KCCK Specials

KCCK's Ron Adkins talks with Tito Puente Jr., son of the Latin Jazz legend. Tito talks about his father's legacy, what he is doing to extend and re-invent that legacy, and even his family's connection to Bill Murray! Tito Puente Jr. and his Latin Jazz ensemble perform at the University of Dubuque Heritage Center on … Continue reading The post Tito Puente Jr. appeared first on Jazz 88.3 KCCK.

A big year for the Linn Mar music programs, with an appearance in the Iowa Jazz Championship finals and an undefeated show choir season, in which Maddie Nuss had the lead. The concert band capped the year with a performance at the Iowa Bandmasters convention. Moosa Hamad made Jazz All State, and the morning of … Continue reading The post “Head Cannon” – Linn-Mar Guest DJs 2022 appeared first on Jazz 88.3 KCCK.

2022 was a big year for Anamosa Jazz I. They welcomed a new director, Gerardo Gomez, had a much-improved competition season, and also participated in the Corridor Jazz Project for the very first time! Evie Breitbach, Madeline Broghammer, and Lili Fischer broke it down for us, and also brought an excellent selection of songs. Evie, … Continue reading The post “And I Cried a Lot” – Anamosa Guest DJs 2022 appeared first on Jazz 88.3 KCCK.

Gabe Hinman, Ethan McLaughlin, and Lauren Roskopf from the Solon Jazz Orchestra join us for an hour of music and band stories, including a cameo appearance by their Corridor Jazz guest artist this year, our own Saul Lubaroff! Gabe, Ethan, and Lauren's playlist. The post “Trumpet Propaganda” – Solon Guest DJs 2022 appeared first on Jazz 88.3 KCCK.

Two of Iowa's leading jazz educators, Jim Dreier, Latin Jazz guru at the University of Iowa, and Rich Medd, longtime director at Iowa City West High School, retire this spring from full-time classroom teaching. Jim and Rich talk with KCCK's Dennis Green about their time together in bands such as Orquesta Alto Maiz, teaching highlights, … Continue reading The post Jim Dreier and Rich Medd appeared first on Jazz 88.3 KCCK.

Phil Perea, Vivian Shanley, and Annika Twedt-Ball present a rollicking hour of music and stories from the the past year in jazz band with the CR Washington Revolutionists, including the terror, joy, and even love affairs that happen at KCCK's Middle School Jazz Band Camp. Phil, Vivian, and Annika's playlist The post Vivian's Cadenzas – Washington Guest DJs 2022 appeared first on Jazz 88.3 KCCK.

The Marion Jazz Band One rhythm section takes center stage, as Rhea Lord, Chris Oberbroeckling, and Ray Redondo join KCCK announcer (and 2021 Marion guest artist) Saul Lubaroff for a guest DJ hour, where we learn about a lot of last-minute shuffling (including Peter Hart stepping in at the last minute to sub for guest artist Jen … Continue reading The post Rhythm Section Ruling Class-Marion Guest DJs 2022 appeared first on Jazz 88.3 KCCK.

Ben Drzycimski solos in Jefferson's Jazz Band, Show Choir and as a Guest DJ, when the other student was unable to attend. It's been a busy year for Jefferson Fine Arts, and they're not done yet! The post All The Saxophones-Jefferson Guest DJs 2022 appeared first on Jazz 88.3 KCCK.

Alec Battien. Randall Kinner, and Kealey Oldham went to Thesaurus.com to find adjectives to describe their guest DJ experience, as well as Xavier Jazz Band One's year, which included a 3rd place finish at Jazz Championships. And we learn that Kealey is the custodian of the ever-present JBO pineapple. Alec, Randall, and Kealey's playlist. The post Remarkable, Stupendous, Amaze-Balls-Xavier Guest DJs 2022 appeared first on Jazz 88.3 KCCK.

Andrew Wendel had to join Jaden Patterson and Nate Buelow remotely, but that didn't stop the three members of the Counterpoint-Urbana Jazz Band from an enjoyable hour playing some favorite songs and talking about an excellent year at CPU, including the band's first trip to Jazz Championships in a decade! Nate, Jaden, and Andrew's playlist. The post There's A Story Behind It – CPU Guest DJs 2021 appeared first on Jazz 88.3 KCCK.

2022 has been a big year for the Liberty High School music program, with a trip to the national Jazz Educators Network conference and the school's first trip to Iowa Jazz Championships. Tyson, Killian, and Christian from Liberty High School tell tales and play a very tasty hour of music on Iowa's Jazz Station. View … Continue reading The post Sax Players' Kids Play Trombone – Liberty Guest DJs 2022 appeared first on Jazz 88.3 KCCK.

KCCK's Hollis Monroe talks to Nneena Freelon about “Georgia On My Mind,” a Ray Charles tribute show that will team the award winning singer with Take 6, saxophonist Tom Scott, and singer-actor Clint Holmes. Nov. 12 at Hoyt Sherman Place with the Des Moines Civic Music Association. Details at www.civicmusic.org/georgia. The post “Music Is A Sturdy Container” – Nneena Freelon appeared first on Jazz 88.3 KCCK.

A roundup of news from the 9-11 terrorist attacks as produced by the KCCK News Department. From the KCCK Archives. The post KCCK 9-11-01 Special appeared first on Jazz 88.3 KCCK.

The saxophonist will perform on the Main Stage at 4 p.m. Saturday. He spoke with KCCK's Hollis Monroe. The post Iowa City Jazz Festival – Immanuel Wilkins appeared first on Jazz 88.3 KCCK.

The guitarist is the headline performer of this years Jazz Festival, taking the Main Stage at 8 p.m.  He spoke with KCCK's Ron Adkins.   The post Iowa City Jazz Festival – Cory Wong appeared first on Jazz 88.3 KCCK.

The trumpeter will perform at 2 p.m. on the Main Stage. He spoke with KCCK's Hollis Monroe. The post Iowa City Jazz Festival – Giveton Gelin appeared first on Jazz 88.3 KCCK.

Jennifer and her group Bonegasm will perform at 6 p.m. on the Main Stage. She spoke with KCCK's Hollis Monroe.  The post Iowa City Jazz Festival – Jennifer Wharton appeared first on Jazz 88.3 KCCK.

And the first shall be last! The Mt. Vernon Swingin’ STANGS were the first band we recorded for Corridor Jazz this year, but ended up being our final guest DJ hour. The songs were largely picked by Jasper Rood, and show how jazz has influenced video game music. Fellow seniors Sage Boettcher, and Kai Yamanishi … Continue reading The post Corridor Jazz Guest DJs – Mt. Vernon appeared first on Jazz 88.3 KCCK.

Jefferson seniors Emily Fultz and Cady Yokanovich chose a unique method for picking the songs for their guest DJ hour. Jefferson COVID precautions required the band to leave the band room after 30 minutes of rehearsal to allow the room’s air handling to catch up. Band members used the break time by picking their favorite … Continue reading The post Corridor Jazz Guest DJs – Jefferson appeared first on Jazz 88.3 KCCK.

Emma Midcalf returns for her second time as a guest DJ, joined by fellow CP-U seniors Brent Massner and Faith Maue. Brent admits his dad wakes him up by singing Paul Anka. Emma reveals that Mr. Jacobi’s playing instructions to her include the musical terms “gaddink” and  “gaddonk.” Why? You’l have to listen to hear … Continue reading The post Corridor Jazz Guest DJs – Centerpoint-Urbana appeared first on Jazz 88.3 KCCK.

Linn-Mar senior Cavan O’Hara returns for his second outing as a guest DJ, joined by Lucas and Noah Sennett. Halfway through the hour, they’ve chosen so many of Dennis’s favorite songs that he thinks they hacked his Spotify! And we learn that “tubas should not play flute cues.” Playlist: La Llama Azul – Orquesta Alto … Continue reading The post Corridor Jazz Guest DJs – Linn-Mar appeared first on Jazz 88.3 KCCK.

Dylan Sines and Rufaro Muskwe return for their second go-round as guest DJs from Kennedy Jazz Band One. We learn how Dylan got “called up” to handle most of the Kennedy bass duties, what led Rufaro to switch from bari to tenor sax this year, and how the pandemic and derecho affected the band community … Continue reading The post Corridor Jazz Guest DJs – Kennedy appeared first on Jazz 88.3 KCCK.

Xavier senior Joanne Lee is joined by junior Randall Kinner and sophomore Alec Battien to talk about the year for Xavier Jazz Band One. Along the way, we learn about cha-cha-ing in the orchestra pit, and which jazz movie is required viewing for all JBO newbies! Playlist: “Spain” – US Air Force Airmen of Note … Continue reading The post Corridor Jazz Guest DJs – Xavier appeared first on Jazz 88.3 KCCK.

David Reisner returns for his third go-round as a Guest DJ, joined by Rhea Lord and Chris Oberbroeckling, to play a mix of music they’ve played in jazz band, (where “dad jokes” seem to abound), and what are the best songs to fold laundry to. Playlist: “As Long As I’m Singing” – The Brian Setzer … Continue reading The post Corridor Jazz Guest DJs – Marion appeared first on Jazz 88.3 KCCK.

Lisbon Seniors Zach Cooley and Ben Larson explain their band’s fascination with Charles Mingus, and what that has taught them about social justice. On a lighter note, we also learn about conducting the marching band while wearing a giant plastic Lion’s head, and hear an hour of excellent music! Playlist: Take the A Train – … Continue reading The post Corridor Jazz Guest DJs – Lisbon appeared first on Jazz 88.3 KCCK.

Patrick Seaton, Paige Radcliffe, and Zoe Young are our guest DJs from Solon High School. Even during a pandemic, they’ve had an eventful year. The Solon vocal jazz groups went 1 & 2 in the Vocal Jazz Championships. Patrick, Zoe, and Paige talk about and play the songs that first got them interested in jazz, … Continue reading The post Corridor Jazz Guest DJs – Solon appeared first on Jazz 88.3 KCCK.

The 2021 Liberty High Senior class is the first graduating class to attend the new school for all four years. Spencer Knight, Milo Savage, and Sam Ross are proud of the traditions they’ve helped build in a brand new band program, even with the restrictions and losses of the past year. They talk about their … Continue reading The post 2021 Corridor Jazz Guest DJs – Liberty appeared first on Jazz 88.3 KCCK.

Legendary pianist and composer Chick Corea passed away February 9 after a battle with cancer. He appeared in the Corridor many times, most recently in 2019 with his Trilogy Trio at Hancher in what would be his final tour. In 2010, he played a solo piano gig at the Englert. Prior to the concert, he had … Continue reading The post Remembering Chick Corea appeared first on Jazz 88.3 KCCK.

KCCK’s Bob Stewart interviews saxophonist Ted Nash, saxophonist and composer, who will be a part of the Wynton Marsalis Septet for the Hancher premiere of “The Sound of Democracy,” Oct. 27 at 7:30pm. Ted talks about growing up as the son of two civil rights activists, The experience of playing with Wynton and the Lincoln … Continue reading The post Ted Nash – The KCCK Interview appeared first on Jazz 88.3 KCCK.

Dennis Green talks to Latin Jazz guru Jim Dreier on the occasion of Jim’s induction into the Jazz Educators of Iowa Hall of Fame. Jim talks about how he didn’t even play in high school band, but still attended the prestigious Berklee School of Music, and how it was listening to Chick Corea and Airto … Continue reading The post Jim Dreier – The JEI Hall of Fame Interview appeared first on Jazz 88.3 KCCK.

It’s another in Dennis Green’s occasional series of special music interviews. July 17 is the birthday of pianist Vince Guaraldi, and we celebrate with a conversation with his biographer Derrick Bang.  You’ll hear how a radio DJ made “Cast Your Fate To The Wind” a hit, and the story of how Guaraldi got his most … Continue reading The post Culture Crawl 581 “Happy Birthday, Vince Guaraldi!” appeared first on Jazz 88.3 KCCK.

Iowa City native Bridget Kearney has toured the world and performed on The Tonight Show, Stephen Colbert, and countless others as a part of Lake Street Dive. In fact, just before the pandemic shut everything down, legendary singer Mavis Staples sat in with the band! Bridget’s latest release, “Still Flying,” was recorded in Ghana with … Continue reading The post Bridget Kearney appeared first on Jazz 88.3 KCCK.

Dennis Green talks with Iowa City native and New York trumpeter Gabe Medd about his personal experience with COVID-19, and how he is making music during the pandemic, including a virtual performance with Gabe in his friend Chad LB’s Big Band. The post Gabe Medd appeared first on Jazz 88.3 KCCK.

Trumpeter Alicia Rau grew up in rural southwest Iowa, studied abroad in Senegal, and now makes her home in New York. She plays her trumpet each night at 7pm to join the daily tribute to New York’s essential workers, and has also recorded around 40 school songs to celebrate students whose graduations and other activities … Continue reading The post “Little by Little, You Catch the Monkey” – Alicia Rau appeared first on Jazz 88.3 KCCK.

In the Seventies and Eighties, many Iowa natives found themselves on the coasts, meeting, performing, and forming lifelong friendships with some of the musicians who would go on to become the most important players of their generation. Dennis Carlson moved from Cedar Falls to Boston, where Gary Burton offered him a position teaching at Berklee. … Continue reading The post Frizell Cleaned the Tubs, Al Cleaned the Toilets appeared first on Jazz 88.3 KCCK.

Grant Lapointe is not just a talented jazz pianist, who KCCK listeners have heard at Jazz Under the Stars, Taste of Jazz, and many other events. The rising junior at Cedar Rapids Washington also recently solicited vocal tracks from all sixteen members of the Wash vocal group Slice of Jazz, and put them together for … Continue reading The post The Story Behind Slice of Jazz Video appeared first on Jazz 88.3 KCCK.

Author Derrick Bang has chronicled the life of pianist Vince Guaraldi and has also written dozens of articles on the Charles Schulz and the Peanuts comic strips. But he recently turned his attention to making an exhaustive survey of the role of Jazz in the music of TV and movies. His two-volume set, Crime and Spy … Continue reading The post “When Someone is Stealing a Car” – Jazz in TV & Cinema appeared first on Jazz 88.3 KCCK.

Chris Merz, Director of Jazz Studies at the University of Northern Iowa, has just released the second Christopher’s Very Happy. Band. collection, “While We Wait.” Dennis Green talked with Chris about the new project, how he is handling his teaching duties during social distancing, and also some thoughts about Lee Konitz, who recently passed away. … Continue reading The post Chris Merz – While We Wait appeared first on Jazz 88.3 KCCK.

The underclassman speak for the Mt. Vernon Swingin’ STANGS! Aden Grudzinski and Trystan Lashley are both first-year members of the band and are working hard to be future leaders. Trystan plays tuba, and has a feature in the band’s tune on this year’s Corridor Jazz Project CD. Playlist: “Bessie’s Blues” – John Coltrane “Midnight Blue” – … Continue reading The post Corridor Jazz Guest DJs – Mt. Vernon appeared first on Jazz 88.3 KCCK.

Emma Bock and Renae Hasselbusch have been friends since they were little, and are finishing up their senior year at Lisbon. And they independently decided to attend Iowa State and major in Biology, so they’ll continue to be classmates in college! The Lisbon Jazz Band has had a great year under first-year director Joseph Arch, … Continue reading The post Corridor Jazz Guest DJs – Lisbon appeared first on Jazz 88.3 KCCK.

Maddie Miller and Shannon Morgan miss a lot about band while they’re on “pandemic break” but it’s possible that getting to school for a 6:50am jazz band rehearsal isn’t one of them. Fortunately, their guest DJ show did not require them to get up that early! They picked several charts that they played in band … Continue reading The post Corridor Jazz Guest DJs – Jefferson appeared first on Jazz 88.3 KCCK.

This time next year, Brody Joens and Ryan Neubuaer will be finishing up their first year at Dordt University and Wartburg College, respectively. But today they are guest DJs on KCCK, representing Prairie Jazz I. They tell the story of how Gordon Goodwin’s “Jazz Police” became the unofficial theme “rev-up” tune for Jazz I this … Continue reading The post Corridor Jazz Guest DJs – Prairie appeared first on Jazz 88.3 KCCK.

Shhh! Don’t tell, but Cavan O’Hara confesses during his guest DJ hour that he “may have” taken an extra sax or two from the Linn-Mar band room to practice on during this long break. Meanwhile, Anna Kelly explains why the duet she played with her cousin, 10 of Soul’s Mike McMann for the Corridor Jazz … Continue reading The post Corridor Jazz Guest DJs – Linn-Mar appeared first on Jazz 88.3 KCCK.