Jazz 88.3 Rhythms

Always a Cool Yule Here... - Dennis

2009-12-01T15:00:00.001-06:00

There are two groups of people who are already tired of Christmas music before most of us have even started our shopping: Anyone who works in retail, and…. DJs.Personally, I’ve had a love/hate relationship with holiday music for years. As a young radio announcer, I would watch with a sinking feeling as the program director hauled a scarred cardboard box into the studio with the word “XMAS”

KCCK Vets

2009-11-10T08:24:00.002-06:00

With another Veterans Day, we note that several KCCK staffers are veterans of military service.KCCK Morning Man, Talking Pictures co-host and Got-a-Minute's 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. News Director George Dorman

My Most Memorable Concert Experience-Dennis

2009-10-12T08:09:00.003-06:00

My friend Chad Canfield, host and producer of the excellent podcast,The Canman Show, recently asked fans of the show on Facebook to tell him about their most memorable concert experience. Read those postings here.Chad's request seems to have been inspired by taking his daughters to see Miley Cyrus in Des Moines, but let's not hold that against him.Being in the media, and an omnivorous music fan,

I Got Your らどうぞ Right Here - Dennis

2009-09-24T07:54:00.002-06:00

So, a post I made several weeks ago has been the subject of dozens of comments, way more then usual for any conversations about KCCK.All in Japanese.All nonsense in both Japanese and English.The original posting dealt with the installation of our new 106.9 translator, which improves our signal coverage in Iowa City, and also extends our new HD Radio service. So, imagine my surprise when I open my

Jerry Lewis and Bill Bell - George

2009-09-07T17:53:00.002-06:00

The annual Labor Day Jerry Lewis telethon reminded me of a story the late mega-KCCK personality Bill Bell told me. Before coming to Iowa, Bill had run a recording studio in Los Angeles and rubbed elbows with Hollywood stars. He told a story of Jerry Lewis coming to his studio to record some public service announcements, I believe it was. It seems there was a bit of a personality clash. When

My Brush With Hayden - Dennis

2009-09-01T19:16:00.006-06:00

With Fry Fest coming up Labor Day Weekend, I'm remembering how I learned first-hand what a caring person the Coach is, in addition to being an outstanding leader.It was 1980, Coach Fry's second year as Iowa's coach. These were the days before there was one Hawkeye radio network. Instead, there were several stations that originated the game and fed their own small network. WHO had Jim Zabel,

New Sunday Night Lineup - Dennis

2009-08-27T11:54:00.004-06:00

We’re excited to debut a new Sunday lineup on Sept. 6, that we think you’ll like. We're expanding one show and bringing another back by popular request. Our new Sunday night lineup begins with the smooth sound of Cafe Jazz at 6pm. Then at 8, a show we have had dozens of requests to bring back: The Putamayo World Music Hour. This innovative show features pop music from all over the world.

Jazz Under the Stars Videos

2009-08-23T14:35:00.002-06:00

Anne Kinney of Illusions Fine Portraiture has created some neat video montages from photos she took at KCCK's Jazz Under the Stars concerts, including music from the groups she photographed. Click here to see the video or the Fred Woodard Trio.Click here for the video of the Al Naylor Quartet.

KCCK.org All Clean! - Dennis

2009-08-07T08:32:00.003-06:00

KCCK fans who use Firefox or Safari as their web browser have noticed something very disturbing over the last few days. Whenever they surfed to our site, they received a warning screen saying that Google had rated kcck.org as an attack site that would download malicious software to their computer.Well, I'm happy to report everything is fine. Our site was hacked a couple of weeks ago. It

The New 106.9 - Dennis

2009-06-12T15:45:00.002-06:00

KCCK's Johnson County booster at 106.9 is back on the air after moving to a new tower. For nearly two decades, the translator broadcast from a leased towe northest of Iowa City. Recently, we lost our lease, and in advertising parlance, 'everything had to go.'Our new home is atop the Kirkwood campus on Lower Muscatine in Iowa City. The good news is that this puts the low-wattage (just 100 watts

What Lawrence Block taught me - Dennis

2009-05-21T10:27:00.010-06:00

I recently had the pleasure of interviewing writer Lawrence Block on the Culture Crawl, who was in Iowa for a reading for the Metro Library Network's "Out Loud!" series. Block is the legendary crime fiction writer, winner of many Shamus & Edgar Awards (the Oscars of crime fiction), creator of the Matthew Scudder, Chip Harrison and Keller novel series. I'm a big fan.(Pictured: Out Loud!

Taste of JUTS Recipes! - Lisa

2009-05-03T19:05:00.003-06:00

Thanks again to everyone who joined us for Taste of Jazz Under The Stars. If you were there, I'm sure you'd love to fix some of the delightful dishes you sampled. And, if not, maybe you'd like to see what you missed!Below are the recipes featured at the event, courtesy of the Kirkwood Hospitality program. Bob-o's Clam Cakes with Tartar sauce-------- ------------ -------------

Stoltzman Salutes Benny Goodman in I.C. - Mark

2009-03-21T13:31:00.003-06:00

CRichard Stoltzman presented a "Salute to Benny Goodman" April 3 at the Englert Theatre in downtown Iowa City. Stoltzman was backed by the University of Iowa Johnson County Landmark jazz band directed by John Rapson. I talked by phone with Stoltzman prior to the performance. Click here to listen to the interview.

Nashville Jazz Station in danger - Dennis

2009-03-11T09:27:00.004-06:00

WMOT, the long-time jazz station serving Nashville may be on the chopping block, as its licensee, Middle Tennessee State University, looks to cut $19 million dollars from its budget. Read about it here (Thanks to KCCK member Mason Eckley for bringing the story to our attention).At this time, KCCK's support from Kirkwood is not in danger. But, as tough times continue, tough decisions may need to

Neville Brothers Perform In Iowa City - Gordon

2009-02-11T10:01:00.005-06:00

Saxophonist Charles Neville, of the iconic Neville Brothers, has been playing professionally since he was 15 years old. His musical background includes jazz, Blues, R&B, Soul, Gospel, Afro-Cuban and Funk. He brings all this to the table when the Neville Brothers share their "Crescent City" experience with adoring fans. I spoke by phone with Charles about his influences, the New Orleans traditions

2-Bits for Jazz (real "change") - Gordon

2009-02-09T13:34:00.006-06:00

The U.S. Mint has just issued it's first coin for mass circulation with the likeness of a jazz musician! The musician is Duke Ellington and the coin is the latest in the Mint's "Statehood Quarter" series. It's for the District of Columbia -another first! One side shows "The Duke" sitting next to a piano that bares his name with the words "Justice For All" (the motto for Washington D.C.)Click here

Getting Social - Dennis

2009-01-30T11:12:00.002-06:00

KCCK is expanding our presence in social networking. We've had a Facebook page for awhile, but haven't really promoted (but thanks to the 50 people who found us on their own!). Become a Fan of KCCK on Facebook, and you can check out pictures from the Corridor Jazz Project recording sessions, view a video from Jazz To The World, and comment on our programming.I've been writing a Twitter feed for

Remembering Paul - Lisa Baum

2009-01-27T10:53:00.002-06:00