There’s no place like home. KCSM Station Manager Robert Franklin traveled to Jackson, Mississippi, home of Bobby Rush, the legendary and acclaimed 2024 Grammy Award Winner for Best Traditional Blues Album. We had a great time talking about his love of the South, his life, legacy and current plans for the coming year. Rush headlined the 47th Annual Mississippi Delta Blues and Heritage Festival held in Greenville, Mississippi in September.

San Francisco's GG Park featured, "A Love Supreme: A Tribute to John Coltrane" on September 21st Tem saxophonists (representing the entire family, from sopranino to bass) and a drummer performed a suite of Coltrane music arranged by the late Andrew White, a life-long Coltrane devotee. The event is a yearly labor of love brought together by Craig Bright's organization tranetraxx.org. Craig is an avid and passionate supporter of Jazz in all of its forms, and of KCSM as well. The saxophonists (left to right) included Lyle Link, Dave Salvator, Steve Nelson,Bob Kenmotsu, Charles McNeal, Jared Cruz, Jayn Pettingill, Dan Gonda, Doug Rowan, Michael Young. Drummer Deszon Claiborn kept it all inspired and Charles McNeal not only played but conducted. James Graves MC'd. Stay tuned for next year!

On Saturday night, June 15, The Dick Conte Quartet (Dick on piano; Steve Webber, bass; Steve Heckman, saxophones; Jimmy Hobson, drums) performed at the California Jazz Conservatory in Berkeley during their annual concert to benefit the Dick Conte Piano Scholarship Fund which helps young jazz pianists.

Drummer Jason Lewis shows up for the first time in my Doodlin' Lounge with a composition from one of the combos that he co-directed as an instructor within the San Jose State University Jazz Department. He comes from a musical family and even took drum lessons from his father-in-law, keeping the love for music within the family constellation. Today, Jason boasts a long resume of playing and recording with some of the most accomplished musicians in the South Bay and beyond. His style is eclectic albeit not necessarily authentic by his own admission. He is a wise percussionist who began with an interest in symphonic music but branched out into jazz at an early age. Preferring to do 'side-work' rather than leading his own band, Jason has become a first call, top shelf drummer requested by local, regional and national musicians. The tracks heard, interspersed with his dialog, come from a variety of recordings. Enjoy a truly exquisite style of drumming from this veteran player and educator.

Brazilian composer/pianist Antonio Adolfo honors the great Antonio Carlos Jobim on his latest CD, Jobim Forever. Jobim’s music launched the international bossa nova craze and won multiple Grammys in 1965 with the release of Getz/Gilberto, one of the best-selling jazz albums of all time. Antonio Aldolfo’s own compositions have been recorded by Sergio Mendes, Stevie Wonder, Dionne Warwick and many others, so focusing this CD on another composer, and one of his favorites, was a labor of love.

Details Coming Soon.

Part 2. Joy Spring: The Clifford Brown-Max Roach Quintet Recordings in honor of Max's centennial. Hear the brilliant trumpeter and dazzling drummer lead one of the most celebrated groups in the history of jazz, with the "Saxophone Colossus” himself, Sonny Rollins, also joining the band. Playing classics like “Sandu”, “Cherokee”, The Scene Is Clean”, “I Remember April”, and more. Hope you can join us.

Join host Allan Berland as he explores more of the artistry of Bill Evans, with his dreamlike reshaping of tunes and Debussy-like lyricism. It will be an hour of exquisite relaxation with Bill Evans, one of the most important pianists in jazz."

The United States Air Force Band of Flight's "Flight One Combo" is a versatile small group performing the uniquely American art form of Jazz. The members featured in this group are all active-duty musicians serving in the United States Air Force, and all but one are stationed at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Dayton, Ohio.This performance was the last for this quintet as they're being reassigned to other groups performing in other parts of the world. We're honored they could join us and we hope you enjoy their performance here.Featuring Master Sergeant Gregory Pflugh on saxophone, Technical Sergeant James Hubbard on Trombone, Technical Sergeant Shawn Hanlon on Piano, Technical Sergeant Joseph Whitt on bass, Airman First Class Hayden Johnson on Drums and Technical Sergeant Kayla Richardson guesting on Vocals, it is the United States Air Force Band of Flight's "Flight One Combo" - Live at the Bop Stop.

This episode includes music from the Rasberry Singers, North Philadelphia Juniors, Mighty Clouds of Joy, Sallie Martin Singers, Lula Collins, a selection from a new 4-CD set on the Roberta Martin Singers, memorial tributes to Kris Kristofferson and Daryl Frierson of the Joy Boyz, and more."

Children and Mental Health. A mother shares her first-hand experiences of raising her young child who was diagnosed with mental health problems.