Staff Blog


Saturday, July 5, 2008

Links for Our Pre-Recorded Programs!

In addition to playing the best music in Northeastern Iowa, we broadcast several canned programs, which touch on current events, news, environmental issues, as well as what's new and old in specific areas of music. Here is a list of our canned programs (click on the program and be taken on a magical journey to their website).

Bioneers: Revolution from the Heart of Nature airs Saturday mornings at 8 am
Dialogue with George Liston Seay airs Saturday mornings at 8:30 am
Maryknoll: Voices of Our World airs Saturday mornings at 9 am
The Bluegrass Review with Phil Nusbaum airs Saturday mornings at 9:30 am
Michael Johnathon's Woodsongs Old Time Radio Hour airs Saturday mornings at 10:30 am
European Jazz Stage airs Saturday afternoons at 3:30 pm

These are mixed in with all of our other music programing (including big blocks of folk around Woodsongs and The Bluegrass Review and Jazz around European Jazz Stage), so tune in and plan to stay a while. I promise that no (bad) radio will be heard on 1240 am weeknights 10-1 or on the weekends from 7am-1240am.

thanks for listening,

Your Friend,
The Jazzman
Posted by Pete Russella at 11:39 AM |  0 comments

Friday, June 20, 2008

Updated 2008 KWLC Schedule!!

This is current from now (june 20) through early september 2008.

Feel free to call at any of these times for requests, questions, comments: 563 387 1240

Monday Nights! Chrissy Groh, on air
10p-1130p The Block of Rock (A-Z)
1130p-1a The Block of Loud Rock

Tuesday Nights! Tristan Campbell, on air
10p-1a Radio Free Luther

Wednesday Nights! Tristan Campbell, on air
10p-1130p Radio Free Luther
1130p-1a Electronic Love

Thursday Nights! Chrissy Groh, on air
10p-1130p The Block of Rock (Women of Rock)
1130p-1a The Block of Loud Rock

Friday Nights! Pete Russella, on air
10p-1130p Brand New Deep Cuts
1130p-1a Ambient Beats and Trip Hop Treats: Electronica for the Jazz Lover

Saturday all day!
Pete Russella 7-11a, 4-7p; Chrissy Groh 11a-4p; Tristan Campbell 7p-1240am
7a-8a From Corner to Corner: World Music - - or - - Select Jazz or World Programming
8a-830a Bioneers: Revolution from the Heart of Nature - - or - - Current Events Programming
830a-9a Dialogue
9a-930a Voices of Our World
930a-1030a Bluegrass Review
1030a-1130a Woodsongs Old Time Radio Hour
1130a-330p Folk and Folk Rock
330p-430p Euro Jazz Series (or other Special Jazz Programming)
430p-7p Jazz in the PM
7p-9p Blues Power
9p-1240am The Midwest Dilemma

Sunday all day!
Chrissy Groh 7a-12p; Pete Russella 12p-6p; Tristan Campbell 8p-1240am
7a-12a Religious Programming
12p-3p KWLC's Classical Afternoon
3p-6p The Jazz Connection
6p-8p The Revolution with Jason Stonerook
8p-10p Blues From the Delta
10p-1240am The Weekend Revue

Posted by Pete Russella at 3:58 PM |  0 comments

Saturday, June 7, 2008

Jazz legend wins Album of the Year

By: Pete Russella, Volunteer Writer

Although it is about a month late for reports from the Grammy Awards, in a contest that often ignores the slighter sides of music — classical, jazz, folk, blues, anything that does not often sell in the millions — it is impressive that jazz legend and innovator Herbie Hancock squeaked through to win the prestigious “Album of the Year” award. In February, Hancock became the first true jazz artist in 43 years, to win this coveted prize, the last being Stan Getz and João Gilberto with the album Getz/Gilberto in 1965.

In the years since then, names like Frank Sinatra, Quincy Jones and Tony Bennett have won this award but have been excluded from this unique group of “jazz artists.” That, however, is an argument for another article.

While the masses swoon over the great pianist’s most recent release entitled River: The Joni Letters, I cannot help but feel as though there is still something to be desired from the man who helped usher the electric piano into the foreground of jazz music in the 1970s. This revolutionary of jazz-fusion has created a record which by many peoples’ standards seems watered down.

Without doubt or question, River is a quality album, and does indeed deserve the recognition it has received. In addition, as a lifelong jazz lover, I am ecstatic that a jazz album has won the commercial music industry’s highest honor. But this enthusiasm can only span so far.

Unfortunately, I cannot help but think about what this album could have been. Accompanying Hancock on River are undoubtedly four of the most incredible names in jazz today: Wayne Shorter (sax), Dave Holland (bass), Vinnie Colaiuta (drums) and Lionel Loueke (guitar).

Shorter is widely regarded as one of the greatest composers in jazz history, in addition to being one of the most sought after sax players of the past half century. Holland currently leads the most complex and groundbreaking big band of our day. These two men played on the legendary Bitches Brew album with Hancock, Miles Davis and anybody who was anybody in the jazz scene of 1969. This album is marked as the album that brought jazz-fusion to the world.

With Hancock, Shorter and Holland setting the groundwork for River, Vinnie Calouita and Loueke, who broke onto the music scene in the late 1970s when he began playing with Frank Zappa, and Loueke, student of Hancock. Shorter and Holland each poured their own influences into the album.

Because Joni Mitchell is featured on this record, it is essential to point out that she does not slouch when it comes to jazz trail-blazing. She, along with Hancock, Shorter and the pioneer of avant-garde jazz Charles Mingus recorded the album Mingus, which was an illustrious blend of folk and electric fusion-jazz.

After recruiting all of these historical jazz innovators, it is unfortunate that future generations will regard this album of folk songs as Hancock’s crowning achievement. It represents a disturbing trend for jazz in commercial music, which is only recognized when tacked to a name like Tina Turner, Norah Jones or Sting, all of whom have been featured on Hancock’s two most recent albums, which have had immense critical acclaim.

The highlight of River is Wayne Shorter’s song “Nefertiti” which is one of four instrumentals on the album that truly shines through with the incredible force that this group can obviously produce.

As I said, I am thoroughly enthused that jazz is being recognized on such an illustrious stage, but I cannot help but wonder if this award is encouraging a departure from the experimental, revolutionary roots that gave Hancock the opportunity and privilege to be the spokesperson of jazz to the commercial audiences.

Posted by Pete Russella at 8:34 AM |  0 comments

Monday, May 12, 2008

It's a download fiesta!

Here's a compilation of the weekly featured downloads from the past semester. Have a good summer, keep tuning in to KWLC and keep rocking. I'll be back in the fall. Check out the Facebook group for my show, if you'd like to be reminded when the regular schedule is back in effect. Thanks for listening!

Download this Song
MC Lars

I Think I Wanna Die
Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin

Bend to Squares
Death Cab for Cutie

An Imagined Civil State
Fort Wilson Riot

Duyen
Dominique Leon

Metal Heart
Cat Power

Skinny Love
Bon Iver

We Both Go Down Together
Colin Meloy

You, Me and the Bourgeoise
The Submarines
(via CMJ)

Seeds of Night
The Cave Singers

Moonage Daydream (live David Bowie cover)
Of Montreal

Astronaut
Shy Child

Conquest (from their Daytrotter session)
Tapes 'N Tapes
Posted by Maddi at 10:35 PM |  0 comments

Tuesday, February 26, 2008

rock adds 2/26/08

1 FINK Distance And Time Ninja Tune
2 LADYHAWK Shots Jagjaguwar
3 SCIENCE FOR GIRLS Science For Girls Self-Released
4 OAKS Songs For Waiting Self-Released
5 GOLDFRAPP Seventh Tree Mute
Posted by Dan at 9:34 PM |  5 comments

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