Hundreds of listeners gathered last week to start their holiday celebrations and the festive season with KCSM. It was an evening of good friends, good food and great live jazz! A Special thank you to everyone who brought a new, unwrapped toy for the Toys for Tots toy drive. Lots of local kids will have a happier holiday because of your generosity. (click story headline for more photo)

Sonoma Valley resident Kathleen Lawton was part of the lucky audience when soulful vocalist Allan Harris and guitarist Bruce Forman performed an extraordinary set at the Sebastiani Theater in Sonoma on Sunday December 7. The concert, dedicated to the music of Nat King Cole, was sponsored by the Sonoma Valley Jazz Society. (click header for more)

On Saturday night Kathleen Harris, KCSM Development Director, headed to the Golden Gate Theatre to soak in the sounds of live jazz from one of KCSMs favorites, Kamasi Washington, who delivered a powerful performance that had the crowd on its feet. After the show, Kathleen captured a special moment: Karen, a devoted KCSM fan, reaching out to thank Kamasi for the music that has meant so much to her. This simple handshake between artist and listener captures what KCSM is all about—real connections, shared love of jazz, and a community that stretches from the airwaves to the concert hall. A moment of pure jazz joy that reflects KCSMs unequaled connection to the Bay Area jazz scene.

Vibraphonist Stefon Harris gives us a lesson in empathy on and off the bandstand, with his band Blackout. Join us for a ferocious and intuitive set recorded at Clement’s Place, a small club at Rutgers University, in Newark, NJ.

Jaco Pastorius: World's Greatest Bass Player, Part 1. Featuring the 20th Century musical giant in his first recordings as a leader, with the likes of Herbie Hancock and Wayne Shorter. And with commentary by Pat Metheny and Herbie.

Singer/songwriter and blues and boogie pianist, Eden Brent is a Greenville, Mississippi native from a family of riverboat captains, guitar pickers, big band singers and all the various characters you’d want in a Southern novel. Eden’s new CD, Getaway Blues, is a celebration of her roots and the music that’s surrounded her throughout her life in Greenville, the home of The Mississippi Delta Blues and Heritage Festival, the oldest blues festival in the world. Growing up, Eden heard everything from Hank Williams to Nat Cole around the house, as well as most nights, joining in the post-dinner family singalongs. Greenville neighbor, author Julia Reed, remembers Eden’s home as a soulful and far funnier version of The Sound of Music, and refers to the family as the von Brents.

Coming Soon.

Explore the genius of John Coltrane, who was a new force in jazz in the 1950’s, one with a muscular flow of phrases from his tenor sax and his “sheets of sound” approach to improvisation. But his music could also evoke strong emotions and spiritual feelings. He was one of the giants of jazz.

Coming Soon.

This episode includes selections in memory of the late Sara Jordan Powell (pictured) and the Reverend Dr. Delores Cain (Florida Mass Choir), as well as from the Trumpeteers, Nightingales, Aretha Franklin, Prof. Harold Boggs, and others.

Liz Taylor, President of Deep Ocean Exploration and Research (DOER) Marine. DOER builds cutting edge submersibles used to research the oceans of the world. They’ve worked with some of the biggest names in the field, including collaborating with director James Cameron. Host Scott Piehler talks with Liz about the science of marine exploration, DOER’s public facing Deep Ocean Explore store, ways that everyone can help our oceans, and what it meant to grow up as the daughter of oceanographers.