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Text graphic for "Shaky Knees Music Fest" with bold red and blue lettering. Small blue banners at the bottom say "ATL" on the left and "GA" on the right.

KZSC at Shaky Knees!

It’s been a little over a week since Shaky Knees has come to an end so it’s time to look back at all the great bands that played in the humble city of Hotlanta. I flew across country to check…

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Watercolor-style album cover featuring a black-and-white portrait of a man with long dark hair and a beard. In the top right, a black circle contains the text "MIKAL CRONIN MCIII" in white capital letters.

KZSC Show Reviews: Mikal Cronin

The notion that Monday’s are destined to terminally suck, no matter what you do, can be quickly unraveled by a mad, impulsive dash up the Highway in search of adventure and rad tunes. Luckily for me, a surprise stop by…

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A man in a red blazer and sunglasses plays a keyboard with a front grill and headlight of a car attached. He holds a microphone shaped like a gear shift. A drum and potted plant are in the background.

May 24: Quintron and Miss Pussycat

The human joy factory known as, Quintron will load his customized B-3 Hammond organ into The Crepe Place, and play that beautiful machine with wild abandon on Sunday, May 24th. You will be compelled to dance, since it will be the only way to match the energy of his performance. Oh yes, everyone will sweat!

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Minimalist album cover for "Ceremony: The L-Shaped Man," featuring a simple abstract line drawing of a face on a beige rectangle, set against a light blue background. Text is centered above and below the drawing.

KZSC Album Reviews: Ceremony – The L-Shaped Man

Ceremony, the very well celebrated punk band of Northern California (Rohnert Park to be specific) has put out their fifth studio album “The L-Shaped Man” on Matador Records. I must say, I was really impressed by this album especially in relation to how much of a departure “The L-Shaped Man” seems from their previous album “Zoo”.

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A colorful poster for the 36th Annual Multicultural Festival with the theme “We All Smile in the Same Language.” Lists performers Rocky Rivera and La Santa Cecilia and event details for May 16, 2015, at lower west field.

Cultural celebration at UCSC

"We all smile in the same language" That's this year's tagline for UCSC's Multicultural Festival. What better way to discover a little piece of their experience than through our most common human enjoyments: food and music! This year's featured artists are: Rocky Rivera and La Santa Cecilia. The Multicultural Festival will take place this Saturday, May 16th from 12pm-6pm. Open to all, a great family event! The festival takes place at Oakes College's lower lawn.

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A woman in a formal, off-the-shoulder dress stands next to a grand piano, smiling and resting one arm on the instrument. The image is in black and white.

Jazz Charts & Adds – Early May

We've got some older stuff and some very recent stuff topping our recent charts. Tigran is back, and so is Mary Lou Williams apparently! Kamasi Washington's excellent album is up there, too, thankfully. Have a great week and if you…

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A musician wearing a colorful patterned shirt and a knit hat plays a saxophone on stage, with dramatic lighting highlighting the instrument and his face.

Album to Hear Now: The Epic

Millennials everywhere, beware! The word "epic" has finally found its rightful place in the modern world and it has little to do with your festival experience or favorite burrito joint. Kamasi Washington Dectet, a tight-knit jazz regiment headed by the…

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Large, stylized letters "LB" appear over an abstract background featuring green and yellow hues, sparkling star-like light effects, and a textured area resembling grass or foliage.

Lightning in a Bottle Ticket Giveaway

Lightning in a Bottle is just around the corner! The 5-day camping festival will take place in Bradley, CA over Memorial Day Weekend (May 21 - 25, 2015). This year LIB will be featuring a stellar lineup with artists including Flume, SBTRKT,…

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Poster for the 12th Annual Cesar Chavez Convocation, featuring images of Cesar Chavez and keynote speaker Daniel "Nane" Alejandrez, with event slogan: "For the love of our children, stop the violence!.

May 13 Special Broadcast: Nane Alejándrez

KZSC will broadcast the 12th Annual Cesar Chavez Convocation at UCSC, featuring local community activist Daniel "Nane" Alejándrez. Tune in to KZSC on Wednesday May 13, from 7 to 8:30 pm to catch the talk. Alejándrez was described by writer Luis J. Rodríguez, the Poet Laureate of Los Angeles, as "one of the most self-sacrificing, dedicated, consistent, and humble peacemakers we have ever seen in the United States, if not the world."

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Collage of musicians playing instruments like guitar, saxophone, drum, and percussion. In the center, the blue text "SAMBADÁ RITUAL" is displayed over an abstract background.

SambaDá: a new album and Moe’s Alley performance May 9th

Locally based AfroBrazilian group SambaDá celebrates the release of their new album "Ritual" for 2015. It will be their first record with Senegal native and drum master Ibou Ngom, playing the djembe, sabar, and talking drum, and bass player Etienne Franc. Ritual also features special guest contributions…

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A man with curly hair and a goatee, wearing a blue and white floral shirt and a necklace with a tooth pendant, smiles while looking down in a dimly lit indoor setting.

Willie K. at Moe’s Alley May 21

As powerful and as unpredictable as an exploding volcano, Willie K pours his musical prowess over Santa Cruz on Thursday May 21st. Moe's Alley will be the dancing party point Thursday, May 21st, as Willie K brings his diverse musical interests to the stage.  Willie K knows his blues, as well as reggae-influenced tunes.  Rockers gonna rock, jazz fans will be entertained, as Willie K can play "any kine" ~ with virtuoso status on guitar, ukulele and bass, he can even voice operatic Italian arias !

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A person with short, light hair and glasses plays a cream-colored electric guitar. They are wearing a dark shirt and are focused on playing the instrument. The background is dark and out of focus.

Jazz Charts & Adds – End of April

Jazz is funky and sweet and thriving here at KZSC! Jeff Richman's latest album,​ an awesome, sometimes dissonant exploration into stadium-rock influenced jazz, with funky, grooving bass lines, stands out as one that does not feature heavy Hammond organ. French…

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Close-up of dark blue crushed velvet fabric, showing its soft, shiny, and textured surface with light and shadow creating a mottled pattern.

RPM Charts – Beginning of May

Top 10: 1. LAPALUX - Lustmore / Brainfeeder 2. SHLOHMO - Dark Red True / Panther Sounds/WeDidIt 3. KODAK TO GRAPH - ISA / Family 4. HOT SUGAR - God's Hand / Break World 5. MURA MASA - Someday Somewhere…

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