Looking for some songs to match our wet weather? Just for fun, here are a few, feel free to add yours in the comments.

Come Rain or Come Shine

After the Rain

Águas de Março

Here’s That Rainy Day

Singin’ in the Rain

Stormy Weather

Cry Me a River

On the Sunny Side of the Street

HAPPY NEW YEAR JAZZ LOVERS! As music director, and now co-program director with Chris Cortez, I have always felt that part of our mission at KCSM JAZZ 91 is to reflect the Jazz music that is being created and produced here in the San Francisco Bay Area as well as that from around the jazz world. Read the rest of this entry »

We lost some Jazz greats in 2022, across the wide and varied spectrum of the genre. Their unique voices, whether as a horn player, vocalist, writer, educator or producer, are missed. KCSM will continue to honor and celebrate their work into the New Year and beyond.

Our San Francisco Bay Area Jazz community lost significant members this year. We begin with their names (please note this is not a complete list, please share in comments others that you wish added).

Rest In Power and Peace

Richard Hadlock

 Mark Levine

Andrew Speight

Pharoah Sanders

Abdul Wadud

Joey DeFrancesco

Eric Jackson

Ronni Cuber

Jamie Branch

Grachan Moncur III

Ernie Andrews

Michael Henderson

Meghan Stabile

Woke up this morning to the news of the passing of the great Eric Jackson, the ‘Dean of Boston Jazz Radio’.
I am devastated and heartbroken. A swirl of emotions and memories overcome me.
Eric was my mentor, my colleague, my friend.
We knew each other at WGBH in Boston in the 80’s, when he was the host of “Eric in the Evening”, a nightly 5-hour sojourn through the music of jazz and improvisational music, and I was a broadcast engineer.

I was a fan of Eric’s dulcet tones, his infectious laugh and his eclectic open-minded awesome mind-blowing programming.
Eric not only taught me how to be a music announcer, he taught me that “jazz” could include the likes of Aretha and Ray Charles and many other artists who were previously relegated to the “Soul/R&B” box.
He gave me permission to bring all of myself to my music programming.
And when he asked me to fill in for him on “Eric in the Evening” on numerous occasions, I was gobsmacked, honored and privileged.

Eric came to visit me in California in 2006. On the night of December 1st, I told him to meet me at Anna’s Jazz Island in Berkeley because I wanted to turn him on to my favorite vocalist, Kenny Washington. Eric and his wife were late because they went to the North Berkeley BART station instead of the Downtown Berkeley BART station. The only reason he forgave me was the fact that Kenny was so extraordinary.

Eric had an open heart and open ears. He was a mensch.
He gave of himself, his music and his experience and talent freely.
His passion and exuberance were infectious.
We shared roots and stories that were based in our home state of New Jersey…Eric from Camden, me from Newark.
We had many boisterous fun conversations with our friend, Camden native and poet extraordinaire, Kate Rushin.

I will take Eric with me wherever I go.
And every time I program a set of music or segue between two unsuspecting artists, I will hear his voice and feel his inspiration and support.
And of course every time I hear the strains of Horace Silver’s composition “Peace” performed by pianist Tommy Flanagan, Eric’s theme song for over 40 years, I will think of him, shed a tear, smile a smile, and bow to his genius and kindness.

All praises due to Eric Jackson…one of a kind and unique!
Heartfelt condolences to his family, friends and many listeners.

Melanie Berzon

*Pix are from August 8, 2015, when Eric and I hung out at the San Jose Jazz Festival. KCSM was broadcasting live and Eric came to participate in a panel.

Wayne Shorter’s still here, but Miles is not here. Max Roach is not here. Trane is not here. Monk is not here. Do I feel nostalgic about that? No. These guys are alive to me. I hear their music. OK, Charlie Parker is not in his body, but everything about Charlie Parker is here to me in spirit. Any time of day, any time of night, I might think of Miles, and the spirit is there. Occasionally I go, Gee, I can’t hang out with Dizzy Gillespie or Clifford Brown after a gig. I think about that, but it’s receding. Those guys — I don’t worry about them not being here in the flesh. I’m not going to be in the flesh, either. Sonny Rollins

The Saxophone Colossus turns 92 on Wednesday, September 7.  Rollins is a towering figure in Jazz, not only on the tenor sax but also with regard to the music’s  development and history: a seven decade career, over sixty albums recorded as a leader and a composer of  tunes that are considered “standards” in the Jazz repertoire.  Join Jesse ‘Chuy’ Varela on Wednesday September 7 for a celebration of Sonny Rollins, 2:00 – 4:00 PM! Pledge at KCSM.ORG

Do you stream your jazz station at KCSM.ORG? Or do listen to us at 91.1FM? Either way, we love you madly for making us a part of your listening experience! Radio has been around for a long time and is an important part of many communities, taking the daily pulse of life through traffic, news and music.
Consider that in 1920 there was only one radio station in the U.S: KDKA in Pittsburg. Dr. Frank Conrad, a hobbyist who loved tinkering with the very new radio technology, shared his record collection with friends over the airwaves. Westinghouse Electric Company learned of this and, wanting to explore radio as a commercial endeavor, asked Conrad to help set up a regularly transmitting station in Pittsburg and the nation’s first commercial broadcast station was born on November 2, 1920. By 1922, there were four stations, and within a year, 560 joined the airwaves.
At 102 years old radio has come a long way and yet it still serves many of the same purposes: to connect, to educate, and to inform its listeners. At KCSM, a member supported station, we rely on you, our listeners to complete a unique circle: your stories, and memories often spur us on in the DJ booth when choosing music. We also pay tribute to our San Francisco Bay Area musicians and educators, a very rich community of stunning talent.
We also connect to a worldwide audience that shares our love of this music that is beyond category. Help us to maintain these vital connections so that we can continue to bring you the best in Jazz, and in playing this music forward, reaching people around the globe and right here, around our neighborhood! KCSM.ORG or 1-800-527-6911 THANK YOU!!

Charles Parker Jr. was born on August 29, 1920 and left us on March 12, 1955. He was just five months shy of his 35th year. The alto saxophone, Parker’s main focus, was patented in 1860, an upstart in the very cliquish world of woodwinds and brass instruments. At first considered a “novelty” instrument, the saxophone family really did not find acceptance as a serious contender until it found itself in the hands of players like Frankie Trumbauer, Lester Young, Coleman Hawkins, Willie Smith and others.

We’ll hear some of these players to set the stage for the high octane virtuosity that Charlie Parker brought to the still very young alto sax, which hadn’t even achieved its 100 year mark at the time of Parker’s death.

We’ll also hear his music, and we’ll hear him speak of how he thought the music should be: clean, precise, and direct. A directness that conveyed honesty and beauty to his audience. Poetry and spoken word and musicians who have continued to perform his music, unearthing new meanings and challenges for those digging deeply into his work will also be heard. Charlie Parker’s legacy set a very high benchmark for all saxophonists and musicians, one that is still aimed for in 2022.  Tune in Friday September 2, 7-10AM!

Resources, for fun, in no particular order

Ted Joans, “Bird Lives!”

Adolphe Sax’s Story

Rudy Weidoeft’s Advanced Studies for Saxophone (1928)

How a Saxophone Is Made

As the 1950s continued, Reid Miles moved to Blue Note and continued to work with Warhol on some projects. Perhaps as a precursor to the gorgeous photographic covers that were to come at Blue Note, Warhol and Reid chose to do sketches for the covers. The first were for guitarist Kenny Burrell.

In 1956, Blue Note went to a 12″ format for its releases. This Burrell album is the first in that new size. Warhol and Reid chose a photograph of the guitarist’s hands most likely taken by Blue Note’s founder, Francis Wolff. Warhol did the sketch and signed his work which can be seen on the cover.

The second Burrell album cover, is a free form sketch that Warhol did. A double volume, the figure remained the same but the background color differed. This time no photograph was used, however drawing from photographs, interpreting them or using them for inspiration, continued to be a “thing” or a device that Reid and Warhol relied on.

This J.J. Johnson and Kai Winding album cover (below right) was inspired by a photo of an 8th century drawing of King David surrounded by musicians (below left). Like any great artist, Warhol was a genius at”borrowing” ideas and making them current.

April 23rd is International Record Store Day, we hope to catch you in the aisles, browsing and supporting your local store! Next time we’ll look at another artist and his hand drawn album cover, Miles Davis.