An affiliate of Public Radio International and National Public Radio, KCSM-FM is the only Bay area radio station programming a 24-hour jazz format.

Bless Jeff Kaliss for his great writing and support of jazz, BUT, KCSM sucks! It's only claim to fame is that it still survives in the Bay Area prompting desperate jazz fans to throw themselves onboard this shipwreck with it's mildewed life vest that KCSM calls programming. There are times the programming is way too dated or way too esoteric in the manner of jazzers who are trying to educate their audience instead of entertain them. When a new CD comes out you can count on KCSM to pick the one cut that is not the best cut. Yes, there are true pros, like Dick Conte, Chuy Varela and a few others that program jazz very well, know it, love it and stay up with it, but it was a sad day in the Bay Area when KJAZ died and left KCSM to hold the jazz banner aloft. Sad to say, the banner has fallen and is a ragged, pitiful remnant. The signal is weak and there is too much on-air talk by the jocks to make listening truly enjoyable. In casting about for good jazz stations, I recommend KXJZ out of Sacramento. It's a great public jazz station with a very experienced and talented staff who know and love their music. Unfortunately, it is in Sacramento and while there are a few spots in the Bay Area where you can snag the signal, it's generally not available. If the Bay Area had a station like KXJZ, the jazz banner would be flying high! I know the standard of radio is quarter hour listening, but I just can't give to KCSM the kind of quarter hour listening that a good jazz station would deserve (10+ hours per week/average listener) during a week. Support live jazz and buy CD's!