On Saturday night Kathleen Harris, KCSM Development Director, headed to the Golden Gate Theatre to soak in the sounds of live jazz from one of KCSMs favorites, Kamasi Washington, who delivered a powerful performance that had the crowd on its feet. After the show, Kathleen captured a special moment: Karen, a devoted KCSM fan, reaching out to thank Kamasi for the music that has meant so much to her. This simple handshake between artist and listener captures what KCSM is all about—real connections, shared love of jazz, and a community that stretches from the airwaves to the concert hall. A moment of pure jazz joy that reflects KCSMs unequaled connection to the Bay Area jazz scene.

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.

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.

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.

Atlantic Records, Part 13 - ATCO Records. 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. The presentation of this behemoth, 14-part series celebrates the first 10 years of Atlantic's existence: 1947-57. This week, part thirteen focuses on Atlantic's most successful subsidiary label, ATCO Records. When Atlantic co-founder, Herb Abramson returned from his military duty in 1955, he found a very different company that had continued to grow without him. His partner, Ahmet Ertegun suggested starting a subsidiary that would be fully managed by Abramson and so ATCO was born. ATCO originally focused more on vocal groups than its parent company had. The first national hit for the label was by The Sensations, a Philly group that featured Yvonne Mills on lead. The Royal Jokers, The Pearls, The Castelles and The Ray-O-Vacs also released singles on ATCO, but by far the biggest vocal group on the label was The Coasters. They came over in a big deal that Atlantic struck with songwriter/producers Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller. Atlantic would buy Leiber/Stoller's Spark records and take on the two of them as staff songwriters/producers. Some of their signed artists were also included in the deal and that's what brought Carl Gardner and Bobby Nunn of the Robins over to Atlantic to form a new group called The Coasters. They scored ATCO's first #1 record with "Searchin'." So, buckle in and prepare yourself for an in-depth look at the history of ATCO Records.

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 Bob Brumbeloe, 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.