Zach Mannheimer & Matt McIver (Des Moines Social Club)
8/31/2010

Abe Goldstien (Community Jazz Center)
8/24/2010

Next week's guest, Abe Goldstien, like my previous guest Sam Salomone, has his own jazz radio show on KFMG, "Straight, No Chaser," which precedes Sam's every Sunday from 5 to 7 pm.

Abe has made, and continues to make massive contributions to Des Moines' jazz scene through his work with the Community Jazz Center, which includes the marvelous youth-oriented jam sessions he spearheads at Java Joe's as well as the top-notch national and international acts he has brought to town as an impresario. Of course, I can't omit a mention of his own combo, the Java Jews, featuring Abe on accordion!

In addition to some chit-chat about the CJC, Abe and I will view videos of the three top-notch acts he has slated this season at Caspe Terrace: Trio X (Sept. 29), Jon Weber (Oct. 12) and Benjamin Herman (Nov. 16. Beyond all the great stuff he does, Abe is quite a personality in his own right, and it promises to be a lively show.

Sara Routh
8/17/2010

This show, featuring singer/songwriter Sara Routh, is something of a departure in more ways than one.

I was alerted to a visit that Sara -- a local gal whose travels have taken her to NYC, LA, and most recently Shanghai -- was be making. However, since my regular slot is booked through November, we had to pre-record a show.

Sara studied opera at Simpson College before chasing the bright lights on Broadway and in TinselTown and winding up in Shanghai, where she's been teaching humanities at a prestigious school for three years.

While Sara cannot really be categorized as a jazz singer (although she has the chops and training to do it), she has a beautiful voice and a very soulful style, which anyone who appreciates music can instantly recognize.

Sara brought her guitar and favored us with a few of her own compositions, and she discussed her influences, including her father Ron, long-time local drummer, who also sat in on the show. I won't be able to play the entire video, but as always it will be available for viewing in its entirety on Vimeo.

Bill Bergren (Synergy Jazz Foundation)
8/10/2010

Trumpeter Bill Bergren is an excellent example of the many Des Moines jazz musicians who devote as much (if not more) time and energy to teaching music as playing it. A student of the noted instructor William Adam, Bill has a degree in music education and also pursued graduate studies at the Univ. of Iowa.

Bill has paid dues on the road playing on cruise lines, with traveling orchestras, and numerous other freelance gigs. Locally, along with holding down the lead trumpet chair with the DM Big Band and playing with the salsa ensemble Orquestra Alto Maiz, he has performed with classical symphonies, often as a soloist.

In addition to giving private lessons to trumpet students across the entire range of skill levels, Bill has been the driving force in establishing Synergy Jazz Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to drawing together individuals (both musicians and non-musicians) and institutions to foster jazz education, awareness and appreciation in the local community

There's a lot to talk about, including Bill's informal avocation as a chef, so we should have little trouble filling an hour with interesting conversation (and maybe even little bit of music!).

Brent Sandy & Chris Merz (Equilateral)
8/3/2010

It's tempting for one steeped in Greco-Roman mythology, such as myself, to refer to trumpeter Brent Sandy & reedman Chris Merz as the "Castor and Pollux" of the Iowa jazz scene. No, they're not twin brothers, to be sure, but I've found that they're so much on the same wavelength that in separate conversations with me they've used virtually identical phrases and descriptions when discussing musical topics!

This is no mere coincidence: the friendship and musical collaboration of these two (now music professors at Univ. Iowa and Univ. Northern Iowa, respectively) goes back to their boyhoods and has blossomed into the musical quartet Equilateral. Both gentlemen will grace the show to reminisce a bit, discuss their band's concept as well as their educational projects, listen to a few cuts from their CD ... And Another Thing, and view some recent YouTube videos with me.

Sam Salomone
7/27/2010

Tama-born Sam Salomone has taken the long way around in establishing himself as Des Moines' premier jazz organist. After playing with Ella Ruth Piggee locally, he broke into the national music scene touring with Del Shannon (best known for his Top-40 hit "Runaway") and the Duprees ("You Belong to Me") in the early '60s. Sam stayed on the road for a while, and after some admittedly lean years in places like Kansas City, New York, Chicago and San Francisco, Sam came back home, where he has become an institution, figuratively speaking.

An inductee in both Iowa's jazz and blues halls of fame, Sam and his Hammond have gigged with local combos from the Des Moines Big Band to The Blue Band, as well as national acts like Richie Cole. Sam and I will recount a few of the countless stories and anecdotes from his colorful and lively career, listen to some tracks and watch some video.

John Kizilarmut
7/20/2010

John Kizilarmut -- drummer, vibraphonist, composer, and teacher -- is literally all over the map of Des Moines' jazz scene. It seems like every other guest on my show has some sort of working connection with him: whether writing songs with Roxi Copland, backing up her, Sam Salomone, Brent Sandy, Chris Merz, Dave Rezek (and others), or teaching young percussionists like Jeff Oatts, John's seemingly omnipresent musical activities have left his mark in any number of places around town.

John gives no indication of slowing down -- quite the opposite -- and one hour scarcely seems enough time to even touch upon all of his numerous projects, collaborations and interests, but we'll give it our best shot.

John Krantz
7/13/2010

Despite a pretty demanding day job -- running Adventureland Amusement Park -- John Krantz manages to find time and energy to promote and support of the local jazz scene. In addition to his regular Friday night gig at Sam & Gabe's, which features a rotating cast of top-notch accompanists, John administers the Community Jazz Center's Web site. Two of John's more notable achievements have been the establishment of the CJC Hall of Fame and helping to provide a permanent "home" for the Des Moines Big Band at Adventureland Inn.

John will discuss, among other things, the history of jazz in Des Moines, and we'll be viewing some YouTube videos as well as a video with archival still shots of HoF inductees performing in various formats.

Paul Micich (World Port)
7/6/2010

My guest will be Paul Micich of World Port, who'll explain how his band thinks like jazz musicians even if they don't always sound like it: although World Port plays original music inspired by genres from around the globe versus jazz "standards," the group incorporates jazz form and improvisational techniques. So, In contrast to the many musicians around the world who draw jazz sensibility into the indigenous musical forms of their native cultures, Paul and his cohorts reverse that dynamic. He uses the term "immigrant" to describe the many styles that have come to the U.S. from around the world -- from Celtic to Cuban to Klezmer -- that World Port explores.
Paul and I will discuss how the band endeavors to stay true to the spirit of these exotic styles while exercising the freedom to improvise within them. We'll also talk about Paul's electronic horn and its wide range of sounds, which always piques the curiosity of audiences.

Gabriel Espinosa
6/29/2010

Mexican-born bassist/composer Gabriel Espinosa has spent the past 14 years as director of jazz studies at Central College in Pella. He'll be joining me to listen to his recent CD, "From Yucatan to Rio" (Zoho Music 2009) and talk his upcoming appearance at the Iowa Jazz Festival as well as his other musical and educational projects.

Roxi Copland
6/22/2010

My guest will be singer/pianist/songwriter Roxi Copland, whose smoky alto vocals have been favorably compared to Diana Krall and Diane Reeves. One writer humorously claimed to be uncertain whether she’s better described as “Norah Jones with bite” or “Amy Winehouse sober.” We'll be listening to her latest EP, "Black Out the Blue," and chatting about her current and upcoming projects, among other things.

Jeff Oatts (Foxboro)
6/15/2010

Drummer Jeff Oatts recently was part of an unusual graduation ceremony at Drake University. He and his uncle, saxophonist Dick Oatts -- who was being awarded an honorary doctorate -- performed a blues tune with university president David Maxwell on guitar! (Maxwell, like Jeff, has an accomplished jazz trumpeter for a father).
Now, it's Jeff's turn to graduate (from Johnston High School), along with his brothers Chris and Eric -- who are triplets. Jeff and violinist Travis Patton will be my guests to talk about their funk/fusion band Foxboro (née Joey Is Just An Alias), play some recent recordings, and discuss the three brothers' collegiate plans.

Sheila Linskens (Jazz in July)
6/8/2010

The Metro Arts Alliance of Greater Des Moines is once again presenting "Jazz in July" -- a month-long program of live music that this year will feature some sixteen local and regional musicians performing at venues throughout the DSM area. Sheila Linskens of the MAA will be on the show to tell us all about it, including a kick-off party on June 30th at Prairie Meadows featuring a noted national act, Mingus Dynasty.

Emil Viklicky
6/1/2010

Emil Viklicky, was born in Olomouc, Czechoslovakia (now the Czech Republic), and formally studied jazz in the US after earning a scholarship at Berklee College. Often called "The Patriarch of Czech Jazz," Emil is renowned for his unique synthesis of the expressive elements of modern jazz with the melodicism and tonalities of Moravian folk song. Emil has regularly performed in Iowa over the past decade, most often at the National Czech & Slovak Museum & Library. He will be back in Iowa on June 4th for a concert at the Cedar Rapids Museum of Art (with local drummer/teacher Dennis McPartland). My show will try to encapsulate the prolific work and impressive career of this very special artist.