Ben Flocks is an acclaimed saxophonist from Santa Cruz who has earned widespread esteem performing and recording with a glittering constellation of jazz stars, from Dave Brubeck, Patrice Rushen, and Joshua Redman to Antonio Sanchez, Javier Santiago, and Caili O’Doherty. Ben performs at the Stanford Jazz Festival on Monday, June 20, and joins Jesse “Chuy” Varela in the KCSM studio to talk about his latest album, “Moon Shades,” and teaching at the Stanford Jazz Workshop, of which he is an alumnus.

Abdullah Ibrahim: How Improvisation Saved My Life. Abdullah Ibrahim, the legendary South African pianist and composer, died on June 15 at the age of 91. Abdullah Ibrahim, the legendary South African pianist and composer, died on June 15 at the age of 91. We're revisiting this archive episode in his memory. In it, he reflects on growing up under apartheid in South Africa and what freedom meant to him. Listen to a performance with his band Ekaya, recorded at Town Hall in New York City.

Rahsaan Roland Kirk: The Mercury/Limelight Recordings, 1961-1965, Part 1. The great multi-instrumentalist Rahsaan Roland Kirk is at his very finest. And joined by Hank Jones, Wynton Kelly, Herbie Hancock, Andrew Hill, Roy Haynes, and more.

John Eaton. This is one of my favorite conversations with one of MY inspirations as a musician and person, jazz pianist John Eaton who passed away May 24th just shy of his 92nd birthday. John was one of the last of a generation of pianists influenced deeply by the early jazz greats—Fats Waller and Art Tatum—as well as later pianists like Bill Evans. He was an educator and raconteur, making the following conversation one of my most enjoyable. John Eaton was an old friend from my early days in New York City. This chat gave me a wonderful opportunity to revisit that time and some of the events that shaped John’s music and mine.

Zach Brock and Bob Lanzetti. Snarky Puppy’s reputation precedes itself, of course, but for this performance, Violinist Zack Brock and Guitarist Bob Lanzetti step out on their own to create soundscapes that invite deep listening, emphasizing nuance, spontaneity, and the power of musical storytelling. It’s a performance that’s as intimate as it is inspiring. From April 23rd, 2025 Daniel Peck is your host for Zack Brock and Bob Lanzetti…Live at the Bop Stop.

Chuck Berry, Part 2 - 1956-57. Chuck Berry has been called the "Father of Rock n' Roll" and with good reason. He took the blues of T-Bone Walker and B.B. King, the guitar riffs of Carl Hogan and mixed it with the fiddle and Western Swing music of Bob Wills & His Texas Playboys. Then he rolled it all into one big sonic blast. Rhythm & Blues become Rock n' Roll when Chuck Berry began writing songs aimed at teenagers, finally granting them their own music. Part 2 of a 3-part feature on Chuck Berry's early career, presenting every studio recording made by Chuck Berry from the middle of 1956 to the end of 1957. We pick up where part 1 left off as the hits continue with "School Day (Ring! Ring! Goes The Bell)" topping the R&B chart during the spring of '57. We'll also dig the demo and hit versions of "Rock and Roll Music" as well as some great, but overlooked Berry instrumentals. We end this week's program with the demo version of "Sweet Little Sixteen" and will pick it up next week on part 3 with the evolution of that important Chuck Berry tune. Don't miss the "Shakespeare Of Rock n' Roll."

From bebop to hip-hop: Gary Bartz’s sound shapes many eras. Gary Bartz shares stories from his sixty-plus-year career, covering everything from bebop to hip-hop. Hear a heartfelt conversation between the legendary saxophonist and host Christian McBride.

Rahsaan Roland Kirk: The Mercury/Limelight Recordings, 1961-1965, Part 2. The great multi-instrumentalist Rahsaan Roland Kirk at his very finest, and joined by the likes of Horace Parlan, Jaki Byard, Richard Davis, Elvin Jones, and more.

Native American jazz singer, Julia Keefe first came to Jazz Inspired in 2019, two days after receiving her master’s degree from the Manhattan School of Music. Now, seven years later, Julia has created her own path, celebrating her heritage by creating the Julia Keefe Indigenous Big Band, one of the only jazz big bands comprised exclusively of Native and Indigenous people. With this band and her smaller ensembles, Julia has opened for Tony Bennett, Esperanza Spalding and two weeks after we recorded this show, Julia would open for one of her longtime heroes, Bonnie Raitt.

Jamey Haddad Quartet Featuring John Shannon, Chris Coles and Peter Slavov. Jamey Haddad holds a singular position in the world of jazz and contemporary music. His musical voice transcends styles and trends, and the universal quality of his playing has attracted many international collaborations with artists including Yo-Yo Ma, Paul Simon, and Sting. Fresh off of a tour with Paul Simon, Jamey returned to Cleveland for a sold out two-night stand that features Peter Slavov on Bass, Northeast Ohio mainstay Chris Coles on Saxophones, Jamey on Percussion and Pittsburgh Guitarist John Shannon. From May 31st, 2025 Daniel Peck is your host for the Jamey Haddad Quartet…. Live at the Bop Stop.