Enter for the chance to win One (1) Overnight Stay at the Ritz Carlton, Half Moon Bay. (Courtesy of the Ritz Carlton Half Moon Bay and the Half Moon Bay Downtown Association.)

Plan ahead and make time for KCSM! We have three great events coming up that you won’t want to miss. Mark your calendar—we hope to see you at one, two, or all three! (more)

Thank you for making KCSM a home for jazz—and for everyone who loves it. Each Fall, The most successful fundraising often happens during KCSM Challenge Days, when listener donations are matched by generous supporters. These leadership gifts create momentum, encourage participation, and help ensure KCSM remains a vibrant source of jazz for listeners throughout the Bay Area and around the world. (more)

Congratulations to Justice from San Francisco who was the winner of one (1) Pair of Tickets to see Herbie Hancock at Davies Symphony Hall. "Courtesy of Another Planet Entertainment" (https://apeconcerts.com/)

In honor of John Coltrane’s centennial we’ll air the 5-Part series produced by Steve Rowland, the acclaimed oral historian, educator, and documentary producer, “Tell Me How Long Trane’s Been Gone.” Widely regarded as the most comprehensive documentary ever produced for radio (or television), it is unhurried, rigorous, and deeply intimate, tracing John Coltrane’s career from his North Carolina roots through the classic quartet years, the spiritual breakthrough of “A Love Supreme”, and into his avant-garde explorations. The documentary features rare interviews, archival recordings, from Coltrane’s contemporaries and collaborators including Alice Coltrane, Elvin Jones, McCoy Tyner, Jimmy Garrison, Rashied Ali, Sonny Rollins, Max Roach, and many others.

Strata East: How a revolutionary record label put the control in the artist's hands. In the 1970s, Strata-East Records took a revolutionary approach empowering musicians with complete artistic control and the majority of the record sales profit. Take a dive with us into their discography, impact and legacy.

In honor of John Coltrane’s centennial we’ll air the 5-Part series produced by Steve Rowland, the acclaimed oral historian, educator, and documentary producer, “Tell Me How Long Trane’s Been Gone.” Widely regarded as the most comprehensive documentary ever produced for radio (or television), it is unhurried, rigorous, and deeply intimate, tracing John Coltrane’s career from his North Carolina roots through the classic quartet years, the spiritual breakthrough of “A Love Supreme”, and into his avant-garde explorations. The documentary features rare interviews, archival recordings, from Coltrane’s contemporaries and collaborators including Alice Coltrane, Elvin Jones, McCoy Tyner, Jimmy Garrison, Rashied Ali, Sonny Rollins, Max Roach, and many others.

Coming Soon.

Joshua Smith Quartet, Set 1. For over 20 years as a professional jazz pianist and 7 full-length album appearances (3 as leader), Keigo Hirakawa has transformed himself from a student of the jazz masters to an artist with vision and unique sense of expressions. His jazz piano trio is well-known throughout the Midwest for their willingness to be musically spontaneous on stage, exploring original compositions and redefining jazz standards to make it their own. Cleveland native Joshua Smith is a saxophonist/multi-instrumentalist who has been playing for the past 25 years with a Who's Who of creative music and jazz, from Joe Lovano to Chris Jonas and Scott Amendola. Now based in San Francisco, Joshua is one of the Bay Area’s most sought-after collaborators. This August 3rd, 2024 performance features the quartet working out material in advance of Joshua and Keiho heading into the studio to record new music. Featuring Joshua Smith on Saxophone, Keigo Hirakawa on Piano, Connor Smith on Bass and Jeff Mellott on Drums, Daniel Peck is your host for the Joshua Smith Quartet…Live at the Bop Stop.

This episode includes selections from the Royal Silvertones, Pastor James E. Lenox, George Dean & Gospel Four (pictured), Caravans, Kitty Parham w/32nd International Youth Congress of COGIC Choir, a track in memory of Kenny Davis (Dynamic Melodyaires), and others.

Chef Giuseppe Naccarelli is the creative force behind Alameda’s award-winning Trabocco Kitchen and Cocktails. Growing up in the Abruzzo region of Italy, Chef Giuseppe honed his craft at the Istituto Professionale Alberghiero di Stato where he spent five years learning all aspects of the restaurant and hotel industries. After a successful time with some of L.A.’s leading Italian restaurants, he opened Trabocco along with his wife Christine. Trabocco recently garnered national attention, when Alysa Liu celebrated her 2026 Olympic Gold at the Alameda institution.

Matthew Kenslow and Autism. This interview is a follow-up conversation between Dr. Franklin and Matthew Kenslow, who discussed Kenslow's recent achievements since their previous interview about a year ago. Kenslow shared that he earned a master's degree in education in May 2024, focusing his thesis on game-based learning and gamification, and continues working as a substitute teacher. He discussed his experiences with discrimination and bullying throughout his life, which motivated him to become an advocate for disability awareness and inclusion. Kenslow explained his third book "The Tireless Advocate," which follows a fictional character named Zachary Corwin who experiences similar challenges to Kenslow's real life, including bullying, college studies, and eventually becoming a mathematics teacher and advocate. He emphasized the importance of awareness, acceptance, and inclusion, sharing his message through volunteer assemblies in Orange County and various social media platforms. Kenslow expressed that his proudest moments come from hearing how his work has encouraged others to be better friends to individuals with autism, and he encouraged listeners to be themselves and practice patience in understanding different perspectives.