Kathleen Lawton, Host of Crazy 'Bout The Blues and Jazz Oasis (Friday) was the MC for the San Francisco International Boogie Woogie Festival on November 9, 2025. Kathleen said it was a wonderful show — very appreciative audience. Performers were from Germany, Switzerland, Spain, France and Hungary. It was a lot of fun with great and enthusiastic crowd, and the music was delicious. The weather was lovely and balmy in the city. Kathleen also noted that she was promoted to Mistress - LOL!

If you joined us at the Alameda Theatre for the screening of the KCSM Documentary, thank you for being part of such a special day. Nearly 300 jazz lovers, listeners, and friends came together to celebrate the music, the memories, and the people who make KCSM what it is. The afternoon featured the documentary premiere, a Q&A with beloved station hosts, and a wonderful reception and tour at the California Historical Radio Society Museum. Click the story subject line to relive the moments and see some photos from this unforgettable gathering that reflects KCSM’s deep roots and ongoing connection to our jazz community.

Listen to All About Jazz host Steve Roby's interview with KCSM Station Manager Dr. Robert Franklin about the Documentary on KCSM's broadcast history, from it's humble beginning as a hands-on training ground for students, to a full-time jazz station. (click on headline for more information)

Atlantic Records, Part 12 - 1957. Atlantic Records was the most influential, significant and important independent record label to come out of the late-1940s, during a time when there were many great, small indie labels being born. What gave Atlantic the advantage over Specialty, Chess, Modern, Vee-Jay, Exclusive, King, etc is the breadth of material, variety of music styles and the sheer number of hit records that led to the Rock n' Roll explosion of the mid-1950s. Matt The Cat and the "Juke In The Back" present this behemoth, 14-part series celebrating the first 10 years of Atlantic's existence: 1947-57. This week in part twelve, we wrap up the focus on the parent label, Atlantic by looking at its major releases from the end of 1956 through 1957. Chuck Willis scores the biggest hit of his career with his rendition of the traditional tune, "C. C. Rider," a little over a year before his untimely death. LaVern Baker sails to the top of the chart as "Jim Dandy" crosses over into the Pop Chart, extending its mass appeal as Rock n' Roll becomes mainstream Pop Music. Atlantic takes advantage of Rock's mainstream appeal and begins to smooth out its rough R&B sound for a more poppy approach. Ray Charles continues to develop his sound, scoring more hits and even crossing over to Pop himself with his reinterpretation of Stephen Foster's whimsical look at slavery. The Bobbettes, Drifters and Penguins add some fantastic vocal group records to round out part twelve. Next week, we'll begin looking at Atlantic's successful subsidiary labels. So, buckle in and prepare yourself for an in-depth, 14 part look at the history of Atlantic Records, which could also be described as a look at the history of American Music itself.

Legendary drummer and NEA Jazz Master Billy Hart turns 85 this month. From his early days in Washington, D.C., with Shirley Horn and Jimmy Smith to his groundbreaking years in Herbie Hancock’s visionary Mwandishi band and his own acclaimed quartet, Hart’s story is one of boundless rhythm, curiosity, and groove.

The Bridge: Sonny Rollins On RCA 1962-1964, Part 2. Part 2 features saxophone giant Sonny Rollins in the company of Don Cherry, Billy Higgins, Coleman Hawkins, Herbie Hancock, Jim Hall and more.

I first experienced the artistry of ballet dancer/choreographer, Tom Gold at the premiere of his French Cinema-inspired piece, Le Voyage in April 2025 in Manhattan. Although Tom was a twenty-one-year member of New York City Ballet and the founder/director of his own company since 2008, I was new to his work. Imagine my delight when the music accompanying the dancing was jazz performed by vocalist Olivia Chindamo, pianist Matthew Sheens with bassist Marty Jaffe. Tom Gold is a life-long jazz lover and feels the improvisational aspect and rhythmic feel of jazz have always touched something deep inside him and influenced his approach to dance and life.

Performing live in the KCSM record vault former Jazz in the Afternoon host Dick Conte & Bay Area stalwart Dick Fregulia join forces trading piano duties backed by bassist Steve Webber and drummer Jimmy Hobson.A native of Palo Alto, Dick Fregulia has played a wide variety of jazz piano gigs in the San Francisco Bay Area for over half a century. For 35 years he was featured Thursday nights at Washington Square Bar and Grill in San Francisco's North Beach. His early influences were Ahmad Jamal, George Shearing, and Oscar Peterson, leading to a lifelong admiration for Bill Evans as a trio pianist and Art Tatum as a solo pianist. . Dick Conte arrived in San Francisco in 1961 from his native Connecticut and has since become an integral part of the Bay Area jazz scene with his encyclopedic knowledge of jazz, formidable jazz radio presence (from the fabled KJAZ days to present-day KCSM and KKSF), and his piano performances at clubs, festivals and private venues.

Tim Price Quintet plays (Lennie) Tristano. Performing live in the KCSM record vault alto saxophonist, Tim Price will play Lennie Tristano melodies based on classic jazz standards comparing the melodies to the original "heads" and discussing the differences and what makes them extraordinary. Joining Tim Price will be veterans of the San Francisco Bay Area jazz scene, tenor saxophonist Tod Dickow, guitarist Terence Brewer, bassist Jim Kerwin and drummer Curt Moore. (click subject for more)

Pittsburgh based bassist Eli Naragon has toured and worked with some of the biggest names in jazz including Eddie Henderson, Billy Hart and Roger Humphries. He pays tribute to all of them on his 2022 debut album Homage, and he graced our stage on tour in support of that album in this December 28th, 2022 performance. Backed by some of Northeast Ohio’s best musicians including Chris Coles on saxophone, Tommy Lehman on trumpet, Zaire Darden on drums and Theron Brown on piano, Daniel Peck is your host for Eli Naragon – Live at the Bop Stop.

William Luck hosts Gospel Memories this week, featuring music from The Chariot Wheels, Sons of Truth, The Loving Sisters (pictured), Miss Evelyn Tyler (aka Turrentine-Agee) & the Tyler Singers, a tribute to the late Sandy Foster Jr. of the Five Blind Boys of Mississippi, and others.