Music

Sure to warm up even the coldest of winter nights, the latest disc by Frank Macchia is a pleasure.  Swamp Thang presents a band of the same name lead by Grammy Nominated Compser Macchia. Wild groove music with crazy chromatic melodies come together with a dose of Cajun and a dash of humor.   The Swamp Thang band, led by Frank Macchia on saxophone, features  John Rosenberg on piano, organ and keyboards, Ken Rosser and Eric Jensen on electric guitars, Tom Lockett on electric bass and Frank Briggs on drums and percussion.

Another one of those live recordings that lets you feel that you are there.  Further Explorations is a 2 CD celebration of the music of Bill Evans with two of the former band mates of Evans on stage. There's Eddie Gomez, the legendary bassist who was with the Bill Evans trio for eleven years, 1966-1977.  Paul Motian is also on the stage, one of the most influential jazz drummers of the last 50 years who was with Evans from 1959 through 1964 .  Chick Corea, one of the most dynamic and creative pianists in all of jazz since Evans, joins Gomez and Motian.

Artist / CD Title / Record Label
Giacomo Gates / The Revolution Will Be Jazz / Savant
Jessica Williams / Freedom Trane / Origin Records
Kurt Elling / The Gate / Concord Jazz
Bobby Sanabria / Tito Puente Masterworks Live!!! / Jazzheads
Orrin Evans / Captain Black Big Band / Posi-Tone
Westchester Jazz Orch. / Maiden Voyage Suite / WJO
Tom Harrell / The Time Of The Sun / HighNote
Arturo O'Farrill / 40 Acres And A Burro / Zoho
Judy Wexler / Under A Painted Sky / Jazzed Media
One For All / Invades Vancouver / Cellar Live

Artist / CD Title / Record Label
Kurt Elling / The Gate / Concord Jazz
Bobby Sanabria & Manhattan School of Music Afro-Cuban Jazz Orchestra / Tito Puente Masterworks Live !!! / Jazzheads
Ambrose Akin­musire / When The Heart Emerges Glistening / Blue Note
Giacomo Gates / The Revolution Will Be Jazz / Savant
Jessica Williams / Freedom Trane / Origin Records
One For All / Invades Vancouver / Cellar Live
Johnny Mandel / The Man and His Music / Arbors Music
Pat Martino / Undeniable / High Note

GRETCHEN PARLATO /  THE LOST AND FOUND /OBLIQ SOUND

DWIGHT TRIBLE / COSMIC /KATALYST ENTERTAINMENT

BEN ALLISON / ACTION -REFRACTION /PALMETTO

JACOB FRED JAZZ ODYSSEY / THE RACE RIOT SUITE / GROOVE MARKETING

TERRI LYNE CARRINGTON / THE MOSAIC PROJECT / CONCORD

ERIC HARLAND /VOAYGER: LIVE BY NIGHT / SPACE TIME RECORDS

ERNEST DAWKINS NEW HORIZONS ENSEMBLE / THE PRAIRIE PROPHET / DELMARK

BELA FLECK AND THE FLECKTONES / ROCKET SCIENCE /EOM

WADADA LEO SMITH'S ORGANIC / HEARTS'S REFLECTIONS / CUNEIFORM

Special airs January 2nd on KIOS.

Tune in January 2nd at 2:00PM for a one-hour special, "Ray Charles: Singular Genius". You'll hear music from the new box set "Singular Genius: The Complete ABC Singles" including such hits as "I Can't Stop Loving You", "Hit The Road Jack" and "Georgia". The program also includes interviews with Charles and with music historian Billy Vera, guitarist George Benson , Concord Records President Richard Burke and Chicago radio personality Herb Kent. They reflect on the music and career of the music icon as well as his approach to life.

Jazz vocalist's tremendous artistry is demonstrated on "Cosmic".

By Chris Cooke

Vocalist to perform Ella Fitzgerald tribute with Omaha Symphony this weekend.

By Chris Cooke

Jazz Appreciation Month

Mike Jacobs talks with the Omaha pianist and member of the Omaha Musician's Association about April events at the Durham Western Heritage Museum in celebration of Jazz Appreciation Month.

Bassist's latest recording is Think Free

(14:05)