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I have been programming jazz music on the radio since 1975 in both the Monterey Bay and the San Francisco Bay Areas. I am currently with KCSM – ‘The Bay Area’s Jazz Station’ where I am one of several ‘Jazz Oasis’ programmers.

Joe Romagna was inspired to get into broadcasting by his late uncle, Paul Romagna. Paul had been an aspiring broadcaster who studied at the College of San Mateo under Dan Odom and worked at several Bay Area radio stations, including KCSM back in the 1960s. Sadly, his life was cut short after a fire at a local radio station.

My first exposure to jazz came at an early age hearing big band classics emanating from my father’s little clock radio. He would listen to a nostalgia / big band station and it was THE station that was on constantly in the house. I believe this is where I acquired a taste for melody, harmony and rhythm. It wasn't until later in high school that I began to appreciate the modern stylings of jazz...Miles, Coltrane, Stan Getz, etc. At SFSU's KSFS-FM, I produced and hosted an award-winning program called the "Underground Cafe" which aired for two years focusing on the outer fringes of jazz. Most of my experience in jazz radio (all 8 years of it) was acquired here at KCSM and I feel so fortunate to have learned under some of the best jazz legends of all time...engineering for Al Jazzbeaux Collins was my first real gig. Pat Henry, Tee Carson, Clifford Brown Jr, Dick Conte, Alisa Clancy, Melanie Berzon, George Hughes and KJAZ's (now KCSM's) Greg Bridges and Bob Parlocha were and still remain constant sources of inspiration.

For Jazz 91's Clifford Brown, Jr., music has always been the essential thing. Raised in an atmosphere of legendary jazz heroes, innovators and musical geniuses, he has longed been imbued with the music and principles that reflect his life's work. A look back on his childhood confirms the definitive influences: his father was hugely influential trumpeter Clifford Brown and regular houseguests included trumpeter Donald Byrd and the innovative Herbie Hancock. These formidable years would be the impetus for his prolific career in jazz and radio broadcasting.

Clint Baker was born in 1971 in Mountain View, California. He first became interested in Jazz when he received a stereo system with some Count Basie and Benny Goodman records as a gift from his folks. Around the same time, he started listening to KMPX, a local big band and traditional jazz radio station as well as the weekly Turk Murphy broadcasts on KJAZ out of San Francisco.

Sorting through a treasure trove of CDs old and new, Jazz 91's announcer Keith Hines is creating the mood for his A Morning Cup of Jazz program. Even with many years of broadcasting experience, it isn't always such an easy task. "I love the challenge of putting together a show that flows smoothly; everything fitting together. It don't always come out like that." But for this set, a journey through modern jazz, he is right on target and finds the perfect link between John Scofield and Joey Calderazzo--a segue that is quite impressive.

Spin Master of Jazz.

Jayn Pettingill is a San Francisco native who has been playing saxophone professionally for 30 years. Her early studies with Frank Morgan, Victor Morosco and Anthony Braxton have influenced her music deeply. Her own projects include Verb, a quartet composed of alto sax, trombone, bass and drums, and Kaijuscope, a twelve-piece ensemble which reimagines the music of Akira Ifukube through Jayn's compositions and arrangements.