This month, KCSM Jazz 91 proudly celebrates Women’s History Month with a full lineup of special programming honoring the extraordinary women who have shaped jazz. All month long, listeners can enjoy curated shows spotlighting the groundbreaking artists, composers, bandleaders, and broadcasters past and present whose voices and vision have defined the sound of the genre. From trailblazing legends to today’s innovators, KCSM Jazz 91 highlights the significant contributions of women both behind the mic and on the bandstand—celebrating their enduring impact on the past, present, and future of jazz.

It was a special Valentine's Day here at KCSM with Tiffany Austin turning the day into a celebration of everything you love about Jazz. Listeners turned their donations into "Jazz Love Notes" - dedicating their gift in honor of someone special and shared short notes about what jazz or their favorite artists meant to them. It was a fun, funny and inspiring day!

What a special event it was right here at KCSM! Omar Sosa, Cuban composer, pianist and one of the most versatile jazz artists on the scene today visted KCSM for a LIVE performance on Thursday, 2/12/2026. Omar fuses a wide range of jazz, world music, and electronic elements with his native Afro-Cuban roots to create a fresh and original urban sound – all with a Latin jazz heart. Omar Sosa’s musical trajectory has taken him from Camagüey and Havana to touring in Angola, the Congo, Ethiopia, and Nicaragua in the 1980s; to a sojourn in the African-descent communities of Ecuador in the early 1990s; to an extended presence on the San Francisco Bay Area Latin jazz scene; to his current engagement with artists from France, Cuba, Brazil, and several North, West, and East African nations.

Join Jesse “Chuy” Varela as he welcomes pianist and singer, Champian Fulton, who performs Sunday, March 15 at 3:00pm as part of “Flying High – Still Soaring” showcase at the Presidio Theatre in San Francisco. A Jazz pianist and vocalist for more than 20 years, she has released 19 albums as a leader and has performed in more than 25 countries, both in concert and on TV. She has been recognized with numerous awards and has been called “a charming young steward of the mainstream Jazz tradition” by the New York Times.

Lizz Wright: Finding Grace in The South. This Women's History Month, we celebrate Lizz Wright, whose music is rooted in the gospel truths and rustic byways of this country. She takes us on the road via an audio diary exploring her own roots, from Appalachia to Atlanta to Southern Georgia, and digs into songs from her album Grace, recorded live at the Variety Playhouse in Atlanta.

Part 3 of Duke Ellington: Reminiscing In Tempo: Suites & Other Extended Works. This week we we present classic 1960s and 70 extended compositions from the pen of America's greatest composer. Including excerpts from Far East Suite, Latin American Suite and New Orleans Suite.

Christian McBride. Eleven-time Grammy-winning bassist, bandleader, composer and voice of Jazz Night in America, Christian McBride, is everywhere all at once. You’d think he’d wear out, but no, he’s tirelessly passionate about it all and can’t wait to dive into the next project, whatever that might be. I discussed it all with Christian and his latest CD at the time, Without Further Ado, Vol. 1, which features his big band and some of his favorite musicians, from famous longtime collaborators like Sting and Dianne Reeves, to newer voices like Antoinette Henry and Samara Joy.

Alex Anest (Encore Presentation). The Detroit based Alex Anest Trio explores both original tunes and compositions from some of the greats on this organ trio performance. And its territory Alex knows well with appearances on over three dozen albums under his belt including a half dozen as a group leader. Alex anchors the group’s sound on guitar, but Jim Alfredson mans the Hammond B3 and David Ward brings the funk on drums. From a January 9th, 2025 performance Daniel Peck is your host for the Alex Anest Trio – Live at the Bop Stop.

This episode includes selections from the Saint Luke COGIC Choir, Gospel Commanders, Katherine Hayes Singers (pictured), Rev. Evangelist Malcolm Simmons, Spiritualaires of Columbia SC, Utica Institute Jubilee Singers, and others.

Coming Soon

All Alone in the World: Children of the Incarcerated is a non-fiction book by Nell Bernstein that explores the profound impact of parental incarceration on children in the U.S., using real-life stories to highlight their neglect, stigmatization, and the systemic failures that punish them for their parents' crimes. Published in 2005, the book details the experiences of these children from arrest to parental reentry, critiques harsh laws, and advocates for policy changes that keep families together, arguing for a human rights approach to criminal justice. Bernstein’s work has been praised as a "moving condemnation" and compared to classics like Random Family, earning recognition from Newsweek, Salon, and the San Francisco Chronicle.