Pat Allen
A huge Modern Jazz Quartet fan, Pat Allen started working for KSDS in 1977 and has held down Tuesday evenings (6pm to 8) for almost 30 years. His favorite instrument is the piano and he listens closely to mainstream and big band jazz, specifically the MJQ, Duke Ellington, and Thelonious Monk. A San Diego native and a dedicated family man, Pat spends every spare moment with his wife and daughter.
more about Pat Allen...
David Barron
David Barron says being the host of Soul Jazz Review is a dream come true. He loves that sound and it’s certainly different than the one he hears in his “other job” as a meat cutter. It’s an interesting combination, he notes, but he finds a good balance. David loves a good live jazz show, and helping friends figure out what to BBQ…
more about David Barron...
Gary Beck
He is a long-time broadcaster whose talents have taken him around the country. Gary Beck has worked in various formats but his love of jazz and blues is evident when you hear him weekday mornings. This third-generation San Diegan began his long association with Jazz88 in October of 1974 and he has done shows off and on since that time. Gary is a big fan of soul-jazz, but also has a soft spot for eclectic singers like Zan Gardner and Rickie Lee Jones. You can also visit him on his
My Space profile.
more about Gary Beck...
Kim Cox
Kim Cox was born in Chicago and loves jazz'n'the blues. He
prefers the Sunday night shift because he can leave his sunglasses on. Kim enjoys the programming freedom afforded Jazz 88.3 hosts. His outside interests include politics, the outdoors, and live music events.
more about Kim Cox...
T. Michael Crowell
T. Michael Crowell, the former Night&Day and music editor for the San Diego Union-Tribune, brings a broad background to KSDS. A music journalist since the mid-1970s, he has interviewed many of the great names in jazz. His knowledge of music earned him a broad readership during the 15 years he led the entertainment coverage of the county’s largest media company. Today he lives in Del Mar with is wife and daughter and, among other things, is writing a music blog in collaboration with several former music writers from the Union-Tribune. You can follow their work on www.froggerdogger.com.
more about T. Michael Crowell...
Lou Curtiss
Lou Curtiss is himself a cultural icon to many in San Diego. Lou is not just a jazz radio host, but truly an archivist of the earliest recorded music in America. In addition to programming Jazz Roots for KSDS, Lou has worked on numerous projects for the Smithsonian Institution and is the long-time proprietor of
Folk Arts Rare Records. Also, he and his wife Virginia are both well-respected musicians. Say hi to him on
Facebook.
more about Lou Curtiss...
Jeff Dalrymple
There's many sides to Jeff Dalrymple. When not on the air at Jazz 88.3, Jeff can be found putting his musical talents to work as a percussionist, including with the San Diego Symphony. Or you might see him in the workshop doing a custom stained-glass piece. You also might hear him giving traffic reports on the radio. And, don’t be surprised if you catch a glimpse of him in the pit band at a local theatre gig. That’s just Jeff…arts fan, radio host, jazzy Renaissance man.
more about Jeff Dalrymple...
Ernie Danese
Ernie Danese came to KSDS as a student in the late 80s, and like many, just found it too much fun to leave once the semester ended. His passion for the straight-ahead, classic sound is evident in his Saturday morning show. Ernie’s musical tastes are broad, though…just ask him about some American folk music sometime. Ernie is a New Jersey native, happily not shovelling snow in San Diego.
more about Ernie Danese...
Ron Dhanifu
The steady force Monday through Friday (1pm-4pm) Ron Dhanifu has a gift for hearing what’s in the music, so you always get a captivating show. His favorite artist is Miles Davis, but his favorite instrument is the alto sax. He started working for KSDS in 1977 and has lived in San Diego for 30+ years.
more about Ron Dhanifu...
Phil Dinsen
Phil Dinsen gets to the heart of West Coast Jazz, and his decades of hosting offer a vast knowledge of the players and places that made the scene. Phil likes to share that knowledge with listeners and has been part of the Jazz 88.3 line-up for almost two decades. When not laying down the cool sound, Phil is involved in local real estate and lives in San Diego with his wife.
more about Phil Dinsen...
Dave Drexler
A trusted broadcast professional for more than 30 years,
Emmy-winning Dave Drexler is one of San Diego’s best-known voice-over
talents, on-camera presenters and media writer/producers. Dave is the
Director of Drexler Media, a professor at San Diego City College and
Palomar College, and is the Producer/Director of our Jazz Live Series.
When not immersed in some sort of audio, Dave enjoys world travel and he is the host of 'Inside Art', heard every Sunday evening at 6 on KSDS.
more about Dave Drexler...
Barry Farrar Jr.
He loves to surf and is a true-blue Chargers fan. He’s also a drummer whose dad is a musician, so jazz is in his blood. Barry Farrar Jr. is a native San Diegan that keeps one foot in the blues with his band
Blue Rockit and another in jazz with the
Jazz88 All-Stars. His musical tastes run from Miles Davis and Elvin Jones to Jimi Hendrix and Santana.
more about Barry Farrar Jr....
Chad Fox
Chad Fox is Jazz 88’s newest on-air talent. He first joined the station as an intern through the City College/KSDS internship program. Chad was drawn to Jazz 88 by his long-standing passion for avant-garde and experimental music, which has lead to a deep appreciation for jazz music. A native of Lancaster, Ohio, Chad enjoys snowboarding and watching sci-fi, horror and anime movies.
more about Chad Fox...
Ida Garcia
Ida Garcia is the KSDS “Swing Queen” and has developed a following that can usually be found on the dance floor. A native San Diegan, Ida joined KSDS in 1995 just so she could play swing music on the radio. And boy, does she! Ida also loves the classics from Billie Holiday, Dean Martin, Frank Sinatra, Bobby Darin, and the new swing of Royal Crown Revue.
more about Ida Garcia...
Kenny Goldberg
Kenny Goldberg has a flair for adding Brazilian sounds to his mix. A talented saxophonist, Kenny knows about jazz from a composer and arranger’s perspective. He once made a living in Poncho Sanchez’s band, as well as leading his own groups. And, if his voice sounds familiar, it’s probably because you’ve heard some of his health reporting on KPBS. Kenny adds a unique dimension to his program through stories about many of the artists he plays.
more about Kenny Goldberg...
Cynthia Hammond
Cynthia Hammond was born in one of America’s music cities…Detroit, Michigan. That Midwest soul infuses Cynthia’s performance as a vocalist in San Diego, as well as her warm approach on Local Jazz Corner. A local for forty years, Cynthia knows everybody on the local jazz scene and that comes through on the show. If she had spare time, Cynthia would love to travel to Africa or sit down and chat with Dee Dee Bridgewater.
more about Cynthia Hammond...
Janine Harty
Janine Harty joined the Jazz 88.3 on-air team in 1988. Since then she’s made sure the spotlight stays on women in Jazz and she is a big fan of the blues and great vocal work. So much so that she also digs into the soul of the music with 'The Gospel Gathering', every Sunday morning at 6.
more about Janine Harty...
Mike Kaye
Mike Kaye is a jazz connoisseur with an LP collection to rival most libraries. He has sensibilities rooted in the classic recordings of the 50s and 60s, so his show is often a jazz education, too. That seems reasonable, since in his off-air time, Mike is an integral part of the Radio, Television, and Film Department at San Diego City College.
more about Mike Kaye...
Joe Kocherhans
Joe Kocherhans started his DJ career as a City College student in 1972. He worked at KFSD (classical) for 5 years. He can currently be heard Monday through Friday mornings (6am-9am) and at Noon for “Portrait in Jazz”. Joe is our Music Director and is, quite literally, The Voice of Jazz 88.3.
more about Joe Kocherhans...
Pat Launer
Our resident theater critic presents her reviews every Friday and Saturday morning at 9, on “Pat Launer,
Center Stage.” Pat sees more than 200 local productions a year, and has been “the voice of San Diego theater” for more than two decades. When not behind the mic, she writes a weekly column at sdtheatrescene.com, and contributes regularly to the San Diego Jewish Journal. In 1997, she created the Patté Awards for Theater Excellence, to celebrate the diversity of local theater with a gala every January.
more about Pat Launer...
Tony McGee
Tony McGee started his jazz radio career on Super Bowl Sunday, 1979. He remembers watching the game and having to leave in the third quarter to get his first show ready. Now a regular Sunday morning tradition, Tony’s appreciation of the art of jazz influences his musical choices. He especially likes the sounds of the piano, vibraphone, and trumpet…not necessarily all at once, but it IS jazz. Look for Tony in his off hours taking a relaxing bike ride by the beach.
more about Tony McGee...
Jim McInnes
Jim McInnes swerves all over the musical map every Saturday from 9 am until noon. He has been a successful commercial radio broadcaster since
1970 becoming a radio household name during his 29-year stint on
(then-San Diego rock radio powerhouse) 101.5 KGB-FM. He has a penchant for Latin and Big Band jazz, favoring the works of Duke Ellington, Tito Puente, and Eddie Palmieri. A Detroit native, Jim grew up immersed in rock and soul, so he leans toward the sound of the Hammond B3. When he’s not on the air, he jams with his various bands, writes for The Troubadour, and dreams of going to Ireland with his wife Sandi and dog Zeppelin.
more about Jim McInnes...
Drew Miller
Drew Miller is a native San Diegan with a heart for The Big Easy. He’s our resident New Orleans music expert, and that’s saying something: Drew is also a professional event DJ, so he literally knows tens of thousands of songs! Jazz 88.3 benefits from that kind of knowledge. When not spinning for parties or the airwaves, Drew tries to keep up with his wife and two kids.
more about Drew Miller...
Miff Mole
Miff Mole says don't get hung up before the end. He also says dig when it's really important. And then there's that thing about Free Time. If born in another era, Miff Mole would have been a scientist discovering a new sound. If he could do whatever he wanted, Miff Mole would sit quietly.
more about Miff Mole...
Larry Murry
Larry Murry has been on the air at Jazz 88.3 since 1991. He is the voice of Overnight Jazz and his personal love of the music has a strong influence on his expert programming skills. In addition to being a radio guy, Larry is an accomplished photographer.
more about Larry Murry...
Ric Nicastro
Ric Nicastro loves jazz because of its versatility. It can, he says, “relax me, recharge me, or just cause me to think.” He’s New York City born and still dreams of meeting Queens native Tony Bennett. Ric not only admires artistic style in artists such as Bennett or Dave Brubeck, but also admires them as people. His main interests beside jazz and radio are his wife and two sons, as well as other family and friends. Say hi to Ric on his
Facebook profile.
more about Ric Nicastro...
Raymond O'Donnell
Raymond O’Donnell has one foot in the present and one foot firmly planted in the past sounds of rock, blues, and boogie. But, not only does Raymond dig the jukebox sounds of decades gone by, he’s also into the new sounds of jazz. Raymond lives in San Diego.
more about Raymond O'Donnell...
Vince Outlaw
Yes, that's his real name. Vince Outlaw brings an innate sense of curiosity to The New Jazz Thing. That’s why he loves having artists join him on the show. A lifelong San Diegan and graduate of Point Loma Nazarene University, Vince loves hanging with his wife and kids, catching live jazz (especially Jazz Live), and documenting the whole jazz experience!
more about Vince Outlaw...
Carlos X. Pena
Carlos lives a life steeped in jazz. Not only does he spend time on the air at Jazz 88.3, but since 1990 he’s been the leader of the fusion jazz group, The Jazz Pigs. An accomplished vibraphonist, Carlos draws inspiration from the jazz greats like Coltrane, as well as progressive composers like Frank Zappa. When not spinning the tunes or creating music of his own, Carlos shares the rhythm with his little boy, Johnny.
more about Carlos X. Pena...
Christina Perez
Christina Perez de Lock has a background that blends multi-culturalism, a passion for the arts, and an appetite for connecting with other artists. Put that together with a deep knowledge of world music, soul, funk, and jazz, and you get a unique perspective on the music. Away from the studio, she’s often working with the Centro Cultural de la Raza in Balboa Park, or working with her husband Kevin in photography and videography.
more about Christina Perez...
John Phillips
John is known for his smooth style and taste in music. He originated from Nashville, Tennessee. After his career in the Navy ended in 1998 John went to school here at San Diego City College to earn his broadcasting degree in Radio and Television. His company, Golden Voice Productions, offers a variety of Mobile DJ options.
more about John Phillips...
Ross Porter
Ross Porter got bit by the Big Band Bug early. He was not yet a teenager when the Glenn Miller Orchestra played San Diego. After that experience he was hooked. His interests in music are cultural but also historical. Ross has deep family roots in San Diego and is fascinated by community, as well as familial history. He lives in San Diego with his husband and their pets Mazzie and Sebastian. Ross counts Mildred Bailey, Sy Oliver, Artie Shaw, and Tommy Dorsey among his favorite musicians.
more about Ross Porter...
Q
In case you were wondering Q actually has a full name, but we’ve promised to not reveal his secret identity. What we can tell you is that he loves the Hammond B3 and Latin Jazz with lots of horns. If he’s not programming jazz, he’s looking for music to add to his collection, bodysurfing, or daydreaming of a new Harley. Q lives in San Diego with his wife and two daughters.
more about Q ...
Mike Rovatsos
It all started with The Beatles for Mike Rovatsos. And after all these years not much has changed. Mike is our Production Director and started working in radio when he was just out of high school on Long Island, NY. After a decade of working for various major media corporations in NYC, Mike felt compelled to leave it all, head out west and do what he loves the most; producing and making great radio with the help of all the wonderful talent at KSDS-FM. And for that he is very grateful. He is also a freelance musician/producer/composer and hosts
'The Bridge' every Tuesday night at Midnight (after Barry Farrar).
more about Mike Rovatsos...
Claudia Russell
Claudia Russell is our Program Director and hosts a regular spot on Monday through Friday’s Jazz Ride Home (4pm-6pm). As a child she learned jazz songs from her mom, as well as seeing Dizzy Gillespie and Buddy Rich on The Muppet Show. Claudia picks the guitar and tenor saxophone as her favorite instruments, and says picking a favorite musician depends on mood and circumstance.
more about Claudia Russell...
Chris Springer
Chris Springer, better known as 'C-Love', loves Latin jazz and the energy it brings through improvisation and percussion rhythms. His favorite artists include Mario Bauza and Cal Tjader. His favorite jazz instruments are the timbales, the Fender Rhodes and the flute. Chris started working for KSDS in 2000. Soon after, he started playing the Salsa hour in 2003 which evolved into Latin Grooves, which now airs from 12 Noon to 3 on Saturday afternoons. You can say hi to C-Love on his
My Space and his
Facebook profiles.
more about Chris Springer...
Norm ''Birdman'' Swanberg
Originally from the Boston area, Norm grew up listening to great jazz, an appreciation he carries to this day. He believes the beauty of the music is its diversity, the variety of grooves and textures you can get from different artists and different eras. In addition to his love of jazz, he has a very close family and finds their company his greatest joy in life. For those curious about the nickname, it’s not a reference to a certain alto sax player, but rather is a play on his last name, as well as a nod to his being a longtime Celtics fan, and that he actually did rehab work with birds of prey!
more about Norm ''Birdman'' Swanberg...
T
T…when you can go by one letter for almost 30 years, you know you’re doing something right. But, ask any real blues fan in San Diego, and they’ll know who you’re talking about. Our Reverend Theo (yes, he really is) grew up in Clairemont and still calls San Diego home. What started out as a student jazz radio gig has turned into one of the longest running blues shows on radio. When he’s not conducting marriages, T likes to chill out with his wife and their dog, Lola.
more about T ...
J. Otis Williams
J.Otis Williams started at Jazz 88 in 2000 and now guides you late-night on Fridays starting at 12 Midnight and has a smokin’ Blues show on Sunday morning (2am-6). If you’ve heard his show(s) you know he’s deep into the music, and yes, he’s always that energetic. J. Otis is a huge fan of Miles Davis. His favorite instrument is the bass. Besides music, J. Otis enjoys good times with family and friends. Say hi to him on his
My Space or Facebook.
more about J. Otis Williams...
