Last Call

Saturdays, 11pm - 1am

The Last Call started on KIOS in January 1996.   Since that time Chris Cooke has been the host for this late night jazz program.  It is one of the few radio programs that present the very best of adventuresome jazz-music which generally falls outside of the mainstream of the genre, but includes some of the most creative and innovative music ever recorded by musicians anywhere. The program's host brings along with him several decades of experience and insight into jazz music as he steps into the studio to host each program.

Jazz artists have been motivated by concerns outside of the mainstream for decades. Innovative musicians such as Sun Ra & his Arkestra made some of the first truly "out there" recordings in the 1950s. The following decade saw the emergence of Ornette Coleman & Free Jazz.  John Coltrane's flight into the avant-garde was also a defining moment, equalled only by fellow saxophoniststs Pharaoh Sanders and Albert Ayler. Ayler's  "ectastic" period in 1965-1966 is arguably the most bold demonstration of inspired, sacred jazz ever on record.  The 1960s also saw the formation of Chicago's Association for the Advancement of Creative Musicians (AACM). The Art Ensemble of Chicago also formed in the 1960s, to be followed by the World Saxophone Quartet.

Inspired by the revolutionary guitar work of Jimi Hendrix, the grooves of James Brown and Sly & The Family Stone,  a wave of innovative jazz musicians fused jazz & rock in the late 1960s. Miles Davis & his in studio ensembles were among the first to record electric jazz, other artists such Eddie Harris, Charles Lloyd, Herbie Mann & Larry Coryell also pioneered some of the earliest jazz rock in the late 1960s.  An explosion of progressive jazz groups followed in the 1970s. Bands such as Herbie Hancock's Headhunters (and earlier, Mwandishi sextet), Return to Forever, Weather Report, and John McLaughlin's Mahavishu Orchestra made immensely creative music and won audiences worldwide. Since then a galaxy of jazz talent has continued exploring the possibilities of jazz music. Artists such as Rez Abbasi, Vijay Iyer & Oscar Utterstrom & others featured regularly on the Last Call are an assurance that the future of forward-looking jazz music is bright indeed.

Thank you for listening!

-Chris Cooke

Album Reviews

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Composer ID: 
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Playlist

October 06, 2012

11:01 PM
Haywire
Artist : Trombari
Album : The Devil's Hopyard
Catalog : 3625
Label : Jazzmaniac
11:10 PM
Seven Minute Mind
Artist : The Bad Plus
Album : Made Possible
Catalog : 2392
Label : E One
11:21 PM
After The Cosmic Rain
Artist : Return To Forever
Album : The Mothership Returns
Catalog : 202572
Label : Eagle Records
11:39 PM
Losing Track of Daytime
Artist : Donny McCaslin
Album : Casting For Gravity
Catalog : 1028
Label : Green Leaf Music
11:46 PM
Fusion
Artist : Eddie Henderson
Album : Realization/Inside Out
Catalog : 11
Label : Soul Brother Records
11:50 PM
Hara Angelina featuring Gretchen Parlato(excerpt)
Artist : John Daversa
Album : Artful Joy
Catalog : 84812902954
Label : BFM Jazz
11:52 PM
Spanish Venus
Artist : Rob Mazurek Pulsar Quartet
Album : Stellar Pulsations
Catalog : 2018
Label : Delmark
12:00 AM
Beehive
Artist : Dr Lonnie Smith
Album : The Healer
Catalog : 001
Label : Pilgrimage
12:10 AM
You Drive Me Wild
Artist : Hood Smoke
Album : Laid Up In Ordinary
Catalog : 82622
Label : Origin
12:17 AM
Later News
Artist : Fred Lonberg Holm’s Fast Citizens
Album : Gather
Catalog : 2017
Label : Delmark
12:26 AM
Bartlett
Artist : Christian Scott
Album : Christian Atunde Adjuah
Catalog : 33237-02
Label : Concord Jazz
12:35 AM
River Man
Artist : Lee Ritenour
Album : Rhythm Section
Catalog : 33709-02
Label : Concord Jazz
12:40 AM
Farafina
Artist : Lionel Loueke
Album : Heritage
Catalog : 509993 27742 2 1
Label : Blue Note
12:45 AM
Intro To A Mighty Theme
Artist : Joe Zawinul & The Zawinul Syndicate
Album : Vienna Nights
Catalog : 4001-2
Label : BHM Productions
12:47 AM
Come Sunday
Artist : Joe Zawinul & The Zawinul Syndicate
Album : Vienna Nights
Catalog : 4001-2
Label : BHM Productions
12:54 AM
Three Postcards
Artist : Joe Zawinul & The Zawinul Syndicate
Album : Vienna Nights
Catalog : 4001-2
Label : BHM Productions

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Other Content
2:29 am
Sun May 19, 2013

Last Call Notes: May CD Reviews

Nicole Mitchell's Ice Crystal project is at the forefront of the discs we're featuring this month on the Last Call. Mitchell is a veteran, award-winning flutist who knows how to mix cosmic music & swing into a very appealing disc. The present volume, Aquarius, is another success for the veteran flutist, who has brought Jason Adasiewicz on board for a compelling series of conversations.  Also on board are veteran improvisers Joshua Abrams (bass), Frank Rosaly (drums) for a session that is worth adding to your record library.

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Music
12:07 am
Sun May 19, 2013

Last Call Rotation

Week Of May 19, 2013

ARTIST / CD TITLE / RECORD LABEL

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Other Content
11:33 pm
Fri May 10, 2013

Last Call Artist Spotlight: Gretchen Parlato

Vocalist Gretchen Parlato will perform in Omaha at the 1200 Club at the Holland on May 11th. This is the first Omaha concert for the rising vocal star, whose 2011 effort "The Lost And Found" was the #1 Jazz CD of the year as awarded by this program. Click on the link to listen to an interview with Gretchen Parlato.(Recording Engineer: Mike Hansen.)

For more information about Parlato's concert in Omaha you may visit omahaperformingarts.org

Here is the review of the record from our archives:

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11:47 pm
Fri May 3, 2013

The Jimi You Never Knew

2-HOUR Jimi Hendrix Special:
"The Jimi You Never Knew"
Sunday May 5th at 7:00PM

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Other Content
9:21 pm
Sat April 27, 2013

Last Call CD Review: Jeremy Pelt / Water and Earth / High Note

Trumpeter Jeremy Pelt is an accomplished trumpeter with a string of critically acclaimed albums.  A solid straight-ahead artist, he has released two albums (2005's Identity) and (2007's Shock Value) that explore electric jazz directions.  For Water and Earth, the noted trumpeter, bandleader & educator is back with his longtime bandmates Frank LoCrasto, keyboards; Dana Hawkins, drums; and newcomers including Roxy Coss on saxophone.

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Other Content
8:46 pm
Sat April 27, 2013

Last Call April Label Spotlight: Cuneiform Records

Cuneiform Records has just released a new batch of adventuresome jazz discs. Their usual high standard of creative brilliance continues with a number of fine recordings, most notably The Rob Mazurek Octet's  Skull Sessions.

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7:39 pm
Mon April 1, 2013

Jazz CDs of the Month: Giacomo Gates / Miles Tones & Dave Stryker / Blue To The Bone IV

Giacomo Gates – Miles Tones – Savant SCD 2124

The music of Miles Davis, so firmly entrenched in the instrumental heart and soul of jazz music, has also been embellished with lyrics in several instances. Vocalist Giacomo Gates' latest release gathers a variety of these selections and serves them with his inimitable stylings and superb musical accompaniment.

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12:54 am
Sun March 10, 2013

Last Call notes..tonight's playlist

Thanks for listening to tonight's Last Call!

View our Last Call playlist for March 9, 2013

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8:34 pm
Sat March 2, 2013

Jazz Release Of The Month: Miles Davis Quintet/Live In Europe 1969/Columbia/Legacy

The music of Miles Davis was changing dramatically in the late 1960s. Most fans of the legendary trumpeter know that in 1969 he recorded Bitches Brew, the hugely successful dawn of jazz-rock that was one of the best selling jazz records ever released. Lesser known is the working unit that Miles took with him on the road was one of the most artistically daring and visionary bands that Miles ever led. Recordings of that outfit have recently surfaced and have been released on a multi-disc set, Live In Europe 1969, The Complete Bootleg Sessions Vol. 2.

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11:39 am
Tue February 26, 2013

An interview with Reid Anderson of The Bad Plus

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