If you thought jazz was a relic collecting dust somewhere between your grandpa's record collection and a Ken Burns documentary, KCSM would like a word.

The Bay Area's beloved jazz radio station hosted 'Passing the Torch,' an event that did exactly what the name promises — bridging generations of jazz musicians and fans in a celebration that was equal parts concert, classroom, and cultural moment.

KCSM, for the uninitiated, has been a quiet institution in Bay Area music for decades. Based out of the College of San Mateo, the station has kept jazz alive on the airwaves while bigger outlets chase algorithms and ad revenue. 'Passing the Torch' took that mission offline and into the real world, literally schooling attendees on the art form — its history, its technique, its future.

What makes events like this worth celebrating isn't just the music, though the music is reason enough. It's the model: culture sustained by people who care and who actually show up.

If you haven't tuned into KCSM yet, do yourself a favor. And if they host another event like this, go. Your soul (and your taste in music) will thank you.