Corridor Jazz Project
KCCK's jazz education program, Corridor Jazz Project, showcases the outstanding high school jazz programs in the Cultural Corridor and provides the opportunity for high school musicians to interact with and learn from college jazz directors and other professional players.
- Each school that chooses to participate is matched with a professional musician/educator, who performs as a guest soloist with the school's top jazz ensemble. The group rehearses the tune in 1-2 sessions.
- The band and guest artist record the track, under the direction of professional producers. All the tracks are included on a compilation CD.
- High school-age artists can also submit a design for the cover art, which is chosen by a committee of artists/art educators.
- A CD Release party and concert, featuring the bands and guest artists, is then held at an area venue. Schools are given blocks of tickets that they can sell and keep the proceeds.
- The CD is made available to each school, below cost, to sell and keep the profit. The CD airs periodically on KCCK, particularly during April Jazz Appreciation Month, and is also available at local retailers.
Schools participating in the 2011 performance at Cedar Rapids Prairie High School Recital Hall and their guest artists:
- Cedar Rapids Prairie High School - Rod Pierson, saxophone
- Cedar Rapids Washington High School - John Kizilarmut, vibes
- Cedar Rapids Kennedy High School - Bob Washut, piano
- Cedar Rapids Jefferson High School - Randy Grabowski, trumpet
- Cedar Rapids Xavier High School - Lynne Hart, saxophone
- Linn Mar High School - Damani Phillips, saxophone
- Marion High School - Rich Medd, trombone
- Iowa City High School - Chris Buckholz, trombone
- Iowa City West High School - Kevin "BF" Burt, guitar and vocals
- Iowa City Regina High School - Al Naylor, trumpet
Support for the Corridor Jazz Project comes from Rockwell Collins, West Music, M.C. Ginsberg, and Kirkwood Community College. The 2010 CD art was produced by Allie Boteler, Marion High School.
