Celebrate Jazz Appreciation Month with KCSM. Our theme, "Passing the Torch," honors jazz's tradition and its influence on generations of musicians. Whether you're a jazz enthusiast or new to the genre, there's something for everyone. Join KCSM at the KCSM studio in the lower level of the CSM Library (Building 9) for a day of music, culture, and celebration with light refreshments. Everyone is Welcome! Free Parking!

If you missed the original airing of Harry Duncan's (producer and host of In The Soul Kitchen) exclusive interview with Van Morrison during his recent run of five sold out shows at San Francisco’s Palace of Fine Arts, you can still listen to this great interview. Van and Harry sat down for an exclusive interview to talk about his new album, Somebody Tried To Sell Me A Bridge. The album features covers and fresh interpretations of some of Van’s favorite blues, R&B and soul artists by Van and his band plus special guests Taj Mahal, Buddy Guy and Elvin Bishop. Van and Harry share a love and deep respect for these artists and their music. Both the artists Van honors on Somebody Tried To Sell Me A Bridge and beyond. This interview was a welcome opportunity for them to talk freely about the inspiration these artists provided and the influence these artists have had on both of them. (click the story subject to hear the interview)

JAZZ in IRELAND: Part 1 of a new series of articles from Ireland and Europe for KCSM.org INTRO by Melanie O’Reilly, jazz singer, radio host & producer, jazz educator. Happy St Patrick’s Day! On this day when Irish culture is celebrated around the world, we begin a new series of regular articles on Jazz in Ireland on the KCSM website. Jazz is alive and well in contemporary Ireland with jazz festivals, jazz workshops, and jazz education in third-level institutions flourishing, with bebop, swing, blues, fusion, ethno-jazz, jazz rock, Celtic jazz, Latin-jazz and improvised explorations being the norm. (click story subject to continue)

The Preservation Hall Jazz Band is one of the crown jewels of Jazz. Based in New Orleans, Louisiana, they have been situated at Preservation Hall since 1961 and have evolved into global ambassadors of traditional Crescent City jazz. Creative director, Ben Jaffe, the son of founders Allan and Sandra Jaffe, joins Jesse “Chuy” Varela to talk about the legacy of Preservation Hall and their upcoming appearance at the Presidio Theatre in San Francisco on Thurs. April 9 through Sun. April 12. Details at PresidioTheatre.org

Venezuelan pianist, Otmaro Ruiz and Brazilian vocalist Catina DeLuna’s latest CD, Lado B Brazilian Project 2, features less well-known songs from the Brazilian songbook, and fresh arrangements of some of the classics. Lado B, means B Side. Catina and Otmaro thought it would be a fun pursuit to record these often forgotten tunes they both consider as interesting as the celebrated A side cuts. These are two fabulous musician who are unusually articulate in explaining their process so this was a fascinating and enlightening conversation. They’re also loads of fun.

AB Trio. Buffalo based Adam Bronstein is a guitar player known for his clever songwriting and playful improvisation. Focusing on guitar at the forefront of its sound, his trio’s music is instrumental with influences ranging from jazz through Hip Hop, R&B and Psychedelia. We were excited to catch Adam on a recent trip to his native Buffalo, and even more excited when he appeared on tour at the Bop Stop for this May 22nd. 2025 appearance in support of his most recent release ABTrio. Featuring Adam on Guitar, James Benders on Bass and Gabriel Wells on Drums and Percussion, Daniel Peck is your host for Adam Bronstein and the AB Trio-Live at the Bop Stop.

Live 1951: Midnight Matinee. This unique program is designed to put the listener in a front row seat for a live rhythm review performance. So often, we wonder what a live program would have been like before the dawn of Rock n' Roll? Well, thanks to the preservation of this 2-week program in Los Angeles from late September and early October of 1951, we can catch a glimpse. Promoter Bill Lester intended to hold weekly midnight concerts at the Olympic Auditorium in downtown LA, but after 2 weeks, the late-night shows were scraped, due to the fact that they were losing money. Lester hired LA disc jockey, Hunter Hancock, who was a trailblazer in playing R&B on the radio to emcee the shows. Some of the biggest names in West Coast R&B performed; Big Jay McNeely, Floyd Dixon, Maxwell Davis and Peppermint Harris. What's spectacular is the lesser-known talent; Madelyn Perkins, Ernie Andrews, Smilin' Smokey Lynn and the Gospel group, the Golden Keys. Radio station KMPC agreed to air the first half hour of these 2-hour concerts, which should have led to greater promotion of the event, but alas, after 2 weeks it was done. We are so fortunate that Bill Lester recorded portions of these shows, so that 75 years later, we can still experience the excitement and joy of the music. Sit back as Matt The Cat takes you to the Olympic Auditorium in Los Angeles for the Midnight Matinee, an exciting jaunt into the world of the live R&B review show.

Buffalo based Adam Bronstein is a guitar player known for his clever songwriting and playful improvisation. Focusing on guitar at the forefront of its sound, his trio’s music is instrumental with influences ranging from jazz through Hip Hop, R&B and Psychedelia. We were excited to catch Adam on a recent trip to his native Buffalo, and even more excited when he appeared on tour at the Bop Stop for this May 22nd. 2025 appearance in support of his most recent release ABTrio. Featuring Adam on Guitar, James Benders on Bass and Gabriel Wells on Drums and Percussion, Daniel Peck is your host for Adam Bronstein and the AB Trio-Live at the Bop Stop.

This week’s program is an encore recording of the program is being hosted by William Luck. It’s an "oldie but goodie" Gospel Memories program edition broadcast on March 24, 2012.

This week’s program is an encore recording of the program is being hosted by William Luck. It’s an "oldie but goodie" Gospel Memories program edition broadcast on March 24, 2012.

Sean Padilla is the creator of The Alameda Pulse, an Instagram-based guide to the best of Alameda. Host Scott Piehler talks with Sean about their shared love of all things Alameda, what it takes to spread the world in the modern digital world, and how ultimately, the mission of The Alameda Pulse is not clicks, it’s community.