KSDS 88.3 Blog

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. 

Trumpeter Chris Botti will be playing at the Magnolia in El Cajon on Thursday, June 15th (7pm). Chris Botti has thoroughly established himself as one of the important, innovative figures of the contemporary music world. Information and tickets can be found here.

On Monday, June 19th from 6PM to 8PM there will be a very special benefit concert for jazz writer Robert Bush. Robert is having some serious medical issues and we need the San Diego music community to step up. It will be held at Tio Leos- 5302 Napa Street in San Diego. Musicians that already slated to appear are Gilbert Castellanos, Holly Hofmann, Mike Wofford, Christopher Hollyday, Joshua White, Mikan Zlatkovich, Marshall Hawkins, Justin Grinnell, Rob Thorsen, Duncan Moore, Richard Sellers, Jim Plank, Bob Boss, Louis V and many more. Donations can be made directly to Rob through Venmo. User name is Robert-Bush-158.

Guitar great Al Di Meola will be playing at the Magnolia in El Cajon on Wednesday, June 7th. The former Return to Forever guitarist is known for his works in Jazz fusion and World music. Information and tickets can be found here.

Jazz at the Ballroom announces Get Out of Town!. This concert will be on Saturday, May 13th at 8PM at the Californai Center for the Arts- Escondido. It’s a swinging tour of the country through American Songbook! The birthplace of the Songbook was New York but that didn’t stop musicians from creating a catalogue of memorable tunes about other cities. It’s a show of recognizable standards with a dozen stops in places like Chicago, Rhode Island, Alabama, San Francisco, and even down Route 66.

KSDS is celebrating the one and only Duke Ellington. Duke’s birthday is Saturday so KSDS will be playing classic and rare recordings throughout the day today all connected to Duke. KSDS will also air Ellington’s extended works at the top of each hour. Celebrating the one and only Duke Ellington, HAPPENING NOW. Only on KSDS, San Diego’s Jazz 88.3 and Jazz 88.org.