KSDS 88.3 Blog

Al Di Meola's ongoing fascination with complex rhythmic syncopation combined with provocative lyrical melodies and sophisticated harmony has been at the heart of his music throughout a celebrated career that has spanned four decades and earned him critical accolades. Al will be playing The Magnolia Theatre in El Cajon on Tuesday, March 15th (7PM). Here is the ticket information. 

KSDS has now implemented Phase 3 of our live broadcasting. It now consists of Monday through Friday, between the hours of 6AM to Midnight. The hosts are Joe Kocherhans (6-10AM). Gary Beck (10A-2PM), Ron Dhanifu (3-5PM) and Claudia Russell (7-10PM). You can check out our NEW PROGRAM GRID that includes our new 'Jazz Across America' series (M-F/5-7PM) and some new weekend specialty shows. We look forward to adding more shows and hosts in the near future. Thank you for all your patience  and throughout 2020 and 2021. If you would like to help us stay financially sound we would truly appreciate your SUPPORT. 

Jazz 88.3 has partnered again with Camarada. Announcing Tango Obsessed, Thursday, February 24 at 7PM. Tango dancers flash and glide across the stage in a mesmerizing evening of passionate music. There will be music by Argentine Tango composer Astor Piazzolla, Kurt Weill’s Tango Habanera, and a new commission by Argentine virtuoso double bassist Andrés Martín. For more information, or to purchase tickets, click here!

February is Black History Month and KSDS-FM is celebrating by shining a light on The Career of Miles Davis. Join us every weekday to hear special audio vignettes that focuses on the life and music of one most legendary innovators of Jazz. If you value this initiative we hope you can CLICK HERE TO MAKE YOUR DONATION.

Lady Gaga returns to Las Vegas for her Jazz & Piano residency this April 14 – May 1 at Dolby Live at Park MGM! Performing stripped down versions of her hits as well as music from the great American song book! Get tickets at Ticketmaster.com! 

Get swept away as Southern California’s hottest Jazz musicians accompany San Diego’s most acclaimed dance company live in this unique venue. This year’s offering will feature the world premieres of new works by two Jazz composers. Gilbert Castellanos’ “Mi Tierra” (My Land) is a deeply personal rumination on the artists and places that formed him as a musician, while Charles McPherson’s ebullient “Bird” pays tribute to arguably the most influential jazz innovator of our time, alto saxophonist Charlie “Yardbird” Parker. This intimate evening is a perfect compliment to your Valentine’s weekend. February 11-13th.  Here's all the information.

KSDS is airing an exclusive Sinatra Birthday Celebration all weekend (December 11 & 12) beginning at 10AM. It is a very special fundraising broadcast. It's an in-depth overview of Frank's career including all the classic recordings for Columbia, Capitol and Reprise- plus, many extremely rare recordings including radio and live concert footage. There are interview segments as well and lots of surprises and Sinatra-related thank you gifts. You are not going to want to miss one minute of this very special fundraising broadcast. It's Sinatra's life and career told through music and stories.

The San Diego Rep announces  'Mother Road' running now through October 31st on the Lyceum Stage. It is an epic story of land and legacy inspired by the mythic journey taken in John Steinbeck’s The Grapes of Wrath. Playwright Octavio Solis, one of the most prominent Latinx playwrights in our country, shares his powerful story which explores the intersection of people and cultures in America today. For more information or tickets you can e-mail the SD Rep Box Office or call 619-544-1000.
 

October 11, 2021- Today's Topic: Salute to the Americas

Today we focus on a number of jazz greats who came from various areas of Latin America ,some of which are not necessarily associated with the specific style of their region.

Last week we devoted an entire day to Bossa Nova which came from Brazil. There were a number of other jazz musicians who came from South America that wasn’t part of the Bossa
Nova scene. Astor Piazolla came from Argentina and is one of the music’s greatest composers. Gato Barbieri is Argentina’s most well known saxophonist. He made a major impact in the
United States with recordings and film work.

Lalo Schifrin was born in Buenos Aires and became a significant jazz pianist as well as a legendary composer and arranger. Besides his work in the jazz field he is well known for his
film and television work including some of the most memorable television themes of all time.

Another of the great jazz composers and arrangers was Manny Albam who was born in the Dominican Republic. He paid tribute to his homeland with a 1950 composition for Stan
Kenton called Samana and a 1949 piece for Charlie Barnet called Pan Americana. A number of great jazz musicians were born in Puerto Rico including Juan Tizol and David Sanchez. Juan Tizol is an early pioneer who became an important member of the Duke Ellington Orchestra and is most well known for his composition Caravan. He also contributed some early latin influenced scores to the Ellington Orchestra including Congo Brava and Moon Over Cuba.

October 8, 2021- Today's Topic: Flamenco Jazz

American jazz was first introduced to audiences in Spain when Sam Wooding performed in Barcelona and Madrid in the 1920s. Spanish musicians were first influenced by New Orleans style jazz.

In 1934 Spain’s first jazz club opened in Barcelona but in 1936 the Spanish Civil War put an end any inroads being made at the time. There was a movement to eliminate western ideas 
from the country which resulted in a censorship that discouraged any further developments.

By 1946, things began to change and two “Hot Clubs” opened, one in Barcelona and one in Madrid.

Eventually there was a fusion of Flamenco music and american jazz which led to the Flamenco Jazz style.

Pedro Iturralde is the Spanish musician most associated with Flamenco-jazz. Several american jazz musicians became interested in Flamenco and experimented with it. The most prominent was Miles Davis.

Miles Davis became interested in flamenco music in the late 1950s which led to the classic Miles Davis-Gil Evans Sketches of Spain. Other american artists that incorporated Spanish elements into recording projects included Lionel Hampton, Jim Hall, Chet Baker, Bill Holman and Chick Corea.