On November 26, 2024 KCSM's own Jesse "Chuy" Varela hosted the Oaktown Jazz Workshops 30th Anniversary celebration at Yoshi's at Jack London Square in Oakland. Founded in 1994 by Khalil Shaheed to educate and illuminate young people to jazz music, the event featured the John Santos Sextet, Richard Howell, the OJW Alumni Band and the current OJW Performance Ensemble. Much love goes out to OJW Executive Director Ravi Abcarian and photographer David De Hart for the photos. (click the headline for more photos of the celebration)

In November 2024, KCSM's own Pete Fallico, Jazz Oasis co-host was at Howard University to receive a Benny Goldson Jazz Masters Award for 2024 on behalf of the Jazz Organ Fellowship.

On November 10th, the SF International Boogie Woogie Festival was held at SF Jazz, with artists from the USA, Germany, Spain. The sold out concert was a spectacular evening hosted by KCSM's Kathleen Lawton.

There’s no place like home. KCSM Station Manager Robert Franklin traveled to Jackson, Mississippi, home of Bobby Rush, the legendary and acclaimed 2024 Grammy Award Winner for Best Traditional Blues Album. We had a great time talking about his love of the South, his life, legacy and current plans for the coming year. Rush headlined the 47th Annual Mississippi Delta Blues and Heritage Festival held in Greenville, Mississippi in September.

San Francisco's GG Park featured, "A Love Supreme: A Tribute to John Coltrane" on September 21st Tem saxophonists (representing the entire family, from sopranino to bass) and a drummer performed a suite of Coltrane music arranged by the late Andrew White, a life-long Coltrane devotee. The event is a yearly labor of love brought together by Craig Bright's organization tranetraxx.org. Craig is an avid and passionate supporter of Jazz in all of its forms, and of KCSM as well. The saxophonists (left to right) included Lyle Link, Dave Salvator, Steve Nelson,Bob Kenmotsu, Charles McNeal, Jared Cruz, Jayn Pettingill, Dan Gonda, Doug Rowan, Michael Young. Drummer Deszon Claiborn kept it all inspired and Charles McNeal not only played but conducted. James Graves MC'd. Stay tuned for next year!

On Saturday night, June 15, The Dick Conte Quartet (Dick on piano; Steve Webber, bass; Steve Heckman, saxophones; Jimmy Hobson, drums) performed at the California Jazz Conservatory in Berkeley during their annual concert to benefit the Dick Conte Piano Scholarship Fund which helps young jazz pianists.

The San Francisco Bay area has a vibrant jazz scene. I think of myself as a lifelong student of the music and of my instrument, the alto sax. Recently, a "Sun Ra" ensemble at the Jazz School in Berkeley needed an alto player and I was asked to play. All of the student ensemble concerts at semester's end are free and presented at Rendon Hall. It's always a fun evening of music from many styles, performed by students who are energized by their genre and eager to share what they've been collectively "about."

Every Monday night from 6-9PM Max's in Burlingame offers free entertainment in the form of the Afterglow Jazz Jam hosted by KCSM's Chris Cortez. A diverse mix of Jazz fans, out of town diners, and fantastic local musicians of all levels embark weekly on a night of good vibes, swinging music and community. "Passing on the tradition and having the young cats swing with the veterans is what it's all about" says Chris. Dust off your ax and come on down for a warm and fun night of unexpected bright moments in music.

On June 15, 2024 KCSM Radio Station Manager Dr. Robert A. Franklin joined KCSM On-Air Host Leslie Stoval at the Tiburon Juneteenth Freedom Celebration. It was a great afternoon with Harold Jones, regarded as the finest drummer in the world and his 18-piece big band The Bossmen kicking off the festivities. Former Vice Mayor Noah Griffin read poetry with noted poet, activist, educator, orator and consultant Amber Allen-Pierson. There were games and face-painting for the kids, Swahili Spot providing Tanzanian food along with downtown Tiburon restaurants such as Sam's, Bungalow Kitchen, Malibu Farms, Waypoint Pizza, Servino, Salt & Pepper, Caviar Co and an Ethiopian coffee ceremony.We hope you will consider participating in this event next year!