2023

Celebrating One Year of “Jazz Latino” and 103 Years of Charlie Parker

By Matt Silver

Tito Puente played with Machito and his Afro-Cubans before joining his once-boss on the marquee as one of the Palladium Ballroom's 'Big Three' bandleaders.

Jazz will never die because its legends never do. We do our small part to make sure of that here at KSDS, which is why when there’s a birthday or anniversary to celebrate, we do it right.

Want proof?

Tune-in this Sunday afternoon (Aug. 27), from 3 to 5 p.m., when Raul Rico, Jr. celebrates the first anniversary of “Jazz Latino’s” KSDS debut by presenting a program devoted entirely and exclusively to “El Rey,” Tito Puente. That’s two hours of nothing but Tito: the percussionist, vibraphonist, and bandleader who, beginning in the 1940s, brought mambo to the masses at famed dance halls like New York City’s Palladium Ballroom and, over a career spanning six decades, earned a reputation for performing and recording tirelessly, doing so until his death in 2000.

KSDS has teamed up with 32 Bar Blues clothing to brings you an exclusive high-quality Jazz Across America shirt.

Due to the impending storm (Hurricane Hilary) KSDS wants you to know that The California Office of Emergency Services has many resources available to help you plan for power outages and other impacts of severe weather. A comprehensive guide to emergency planning is available here: https://www.listoscalifornia.org/resources/?group=disaster-ready-guide&sort=date.

Friedwald and Feinstein the Perfect Pairing to Celebrate Life and Work of Oscar Levant

By Matt Silver

Oscar Levant stars alongside Gene Kelly and Leslie Caron in An American in Paris (1951).

Calling all Great American Songbook devotees: I urge you in the strongest possible terms to tune-in to “Sing! Sing! Sing!” with Will Friedwald this Saturday at 10 a.m., when Michael Feinstein, renowned vocalist and the foremost living authority on the Songbook, joins the show to celebrate the life and work of Oscar Levant, a polymath of prodigious talents and profound psychological struggles, who at various times in his life was the highest paid classical pianist in the country, a classical music composer and conductor, a memorable popular songwriter who composed music for over 20 movies and acted in several more (including the pretty famous one pictured above), and a pioneering comedic personality in midcentury America. 

Divinely Inspired Music and Humanity-Inspired Jokes Reign in Return of KSDS’s Jazz Live

By Matt Silver

The Charles McPherson Quintet feat. Gilbert Castellanos at San Diego City College's Saville Theatre in the return of Jazz Live, Aug. 8, 2023. Photo by Larry Redman.

“Thank you so much for being here,” Charles McPherson said with seeming earnestness as the rest of the band walked backstage for a set break. “Without your support [drawn out pause for effect], we’d probably be doing the exact same thing.”

Ninety-nine percent of musicians or performers of any kind would have reflexively trotted out the anodyne, “Without your support, none of this would be possible,” which maybe at one time made people feel seen and appreciated but has become just another vaguely well meaning, obligatory part of the artist-audience exchange.

Not Charles McPherson.

As Jazz Live Returns, the Historical Timeline of a San Diego ‘Institution’ Restored

By Matt Silver

Charlie Chavez plays congas with The KSDS Jazz Orchestra at Jazz Live, Oct. 2017. Photo by Larry Redman

Spring may be the season of rebirth, but, this year, summer is the season of renewal because Jazz Live is back. 

KSDS’s signature live concert series returned to City College’s Saville Theatre and Jazz88’s airwaves this past Tuesday night with aplomb — and a Gilbert. And a Charles. 

On Friday, August 18th, A two-time Grammy-winner and seven-time nominee, Gregory Porter will play at the Epstein Family Ampitheatre at UC San Diego.

The San Diego Symphony welcomes you  to the Conrad Prebys 2023 Summer Season at The Rady Shell @ Jacobs Park! It's the San Diego Symphony's premier outdoor venue and enjoy live music with friends, family...and the rest of your fellow San Diegans and visitors! Click below to see what's playing.

CLICK HERE to obtain further information, acquire CDs or links to downloads and streams of the various selections heard on the Mode Records story broadcasts.

Yale Strom (“The Last Klezmer”, “American Socialist: The Life & Times of Eugene Victor Debs”) explores the life and work of Lou Curtiss in a documentary called "Recordially, Yours- Lou Curtiss."  Here's a trailer for the film.  Lou was the creator of the San Diego Folk Festival, Adams Ave. Unplugged Festival, audiophile, folklorist, author, raconteur, radio host and proprietor of Folk Arts Rare Records, a mecca for some of the most celebrated American roots musicians in America (Jack Tempchin, Jason Mraz, Tom Brousseau, A.J. Croce, George Winston, Sue Palmer, Alison Brown, Tomcat Courtney, Tom Waits, Gregory Page, Mike Seeger, Sam Hinton, Sam Chatmon and many others). Archival footage, live interviews and music tell the story of this San Diego icon and unsung hero. The film opens on June 23rd at Digital Gym Cinema. Here is a link for tickets and information.