.blogger.com/profile/15416721245643527387noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6943112046023669085.post-30131018579847747402010-08-30T07:26:00.001-06:002010-08-30T07:29:21.258-06:00

Centuries ago, chamber music was the music for the masses -- the music in which people from nearly every segment of society could find meaning and relevance. A decade into the 21st century, Esperanza Spalding -- the bassist, vocalist and composer who first appeared on the jazz scene in 2008 -- takes a contemporary approach to this once universal form of entertainment with "Chamber Music Society."

Jazz 88.3http://www.blogger.com/profile/15416721245643527387noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6943112046023669085.post-6218334993634073512010-08-23T07:29:00.001-06:002010-08-23T07:32:04.887-06:00

First meeting in the clubs of Los Angeles' Central Avenue in the early 1960s, and following separate but superlative careers, tenor legends Hadley Caliman and Pete Christlieb reunited in the fall of 2009 to perform a couple of concerts and record a new studio CD -- "Reunion" -- taking up where they left off some forty years ago. With original music by pianist Bill Anschell and the two headliners

Jazz 88.3http://www.blogger.com/profile/15416721245643527387noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6943112046023669085.post-63440022014706251492010-08-16T08:44:00.001-06:002010-08-16T08:46:39.864-06:00

Jimmy Amadie was a hot jazz pianist in the 1950s, playing for such notables as Mel Torme and Woody Herman. His career was seemingly on the fast track until 1960, when an extreme form of tendonitis in his hands derailed his playing career for decades. After several surgeries and plenty of physical therapy, the former boxer from North Philly made his recording debut shortly before his sixtieth

Jazz 88.3http://www.blogger.com/profile/15416721245643527387noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6943112046023669085.post-51306130953753984472010-08-09T17:24:00.000-06:002010-08-09T17:27:05.720-06:00

A San Francisco prodigy known for fire and fluidity in his deep-groove guitar work, Barry Finnerty was one of the top players on the New York jazz scene from the '70s through the '90s. His brilliant playing with the Crusaders, Miles Davis and the Brecker Brothers put him on the international map. In the late-'90s, he returned to the Bay Area to compose, perform and teach, writing a lot of music

Jazz 88.3http://www.blogger.com/profile/15416721245643527387noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6943112046023669085.post-80076772320515685602010-08-02T07:15:00.003-06:002010-08-02T07:26:25.514-06:00

Chris Washburne has been called "one of the best trombonists in New York" by the New York Times, and was voted as a "Rising Star of the Trombone" in the Downbeat Critic's Polls of 2008 and 2009. He's performed with numerous jazz and Latin groups, including Tito Puente, Anthony Braxton and the Duke Ellington Orchestra. His own group, SYOTOS, was founded 20 years ago and has become what TimeOUT New

Jazz 88.3http://www.blogger.com/profile/15416721245643527387noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6943112046023669085.post-62599564431911509862010-07-26T10:09:00.001-06:002010-07-26T10:11:53.885-06:00

From the very start of his career in the early '50s, Kenny Burrell has been described as a bop and hard bop guitarist. Some of his early recordings supported this description, but like all the great players, Burrell brings his own unique style and sound to his playing. The bop elements are there, to be sure, along with blues and a great blend of the two styles, but he exhibits a much gentler,

Jazz 88.3http://www.blogger.com/profile/15416721245643527387noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6943112046023669085.post-45318353118499303312010-07-19T17:26:00.001-06:002010-07-19T17:28:53.516-06:00

In the jazz world, Bob Mintzer is a household name, usually associated with being a reed man, composer, arranger, leader of a Grammy Award-winning big band, member of the Yellowjackets, and educator. For his new project, "Canyon Cove", he was inspired by the rich sound of the Hammond B3 combined with the close-knit feeling of the organ trio. Much of his original music on the disc is a nod to the

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Hailed as an extremely versatile musician who is able to masterfully navigate many musical contexts and genres, the French accordionist Richard Galliano has collaborated with jazz greats like Chet Baker, Ron Carter and Charlie Haden over the years. In the summer of 2008, he joined up with multiple-Grammy Award-winning trumpeter Wynton Marsalis and his quintet at the annual Jazz in Marciac

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With 20 years experience together and five discs to its credit now, the Stryker/Slagle Band has proven itself to be one of the most enduring units playing jazz today. The combined talents of guitarist Dave Stryker and saxophonist Steve Slagle as composers and improvisers sets it apart from the many pickup groups assembled just to make a gig or a record. The fifth outing by the band, "Keeper", is

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In 1999, the same year that Jason Moran released his debut disc, the prodigy pianist and composer also joined New Directions, a band made up of young stars from the Blue Note roster that went on tour in celebration of the label's 60th anniversary. At the core of that band was the genesis of a rhythm section-with Moran, bassist Taurus Mateen, and drummer Nasheet Waits-that would go on to become

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Pianist Bill Charlap is a two-time Grammy Award nominee who has performed with icons such as Tony Bennett, Phil Woods and Gerry Mulligan, and served as musical director for the Blue Note 7. Canadian-born Renee Rosnes is a four-time Juno Award winner who has collaborated with legends like Wayne Shorter, Joe Henderson and J.J. Johnson, and has been the pianist and contributing composer in the

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Stockholm, Sweden, native Andreas Oberg is quickly becoming one of the most admired guitarists on the jazz scene today. Don Heckman of the Los Angeles Times has noted that "Oberg has mastered everything from bebop and swing to bossa nova, Gypsy jazz and fusion, enhanced with youthful, rock-driven vigor. His playing is, at times, an astonishing display of virtuosity." His new CD, "Six String

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Through her albums, incessant touring and various guest appearances and collaborations over the years, Regina Carter has developed into a distinctly diverse musical personality. With "Reverse Thread", the preeminent violinist has taken a giant step forward by recording a CD primarily of African folk tunes infused with a contemporary feel. Without the support of the prestigious MacArthur

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The last time Keith Jarrett and Charlie Haden were together on record was a live disc in 1976, a document from the final days of Jarrett's great American Quartet. In the interim, the two have each separately given renewed attention to the music of the Great American Songbook, Jarrett in his widely-admired Standards ensembles, and Haden with his Quartet West. Early in 2007 Jarrett was invited to

Jazz 88.3http://www.blogger.com/profile/15416721245643527387noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6943112046023669085.post-29459877614063515412010-05-30T16:55:00.004-06:002010-06-01T09:09:45.880-06:00

With the coming of Memorial Day 2010, some KCCK staffers' fathers, who are no longer with us, are being remembered for their service during war-time.George Dorman's father, Jack Dorman, was in the U.S. Army for nearly four years during World War II. Most of that time was spent in northern Africa, where he was a crytopgrapher, encoding and decoding secret messages.Bob Stewart's dad, Allan, served

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More than three decades after his earliest recordings, keyboardist and composer Jeff Lorber has come full circle. His new CD, "Now is the Time", delves back into his early catalog and reinvents some of the most compelling compositions from the Jeff Lorber Fusion heyday. This new incarnation of the Fusion includes luminaries like bassist Jimmy Haslip, saxophonist Eric Marienthal, trumpeter Randy

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Joe Chambers is one of the drummers from the Fifties and Sixties who, along with Max Roach and Art Blakey, has influenced an entire generation of drummers. Archie Shepp, in fact, compared Chambers' qualities as a sensitive yet dynamic drummer to another influential drummer, Roy Haynes. For his new CD, "Horace to Max", Chambers has assembled an ensemble that includes stalwarts Eric Alexander on

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Imagine a violinist, born in South America, equally adept at playing classical, jazz, Latin idioms and music for films; a musician with a sound that is at home in a symphony hall or on 52nd Street; an artist who has worked with a staggering array of far-flung superstars, such as Duke Ellington, Astor Piazzolla, Bebo Valdes, and Charlie Haden. The legendary Uruguayan-born/Florida-based violinist

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Ever since Jacky Terrasson burst onto the jazz scene in 1993 by winning the Thelonius Monk Piano Competition, the Berlin-born, Paris-raised, New York-based pianist extraordinaire has consistently recorded richly refined and remarkably free-spirited music. His new disc, "Push", features a new working trio that includes recent Monk Competition winner Ben Williams on bass, Jamire Williams on drums,

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Esteemed jazz vocalist and six-time Grammy nominee Nnenna Freelon offers up her first studio album in five years, "Homefree", a soulful swinging disc that she calls her "home brew." The collection is comprised largely of contemporary interpretations of classic American Songbook tunes, along with a new original and spirited arrangements of two anthems. "Most of the songs are part of our repertoire

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