KCSM Jazz 91

07/29/2026

KCSM Jazz On The Hill is a finalist for Metro Silicon Valley's annual "Best Of" Guide. Winners get serious bragging rights and street cred (and maybe some new underwriters and sponsors) 🙂 Voting is easy, click this link https://ow.ly/vu0n50Zu3B2 and scroll down to "Best Music Festival" and choose Jazz On The Hill!

07/27/2026

(HD1) Tuesday (7/28) at 3pm Nnenna Freelon is a nine-time GRAMMY-nominated jazz vocalist, an arts education advocate, producer, arranger, and Award-winning Podcaster who has achieved great heights in recording and live performance. Having faced many losses in the past few years, Nnenna has felt the need to find her "voice" once more. through the lens of grief and loss. Her new album "Beneath The Skin" is a reflection of this new territory. It’s an intimate expression of her love for her family, her late husband Phil, and a universal love letter to all who’ve lost someone dear. Nnenna Freelon will be performing at this year’s San Jose Jazz Summer Fest with the all-star group, Birds Of A Feather, on Saturday, August 8 @ 4pm on the main stage. Nnenna joins Jesse “Chuy” Varela for an intimate conversation of where she’s been and where she’s going on the occasion of her birthday.

07/21/2026

Studio 91 is an oasis of musicians — live, intimate performances and in-the-moment conversations with artists shaping today's jazz.

Today live at 2pm - Rhonda Sauce Quartet.

Oakland vocalist, composer, and arranger, Rhonda Sauce is one of the Bay Area's most compelling jazz artists, blending deep roots in jazz with influences from soul, Brazilian music, and the Afro-diaspora. Join us for the live stream at KCSM Studio 91 !

07/15/2026

Did you catch the show today? George Brooks and Steve Smith were in the house today! If you missed it, you can listen to the show for the next two weeks on our Ark Player! (find it on our playlist page.)

07/14/2026

(HD1) On Wednesday (7/15) at 2pm George Brooks joins Jesse “Chuy” Varela to talk about his upcoming 70th birthday celebration at The Freight in Berkeley on Friday, July 17. George is an acclaimed saxophonist and composer distinguished for fusing jazz with Indian classical music. Founder of fusion groups like Summit, Aspada, Bombay Jazz, Raga Bop Trio, and Elements, he has collaborated with artists like Zakir Hussain, Terry Riley, John McLaughlin, and Etta James. His works span performances worldwide, compositions for orchestras and film, and teaching at leading music institutions.

07/12/2026

(HD1) Monday (7/13) at 3pm on Jazz in the Afternoon, Ben Flocks 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. Ben 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.

07/08/2026

On right NOW! Jesse "Chuy" Varela with incoming San Jose Jazz Artistic Director Christian Vela! (Saving gas, stealing the show, saving the planet!)

07/07/2026

(HD1) Wednesday (7/8) at 2pm Jesse "Chuy" Varela welcomes Christian Vela to the KCSM Studio. “Jazz is a gift that America gave to the world. And now the world is giving us the next evolution of jazz,” the words of Christian Vela, incoming San Jose Jazz Festival and Artistic Director. Distinguished in the jazz world for a decade with SFJAZZ as senior production manager as well as his countless years in artist management and as a working musician, Christian Vela joins Jesse “Chuy” Varela to talk about the upcoming 2026 San Jose Jazz Summer Fest happening August 7-9 and his new role shaping the future of the San Jose Jazz organization.

07/03/2026

KCSM Sweepstakes! Enter For A Chance To Win!

Enter for a chance to win a $50 gift card for an ice cream prize pack from Cold Stone Creamery located on 3rd Avenue in San Mateo.

07/03/2026

Tune in at 8pm on Saturday for this special 4th of July program!

This is an encore broadcast of Mal Sharpe’s Big Money in Jazz performing at Yoshis featuring the Dynamic Miss Faye Carol, Roger Glenn, and many more special guests!

Light up your Fourth of July with the timeless music of Satchmo, on...