KSDS 88.3 Blog

By Matt Silver

Best of Halloween playlists are ubiquitous this time of year—and, frankly, most of them consist of the obvious, low-hanging fruit. Of course, clichés are clichés for a reason: they have staying power. So, here we acknowledge the very best of the tried-and-true—along with some...deeper cuts. From the absurd and campy to the spooky and truly frightful, you’re sure to find something in these five tunes that speak to what you love most about Halloween.

By Matt Silver

In 1957, Benny Golson wrote perhaps the most beautiful requiem in the jazz canon. Earnest and heart-wrenching “I Remember Clifford” is a bona fide standard, inspiring versions by Dizzy Gillespie, Art Blakey, Lee Morgan, Sonny Rollins, Quincy Jones, and nearly every jazz instrumentalist of consequence, including Golson himself.

But it begs the question: Do we follow the lead of Benny’s lament and do enough to remember Clifford ourselves? This year, we do. Here at KSDS, we aim to honor jazz’s great innovators, past and present. Clifford Brown, who tragically died four months shy of his 26th birthday in June 1956, is indisputably one of them.

KSDS-FM remembers Clifford. This Morning, KSDS will celebrate the birthday of trumpeter Clifford Brown. This fundraising event will focus on the way too short career of one of the most influential horn players in the history of jazz. We will feature segments throughout the day that follow his journey as a trumpeter and composer and offer great thank you gifts for your donation during this special birthday celebration, beginning at 9AM today.

KSDS friend and former contributor Robert Bush passed away on October 20th from his battle with cancer. The San Diego Jazz Community has lost one of the true advocates for the art form. His writings and perspectives and passion for Jazz, and all music, was immense.

Our thoughts go out to Robert Bush’s family and friends. We will miss him, Rest in Peace Robert.

The San Diego Jazz Community is invited to a celebration of life for Robert Bush. He was a beloved brother, father, uncle, grandfather and an invaluable friend and voice of the jazz and music scene in San Diego and beyond. The event in this Saturday at 3:30PM at the Athenaeum Art Center located at 1955 Julian Ave in San Diego. If you wish to attend please RSVP by e-mailing us at JAZZINSANDIEGO@gmail.com. Also, there is a Go Fund page set up for this event. Kindly search Robert M Bush Celebration of Life.

By Matt Silver

One great thing about staff here at KSDS is their versatility. General Manager Ken Poston basically built a jazz museum from scratch; Production Director Michael Rovatsos plays bass in the West Coast’s premier U2 tribute band, and "Phat Tracks" host Gordon Goodwin has won four Grammys and been nominated for over 20 more. Which is why when I went to City College’s Saville Theatre last Tuesday night to see and hear Goodwin preside over a radio program broadcast before a live audience, I wasn’t that surprised when a full-fledged big band concert broke out.

Musicians…they just can’t help themselves.

In our most recent fall pledge drive we partnered with the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance to offer two tickets to either the San Diego Zoo or San Diego Zoo Safari Park to as part of our fundraising efforts.

Congratulations to the lucky winners and thank you to the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance for its support of Jazz 88:

Adrienne Bell, Pietro DiGammarino, Larry Janes, Marta Glena Davila, Jerry Conklin

Feed Your Soul's Need for Swing with Gordon Goodwin's Big Phat Band

By Matt Silver

Gordon Goodwin (on keys) leads the Big Phat Band in Lviv, Ukraine. Photo courtesy Gordon Goodwin.

Attention Jazz 88ers, especially Jazz Live Ticket Holders:

A friendly reminder that this Tuesday night, Oct. 10, KSDS’s Jazz Live: Best of the West concert series welcomes Gordon Goodwin and the Big Phat Band to the stage at City College’s Saville Theatre. The band hits—and we’ll be broadcasting live-to-air—promptly at 7:30 p.m., so arrive with some time to spare, indulge in some delicious treats from our friends at Blackmarket Bakery, find your seats, and strap in for an unforgettable show.

KSDS/Jazz 88.3's 2023 Fall Membership Drive has concluded! We welcomed many new and renewing members and the music will continue to thrive because of it. If you would like to donate towards the campaign you can do so by clicking here. Here is the Top Ten Artist Poll we conducted for the drive. Please tune in all day tomorrow to hear all these great artists:

1. Louis Armstrong
2. Gilbert Castellanos
3. Art Pepper
4. Duke Ellington
5. Tony Bennett
6. Cal Tjader
7. Count Basie
8. Nat King Cole
9. Herbie Hancock
10. Sonny Rollins

Retirees include: Miles Davis- Fall 2015, John Coltrane- Spring 2016, Frank Sinatra- Fall 2016, Ella Fitzgerald- Spring 2017, Thelonious Monk- Fall 2017, Dave Brubeck- Spring 2018, Stan Getz- Fall 2018, Nina Simone- End of Year 2018, Chet Baker- Spring 2019, Charlie Parker- Fall 2019, Bill Evans- End of Year 2019, Billie Holiday- Fall 2022, Vince Guaraldi- Spring 2023

KSDS Fall Pledge Drives Celebrates Latin Jazz with One-of-a-Kind Membership Gifts 

By Matt Silver

Machito and His Afro-Cubans, Glen Island Casino, New York, N.Y., c. 1947. Photo by William Gottlieb. Courtesy of Library of Congress.

In recognition of Hispanic Heritage Month (Sept. 15-Oct. 15), the 2023 KSDS Jazz 88.3 FM Fall Membership Drive (Fri., Sept. 22- Sun., Oct. 1) will celebrate Latin American music’s myriad indispensable contributions to jazz. Over the course of the drive, the station will, per member drive custom, be asking listeners to pledge support by purchasing or renewing memberships to sustain KSDS as a vital cultural resource here in San Diego and in every community around the world where the best in straight-ahead jazz can be streamed. And, per member drive custom, there will be Thank You gifts.

Pero este año con la ñapa. But this year, with a little something extra.