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.

This year, KCSM is proud to partner with NorCal MLK 2026 Music and the Movement. The MLK2026 Celebration Program will feature a celebration of music and the civil rights and social justice movements. We will celebrate the 60th anniversary of KCSM Radio, with a documentary screening and a historic conversation with KCSM media personalities, Clifford Brown, Jr., Jesse 'Chuy' Varela, Dr. Robert A. Franklin, Miranda Wilson, and award-winning music artist Tiffany Austin. For more information: https://norcalmlkfoundation.org/mlkcelebration/mlk2026/the-mlk2026-celebration-program-music-and-the-movement/

Abstract SoundsAbstract Sounds are a 6-piece alternative jazz fusion band, centered around saxophonist Jevaughn Bogard dedicated to living at the intersection of jazz soul, bass and funk.Dancing shoes are required for this performance, which features Patrick Duke Graney on Percussion, Frank Alouishus on Keys and Trumpet, Ashton Thomas on Drums, Aaron Grayer on Bass, Robert Morrow on Keys and Jevaugh Bogard on sax, and from a March 21st, 2025 performance Daniel Peck is your host for Abstract Sounds…Live at the Bop Stop.

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.

Abstract Sounds are a 6-piece alternative jazz fusion band, centered around saxophonist Jevaughn Bogard dedicated to living at the intersection of jazz soul, bass and funk. Dancing shoes are required for this performance, which features Patrick Duke Graney on Percussion, Frank Alouishus on Keys and Trumpet, Ashton Thomas on Drums, Aaron Grayer on Bass, Robert Morrow on Keys and Jevaugh Bogard on sax, and from a March 21st, 2025 performance Daniel Peck is your host for Abstract Sounds…Live at the Bop Stop.

The Cotton Brothers (pictured) sing New Year’s musical selections. The remaining Gospel Memories program pays tribute to the late Richard Smallwood.

Coming Soon.

Paula Giddings and Art Shell. This week’s program features two outstanding guests, Paula Giddings and Art Shell. Giddings is a historian, Civil Rights activists and writer. One of her publications is entitled, Ida, A Sword Among Lions: Ida B Wells and the Campaign Against Lynching. As the former Head Football Coach of the Los Angeles Raiders, Art Shell became the second African American head coach in the history of professional football and the first in sports modern era. Shell is a member of the College and Pro Football Hall of Fame.