Overview

Way Out West Way Out West is your early morning journey into the heart and future of jazz, blues, classic R&B, and the West Coast’s most daring new sounds. Every Saturday from 5 to 7am, we cut through the noise to bring you artists who push boundaries and honor roots—voices and legends who shape, challenge, and celebrate the music made by real communities right here and across the globe. You’ll hear genre-bending tracks, deep-catalog favorites, and stories often missed by the mainstream. If you care about the people, places, and passions behind the music, Way Out West is where you’ll find their heartbeat—on your dial and in your community.

History & Legacy

Way Out West draws on Jerry Ough’s decades-long legacy as a driving force in west coast jazz radio, building on a foundation laid at celebrated stations like KJAZ in Alameda and KLON in Long Beach. With roots reaching back more than forty years in California’s music scene, the program continues a tradition of deep reporting and artist-centered storytelling that has shaped public radio’s coverage of jazz and blues in Los Angeles and beyond. Way Out West reflects Ough’s commitment to spotlighting overlooked artists and unsung chapters in music history, connecting generations of listeners to the evolving rhythms of their communities. The show stands as a living archive and amplifier for the voices that have defined, and continue to redefine, the landscape of American music on the West Coast.

Hosts

Jerry Ough

Jerry Ough is the longest-running jazz radio journalist in Los Angeles, with over forty years behind the mic amplifying real artists and their stories. From his early days at KJAZ in the Bay Area to key reporting roles at KLON, KPFK, and beyond, Jerry brings deep roots and hard-won knowledge of California’s musical landscape. His approach is always people-first—connecting listeners to the communities, histories, and fresh sounds that keep jazz, blues, and boundary-pushing music alive.

Recent Episodes

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