KCSM staff, including Station Manager, Dr. Robert Franklin, were proud to attend this year’s Monterey Jazz Festival, the longest continuously running jazz festival in the world. Since 1958, MJF has given both legendary performers and emerging artists a platform to share their music with audiences who cherish jazz. (Click subject line for more)

Last month, KCSM On-Air Host Harry Duncan, (In The Soul Kitchen and Thursday's Jazz In The Afternoon) spun a special late night set on the last night of The Fuji Rock Festival in Japan. In the legendary Crystal Palace venue, Duncan served up a hour’s worth of freestyle roots and rhythm to a very enthusiastic, open and diverse group of dancers. (click the subject line to see a short video.)

Tommy Lehman Trio Featuring Dan Wilson and Paul Thompson. Tommy Lehman is a Northeast Ohio native and a Hartt School of Music graduate who performs regularly across the country both as leaders of his own projects and as a member of Alla Boara and Nathan-Paul and the Admirables.Akron based guitarist Dan Wilson’s career took him on an exploratory journey into foundations laid down by the guitar/organ tradition, eventually leading to an invitation to perform with jazz great Joey DeFrancesco’s quartet, with which Wilson went on to earn a GRAMMY® Award nomination in 2017.Additional work with Christian McBride’s Tip City trio served as a gateway to Wilson signing with and releasing two albums on the Brother Mister record label, the most recent of which is Things Eternal.Bassist Paul Thompson is a 30-year veteran of the Pittsburgh jazz scene and, in addition to his work as an educator he has toured the world with the likes of Maynard Ferguson and Stanley Turrentine. His bass drives Pittsburgh jazz.From a sold-out August 9th, 2024 performance, Daniel Peck is your host for the Tommy Lehman Trio Featuring Dan Wilson…Live at the Bop Stop.

Atlantic Records, Part 7 - 1954, Part 1. 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. This behemoth 14-part series celebrates the first 10 years of Atlantic's existence: 1947-57. This week in part seven, we take a look at the first half of 1954, one of the biggest years in Atlantic's storied history. It was this year that Ray Charles scored his first hit for Atlantic with "It Should've Been Me." It was his first hit after a 2-year dry spell. The Clovers and Clyde McPhatter & The Drifters continued to rack up best-sellers while The Diamonds, Professor Longhair and Hal Paige should've had hits this year. Big Joe Turner took a somewhat risque jump blues called "Shake, Rattle & Roll" and turned it into an early Rock n' Roll anthem. At 43, Turner was the oldest Rock Idol. Next week, we'll look at the second half of Atlantic's great releases from 1954. 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.

Camille Thurman and Queens’ Jazz Legacy. As both a saxophonist and vocalist, Camille Thurman is a jazz double threat. This episode features performances with her band and the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra, along with a look at the rich jazz history of her Queens neighborhood.

Making Records With Antonio Carlos Jobim And His Music, Part 2. Antonio Carlos Jobim was one of the greatest composers of the 20th Century. In any genre. In Part 2 we’ll feature Jobim in the company of Herbie Hancock, Ron Carter, Shirley Horn, Jon Hendricks, Gal Costa and more.

Tommy Lehman Trio Featuring Dan Wilson and Paul Thompson. Tommy Lehman is a Northeast Ohio native and a Hartt School of Music graduate who performs regularly across the country both as leaders of his own projects and as a member of Alla Boara and Nathan-Paul and the Admirables.Akron based guitarist Dan Wilson’s career took him on an exploratory journey into foundations laid down by the guitar/organ tradition, eventually leading to an invitation to perform with jazz great Joey DeFrancesco’s quartet, with which Wilson went on to earn a GRAMMY® Award nomination in 2017.Additional work with Christian McBride’s Tip City trio served as a gateway to Wilson signing with and releasing two albums on the Brother Mister record label, the most recent of which is Things Eternal.Bassist Paul Thompson is a 30-year veteran of the Pittsburgh jazz scene and, in addition to his work as an educator he has toured the world with the likes of Maynard Ferguson and Stanley Turrentine. His bass drives Pittsburgh jazz.From a sold-out August 9th, 2024 performance, Daniel Peck is your host for the Tommy Lehman Trio Featuring Dan Wilson…Live at the Bop Stop.

This episode includes long sets in memory of Spencer Taylor Jr. (pictured) of the Highway QCs and Supreme Queen Mother Doris Lee Rogers (Bibleway Temple)

Jeramie Andehueson is the President and Founder of Alameda Pride. 2025 marks the 4th annual Alameda Pride Celebration, entitled “Together We Rise,” with multiple events scheduled for Saturday, October 11th, coinciding with National Coming Out Day. Host Scott Piehler and Jeramie will discuss the creation of Alameda Pride, as well as last year’s launch of QTAC, the Queer Teen Alameda Center, a drop-in safe space for LGBTQ+ youth.

River Huston, Part 1. This week is “How Women Feel About Their Bodies.”This is an encore recording of a very poignant and revealing discussion presented by River Huston. Huston is an artist, sex educator, an award-winning poet, journalist, performer and activist. This is part one of our two-part presentation.