What a special event right here at KCSM! Omar Sosa, Cuban composer, pianist and one of the most versatile jazz artists on the scene today will be at 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.

1946: Jukebox Rhythm Review, Part 2. Our old Rockola Jukebox is once again in the forefront as we spotlight the biggest Rhythm & Blues jukebox hits of 1946. This week, in part 2, we'll focus on the second half of the year, featuring three #1s from Louis Jordan and His Tympany Five. During 1946, Jordan held the top spot on the Race Record Chart for an incredible 35 weeks. The King Cole Trio scores one of their most memorable hits, "(I Love You) For Sentimental Reasons," which tops the Pop Chart, but only makes it to #3 R&B. The Ink Spots continue to dominate, but like Nat "King" Cole, they're scoring bigger Pop Hits. Jay McShann tells us about his "Voodoo Woman Blues," while Roosevelt Sykes takes us down that "Sunny Road." T-Bone Walker, Arthur "Big Boy" Crudup and Julia Lee make appearances as well as Bull Moose Jackson, who makes his first chart appearance in the middle of 1946 for Queen Records. Matt The Cat wraps up 1946 with movie and sports highlights and as always, the "story behind the story," on some of the greatest blues and rhythm records of all-time.

Gregory Porter in Conversation. Gregory Porter’s voice broke onto the scene over a decade ago. Flowing out of the gospel church, it’s a voice of dignity, in the mode of his hero, Nat King Cole. A voice of reassurance, whether aiming for the heavens or a single soul. It’s also the voice Porter’s own experience, going back to his childhood in California. He opens up about that journey in conversation with our host, Christian McBride. We’ll hear about his transition from sports to theater to music, and about the meaning behind some of his soul-baring songs.

Tres Pontas: Milton Nascimento With Wayne Shorter, Part 1. The iconic Brazilian composer-vocalist in collaborations with jazz giants Wayne Shorter and Herbie Hancock.

Zev Feldman Two. Archival record producer, Zev Feldman has been called the Indiana Jones of Jazz, referring to his tireless pursuit of previously unissued recordings to share with the rest of us. Feldman and Resonance Records releases these gems with extensive, informative liner notes, rare photos and in-depth interviews with experts in the field.Zev’s latest project, Art Tatum – Jewels in the Treasure Box: The 1953 Chicago Blue Note Jazz Club Recordings – features a previously unissued 3-LP collection of Tatum, guitarist Everett Barksdale and bassist Slam Stewart recorded live at the Blue Note in Chicago in 1953.

Norside Organ Trio Featuring Tommy Lehman. Mixing jazz, blues and funk with a healthy dose of the Hammond B3, the Pittsburgh based Norside produces a sound best described as Rust Belt Funk. Whether they’re playing alongside contemporaries such as The New Mastersounds and Bar Kays, or pushing boundaries with the Steeltown Horns, Norside embodies the commitment to giving the Hammond B3 room to breathe and pushing musical boundaries. For this performance, they’re joined by pre-eminent Northeast Ohio trumpeter Tommy Lehman. By this point in the program, Tommy needs no introduction but he travels extensively both as a member of Alla Boara and The Admirables and as the leader of multiple groups under his own name. Featuring Tommy Lehman on Trumpet, Skip Sanders on the Hammond B3, Steve Ippolito on Drums and Glenn Strother on Guitar, and from a March 13th, 2025 performance, Daniel Peck is your host forNorside featuring Tommy Lehman…Live at the Bop Stop.

This episode pays tribute in loving memory to Jeffrey Newberry Sr. (Gospel Keynotes), Elder Goldwire McLendon (pictured) (Savettes), and Katie Sankey.

Coming Soon.

Remembering the late Pulitzer Prize winner Roger Wilkins. Roger Wilkins was a Pulitzer Prize winner, sharing the 1973 Pulitzer for Public Service with his Washington Post colleagues (Woodward, Bernstein, and Herblock) for their coverage exposing the Watergate scandal, which ultimately led to President Nixon's resignation. Wilkins was a distinguished journalist, civil rights leader, and professor, known for his powerful editorials and work in government and academia, including serving as Assistant Attorney General and as the first Black member of the New York Times editorial board. Wilkins Legacy: Wilkins' career spanned law, journalism, and education, consistently advocating for equality and challenging the nation to live up to its ideals, leaving a significant mark on American public service and civil rights.