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.

Putting something meaningful (and joyful) on the calendar. This week KCSM met with Dr. Aaron Grizzell of the NorCal Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Foundation to begin shaping The Sound of Freedom—a free, public event where jazz, blues, and gospel come together to celebrate Dr. King’s legacy and explore America’s unfinished promise.It’s going to be music-first, with exceptional performances, just enough context to deepen the moment, and the kind of listening that brings people closer: to the artists, to one another, and to the values we share. And the timing couldn’t feel more right. We’re building toward 2026 as a uniquely resonant year: the 25th Jazz on the Hill arriving alongside the 250th birthday of the United States.One touchstone for the spirit of the program comes from Dr. King’s message for the 1964 Berlin Jazz Festival, where he reflected on jazz as a music that can carry hardship and still rise with hope: “This is triumphant music.” We can’t wait to carry that energy into June’s Jazz on the Hill Festival. We’ll share more as The Sound of Freedom comes into focus.

Very Very Threadgill. Henry Threadgill, NEA Jazz Master and one of the world's leading avant-garde composers and arrangers, turns 82 on February 15. To celebrate, we present a 2014 Harlem Stage concert honoring his 70th birthday, curated by pianist Jason Moran. Dozens of musicians who have played alongside Threadgill throughout his storied career gathered to perform his groundbreaking compositions while the maestro himself watched from the audience.

Tres Pontas: Milton Nascimento With Wayne Shorter, Part 2. Presenting the iconic Brazilian composer-vocalist in collaborations with jazz giants Shorter and Hancock.

Ira Liss & Dan Radlauer. Like many creative artists during the pandemic, saxophonist/band leader Ira Liss and multi-instrumentalist/composer Dan Radlauer were inspired by their unexpected gift of time. They had collaborated previously on a number of projects but with this CD, they did something unusual. Dan and Ira invited musicians not usually associated with jazz to perform with Ira’s big band with arrangements by Dan. Artists as diverse as Country Music’s Vince Gill and jazz recorder virtuoso Tali Rubinstein—and everyone in between—jumped at this unique opportunity to play or sing with a big band with original compositions by Dan or songs of their choosing. The result is the CD, Unexpected Guests.

Jackie Warren is a legend behind the piano, from her work in the 3D Jazz Trio, to her work with Tito Puente and her place as one of the anchors of the Cleveland Jazz Orchestra.She leads this performance, where she’s joined by Saxophonist Steve Kortyka. Beyond the four releases as a band leader, Steve is a core member of the Brian Newman Quintet and his work anchors releases by Tony Bennett and live performances with Lady Gaga.But wait, as they say, there’s more. Jim Rupp joins this group on percussion and beyond some legendary performances with Woody Herman, Ray Charles and Natalie Cole and his extensive work as a drum educator Jim has forgotten more about drum performance than many of us will ever know.George Delancy rounds out this quartet on bass. George was a core member of the Larry Fuller Trio and has performed with Ben Patterson, Wynton Marsalis and Houston Person, among others.Enjoy this talented quartet as they perform a mix of standards and originals. From February 8th, 2025 Daniel Peck is your host for the Jackie Warren Quartet…Live at the Bop Stop.

Jackie Warren is a legend behind the piano, from her work in the 3D Jazz Trio, to her work with Tito Puente and her place as one of the anchors of the Cleveland Jazz Orchestra. She leads this performance, where she’s joined by Saxophonist Steve Kortyka. Beyond the four releases as a band leader, Steve is a core member of the Brian Newman Quintet and his work anchors releases by Tony Bennett and live performances with Lady Gaga. But wait, as they say, there’s more. Jim Rupp joins this group on percussion and beyond some legendary performances with Woody Herman, Ray Charles and Natalie Cole and his extensive work as a drum educator Jim has forgotten more about drum performance than many of us will ever know. George Delancy rounds out this quartet on bass. George was a core member of the Larry Fuller Trio and has performed with Ben Patterson, Wynton Marsalis and Houston Person, among others. Enjoy this talented quartet as they perform a mix of standards and originals. From February 8th, 2025 Daniel Peck is your host for the Jackie Warren Quartet…Live at the Bop Stop.

Music from Sis. Rosetta Tharpe, The Harmonizing Four (pictured), Thomas Whitfield Company, Treadwell Community Singers, Patterson Singers, two "send me my flowers" living legend sets for Rev. Ernest Franklin, and others."

Coming Soon.

Chief Phillip Martin. An encore interview segment and spotlight on the late, Phillip Martin, Tribal Chief of the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians, a federally recognized tribe in east Central Mississippi.Their reservation included lands in Neshoba, Leake, Newton, Scott, Jones, Attala, Kemper, and Winston counties in Mississippi.Chief Martin had a 40-year record of service to the Tribal government, including 32 years as the Representative of the Tribe’s principal elected official.