The Basin Street Regulars, also known as BSR, is a hot jazz society created in 1976 by Bob Connolly and K. O. Eckland, along with five other interested people. As news spread about this new Dixieland Jazz society, more people joined the planning of the organization. K. O. Eckland, musician, artist, writer, and a unique character, continued to be very active in the BSR for the rest of his life and designed the seagull “Jazzper” as the mascot of BSR.

The first Sunday Session (concert) was held at Trader Nick’s (now Vista) in the banquet room. The house band was the local “Desolation Jazz Ensemble and Mess Kit Repair Battalion.” High Sierra Jazz Band from Three Rivers was the guest band. Since that time, BSR has held monthly sessions, usually at the Veteran’s Memorial Hall, 780 Bello Street, Pismo Beach. These sessions are on the last Sunday of the month except for holidays. The list of dates is on this website (choose Event Calender on the pull-down menu). Food and a variety of beverages are available for purchase during the day. Many attendees come to socialize with their friends and dance to jazz music. They especially appreciate the beautiful wooden floors.

Since the beginning, The Basin Street Regulars has hired guest bands from all over California for the Sunday Sessions. A local band plays first, then the guest band performs two sets. Beginning at 11:00 a.m., musicians who are members or guests of BSR join the two jam sets, organized by Rhonda Cardinal. Anyone who plays an instrument is welcome, and students are encouraged to join the seasoned musicians on stage during the jams. Many middle and high-school students have been awarded scholarships to the summer jazz camps that are offered either in Pollack Pines by the Sacramento Jazz Foundation or by Cuesta College.

For decades, The Basin Street Regulars have put on a weekend “Jazz Jubilee by the Sea.” Bands were hired from all over the USA and, sometimes, other countries, with concert sites scattered throughout Pismo Beach and its adjoining cities. At this writing, it hasn’t been determined if the jazz festival will be continued.