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.

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.

Van Morrison sat down recently with Harry Duncan, producer and host of In The Soul Kitchen for an exclusive interview to talk about his new album, Somebody Tried To Sell Me A Bridge that features Van and his band covering blues and R&B classics from some of his favorite artists. Special guests on the album include Taj Mahal, Buddy Guy and Elvin Bishop. The interview also includes Van talking about some of his primary inspirations and influences like Leadbelly, Bobby Blue Bland, Solomon Burke, Sam Cooke and Bobby Womack. Don’t miss this opportunity to hear Van, songs from his new album and more.

1956: Jukebox Rhythm Review, Part 2. This week, we journey back 70 years as the "Juke In The Back" puts the ol' Rockola Jukebox front and center and we present part 2 of a 2-part feature on the biggest jukebox jivers from 1956. It was the first full year of Rock n' Roll Music crossing over from its Rhythm & Blues roots into mainstream Pop Culture. This was the year that Elvis broke through and scored massive hits on the Pop, R&B and Country Charts. We'll dig on the future King's biggest record of the year as well as monster crossover hits by Bill Doggett and Little Willie John. Matt The Cat also spins tunes by B.B. King, Gus Jinkins, Otis Rush and Muddy Waters, that were solely R&B hits. So, grab a nickel, grab a dime and let's make some time with the top jukebox spinners from the second half of 1956 on this week's Jukebox Rhythm Review.

Coming Soon

Thuy Linh (TL) is the first Vietnamese-American jazz vocalist, composer and producer based in San Jose, CA and the greater SF Bay Area. She has a Masters in International Relations, and was drawn to jazz in college by the iconic voices of the American Songbook - Billie Holiday, Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughan, Nat King Cole and Louis Armstrong. A self-taught vocalist, in November of 2013 TL founded Jazz is You! Jazz lá Em! - a project with the mission to bring jazz into the heart of the community. Her passion of jazz inspired her to deliver this great American Art Form into ethnic communities and increase its exposure in order to grown new and diverse audiences.

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.

Margaret Fago is the President and Executive Director of the Frank Bette Center for the Arts. The Center is home to the nationally-recognized Plein Air Paintout, as well as Alameda’s pre-eminent photography contest: Alameda On Camera. Host Scott Piehler talks with Liz about the center’s history, and what makes it one the premier small galleries in the Bay Area.