If you were in Sonoma this past Sunday, (6/28/2026) you might have run into KCSM's very own Kathleen Lawton at a free Concert at Sonoma Plaza presented by Music in Place. It was a wonderful sunny day with Alabama Mike and the Mighty Revelators who tore it up! Bama even kindly gave KCSM a shout out! Another fabulous Bay Area talents!

If you attended the Healdsburg Jazz Festival, you may have spotted Greg Bridges, host of Jazz Oasis and Beyond the Oasis, serving as the festival's stage announcer. And if you stopped by the festival booths, you likely met Jim Sintetos, host of Jazz Without Borders and New Wave of Jazz (both on HD2) and Kathleen Lawton, host of Jazz Oasis and Crazy 'bout the Blues who were there representing KCSM. We hope you had the opportunity to say hello!

Congratulations and good luck to KCSM’s very own Chris Cortez, who was nominated for the 2026 Bay Area Radio Hall of Fame in the category Bay Area Audiocaster of the Year! We'd also like to congratulate Dick Conte (retired Jazz In The Afternoon Host) and Leslie Stovall (posthumously) for their nomination in the category of Performer (Disc Jockeys, Talk Show Hosts, etc.)

Thank you to the incredible audience that made the 20th Jazz on the Hill such a joyful celebration — the guests who filled the hill, the listeners who tuned in, the families who brought the next generation, and every person who helped make the 2026 festival feel unforgettable. Every cheer, every quiet listen, and every moment shared on the hill became part of something that reached far beyond the stage — from master artists to young musicians, from College of San Mateo to listeners around the world. Photos coming soon.

Thank you to everyone who made the first Friends of Jazz on the Hill gathering so full of purpose, celebration, and possibility. The evening honored Tuck & Patti with the ICON Award for their extraordinary artistry and brought our community together to support the next generation of jazz musicians. Because of the generosity in the room, the 2027 Youth Stage will have the support to grow — and, for the first time ever, KCSM can capture and share Youth Stage performances beyond the festival day. Even more young musicians will have the chance to be heard. Thank you for helping open the stage wider, carry the music farther, and make Jazz on the Hill possible for the next generation.

Thank you to everyone who joined us for Musings on Miles: An Evening with Sonny Buxton, a celebration of Sonny’s voice, legacy, and extraordinary place in Bay Area jazz. Through music, conversation, mentorship, and shared memory, the evening honored Sonny’s lifelong commitment to bringing jazz stories to the people. It also helped launch the Sonny Buxton Jazz Legacy Fund, supporting paid internships, mentorship, broadcast training, and opportunities for the next generation of jazz storytellers. We are deeply grateful to our guests, artists, donors, and listeners for helping carry Sonny’s legacy forward.

Thank you for coming to The JazzSchool's Brown Bag Jazz Hang with Jayn Pettingill. It was a wonderful afternoon where Jayn made a fantastic presentation on Duke Ellington and radio and some old friends from KCSM stopped by to share the afternoon.

JAZZ in IRELAND: Part 2 of a new series of articles from Ireland and Europe for KCSM.org INTRO by Melanie O’Reilly, jazz singer, radio host & producer, jazz educator. Happy International Jazz Day from Ireland! On this day when jazz is celebrated around the world, we continue our new series of regular articles on Jazz in Ireland on the KCSM website. In this Part 2 of the series, guest writer musician & musicologist Mark O’Callahan continues with the story of Jazz as it unfolded in Ireland and how, despite the obstacles stated in Part 1, the brilliant and innovative Irish jazz artists started to emerge after 1945 into the 1950’s 60’s & 70’s; also included is an introduction to the extraordinary and influential Irish guitarist Louis Stewart.Part 3 of the series Jazz in Ireland will continue next month with a more in-depth exploration of Louis Stewart, his peers, and the generation of Irish jazz musicians he influenced. (click story subject to continue)

KCSM's Jazz Appreciation Month Celebration "Passing The Torch" made 48 Hill news! (click the story subject for more)

2026 has started out with a plethora of great new jazz releases but there is none more unique than the collaboration of four dynamic and acclaimed vocalists known as “The Sistering.” Comprised of Lenora Zenzalai Helm, Lois Deloatch, Kate McGarry, and Nenna Freelon, the release of their debut collaboration speaks to a deeply personal relationship with songs that implore passion and power. (click the story subject more)