It was all that jazz—and then some—when SFCM students took to the airwaves for International Jazz Day. 

“It was such a fun time—my first time playing on a radio station!” said Trent Horio, a Roots, Jazz, and American Music (RJAM) saxophone player. “We got to perform a lot of music from some of my favorite composers such as Cedar Walton, Woody Shaw, and Jimmy Heath,” he added.

RJAM students Trent Horio, Ashton Dixon, Kira Agrell, Carlo Rabano. (L to R)

The Bay Area's jazz station to the world, KCSM, celebrates International Jazz Day on April 30th each year. The station hosts the "KCSM Jazz Appreciation Celebration" at its studio in San Mateo, and also dedicates their programming to the day. It’s a free, community-focused event that includes live jazz performances, vendors, and food and beverages. The performance can be viewed online. 

About a dozen students traveled to the venue to perform, the second time SFCM has participated thanks to RJAM drum faculty Akira Tana, who helped plan both collaborations. “It was and is a great opportunity for the students to get out and play in public,” Tana said. “Three different groups performed. One played all original compositions by the group members, while the other two played selections that have been part of their studies this semester,” he added. In addition to the airwaves, the performance was streamed worldwide online.

Students perform at KCSM Jazz 91.

“All of the RJAM students demonstrated to the audience and staff at KCSM how highly skilled they were and everyone was impressed with the level of playing,” Tana continued, “The overall sentiment is that the future of jazz is in good hands!”

SFCM was just a number of different ensembles that performed through the day's festivities. “It was an incredible opportunity to see what local musicians have going on,” said Ashton Dixon, an RJAM bass player. “The RJAM program gives us access to incredible platforms to showcase our sound and network through our music,” he added. 

KCSM Jazz 91 studios.

SFCM’s RJAM program is for undergraduate and postgraduate students that takes a holistic view of jazz from its inception to its current status. It  prepares the next generation of great jazz artists by engaging students in an innovative model of apprenticeship with all-star faculty, including members of the SFJAZZ Collective. Students in the RJAM program have the opportunity to perform in multiple venues in the Bay Area and to collaborate and learn from some of the top jazz artists on the concert circuit today.

RJAM students traveled to San Mateo for the performance.

“It's such an important aspect for young jazz musicians to have these kinds of experiences,” Horio added, “It builds off of the foundation of camaraderie, where you get to have fun preparing for a gig with your friends and bandmates, which is essential for performing outside of the classroom setting. That kind of experience—preparing and then performing for a live audience—puts things into perspective and makes all of the practicing and rehearsals worth it!” 

Learn more about studying Roots, Jazz, and American Music at SFCM.