KCCK Specials

Xavier Jazz Band One had a great year, winning their division at Coe’s Jazz Summit, and taking 3rd at the Iowa Jazz Championships for the second year in a row. Gus Brown, Ava Melchior, and David Weaver talk about their season, dish (just a little) about their bandmates, and play tunes that range from Charles … Continue reading »

Carley Spading and Jacob Morgan are our guests from Liberty, Iowa’s newest high school. In fact, Carley is the only senior in the band, which is in just its second year of existence. Carley and Jacob talk about helping start a brand-new program, and play tunes that include Max Roach, Gerry Mulligan, Mel Lewis, John … Continue reading »

Kaden Schilling and Cole Huedepohl from Prairie Jazz One spin tunes from Count Baise, Gary Burton, Gordon Goodwin and a British import from Louis Dowdeswell as guest DJs on Iowa’s Jazz Station.

Adam Sines and Ben Nucaro from Kennedy Jazz Band One both come from musical families, and it showed in their music choices. Adam brought a CD of his grandpa’s vocal swing group, and Ben chose tunes his mom sang when she was in Kennedy’s vocal jazz group, Moonlight Express. Plus, Ray Charles, B.B. King, Don … Continue reading »

Tori Jones and Lance Martin from the Solon Jazz Orchestra sing in the award-winning Solon Jazz Choirs as well as play in the band, so they feature past Solon guest clinicians Katie Thiroux and Carmen Bradford, as well as Lambert, Hendricks, and Ross; and Kurt Elling! All this and a CD that stopped halfway through … Continue reading »

It’s a rollicking hour of jazz and conversation with Riley Jones and Jacob Marcov from the Jefferson Jazz Ensemble, featuring Clifford Brown, Jeff Lorber, and even the Super Mario Bros!

Reddyn Brunner-Luse, David Reisner, and Austin Piper from Marion’s Jazz Band One played Marshall Gilkes, Bunny Berigan, Stevie Ray Vaughn, and more during their Guest DJ Hour on KCCK. They also talked about the highlights of their year in jazz band, which included making the Iowa Jazz Championships, and a service project where they play … Continue reading »

Bassist and composer Rufus Reid has been in Iowa City for a residency surrounding his performance of “Quiet Pride: The Elizabeth Catlett Project.” Catlett, the first African-American woman to receive an MFA, did so at the University of Iowa. Reid talked to Ron Adkins about the origins of the composition, and also his years as … Continue reading »

Jefferson, Iowa native Dick Oatts is one of the world’s movs celebrated jazz saxophonists. Soon after arriving in New York in the late 70s, he landed a gig in the prestigious Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Orchestra, and has gone on to release or appear on dozens of CDs, plus touring and performing all over the world. … Continue reading »

Danielle Homrighausen and Matt Morrical from the Mt. Vernon Swingin’ STANGS wrap up the 2018 edition of our Corridor Jazz Guest DJ series, with music from the Manhattan Transfer, Duke Ellington, Mingus, and Melody Gardot. Danielle also made sure we featured a tune from her sax teacher, Lynne Hart, and also explained Lynne’s “Dying Cow” … Continue reading »