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Jazz88

KBEM Minneapolis St. Paul

Interviews, performances, and special programming from Jazz88. Hear us live at 88.5 FM in the Twin Cities!

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  • 42 episodes
  • Avg 11 min
  • English

Episodes 42

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  • Sunday · 8 min

    Flip Side Performs at Showtime Studio and Coffee, Next Saturday in Roseville

    Flip Side is Robin Nelson, Bonnie Donnay and Jan Stroup. The trio performs swing era jazz with the accent great songs. Flip Side performs next Saturday, November 14 at Show Time Studio and Coffee in Roseville. A Flip Side show always includes duet and trio vocal arrangements. When Robin and Jan of the group met with Phil Nelson, Robin addressed where that interest comes from.

  • November 3 · 8 min

    Prairie Fire Choir and the Foxgloves Collaborate in Big Show in Minneapolis November 8

    Each Year, Prairie Fire Choir puts on a grand season Finale. In 2026, that final concert is Sunday November 8 at the Parkway Theater in Minneapolis. Doors open at 6, with the music starting at 7. Musical collaborator is the Foxgloves, noted for its new spins on old songs, and the two groups are working on a concert containing a comfortable blend of old and new. Each yearly grand finale concert also has a community partner that also benefits from the performance. When the Foxgloves and Prairie Fire Choir met with Phil Nusbaum, Prairie Fire member Leah Drury talked about the reason for the community partner, the Immigrant Law Center of Minnesota.

  • November 2 · 9 min

    'Tis the Season for The Grinch

    Peter Solomon speaks with Reed Sigmund, who is reprising the role of The Grinch in the Children's Theater Comopany production of "How The Grinch Stole Christmas."

  • November 1 · 8 min

    Leading Traditional Musicians Honor the 1948 Minnesota Appearances of Lead Belly in Big Concert

    Lead Belly is one of the most important folk musicians of the age of audio recordings. In 1948, towards the end of his life, Lead Belly toured to Minnesota, and on November 21, 1948, a historic show was held in Minneapolis. On November 21 of this year, Pop Wagner, along with Corpse Reviver members Adam Kiesling, Jillian Rae, and Mikkel remember the 1948 Lead Belly visit with a concert at the Hook and Ladder in Minneapolis called Songs of Lead Belly. Doors open at 6:30 and the show is at 7. One of the special things Lead Belly did on his trip was to make up a song about Lake Superior.

  • October 30 · 14 min

    Rudresh Mahanthappa Brings Hero Trio to Berlin

    Alto saxophonist Rudresh Mahanthappa will be appearing at Berlin in Minneapolis on Wednesday, November 4th. He spoke with Jazz88's Peter Solomon about his Indian-American background and how he incorporated a wide range of influences into his music, including Indian Classical and Carnatic music, Grover Washington, Charlie Parker, Chuck Mangione, and even George Michael.

  • October 28 · 8 min

    The Residents of Room3

    Yonci speaks with Eli Awada of local crew Room3, ahead of their November 2026 residency at Berlin.

  • October 27 · 8 min

    Saxophonist Ronny Loew is Back with Powerhouse Jazz Funk Band

    A couple of decades back , saxophonist Ronny Lowe led a kickin’ Minneapolis Jazz Funk band. Since those early days, Ronny left, returned, raised a family, and then, came back to music. The Ronny Loew Band is totally back to work, at the Capri Theater in Minneapolis, Sunday November 1 at 3pm. When Ronny talked to Phil Nusbaum, Ronny first addressed his long-standing musical interests.

  • October 26 · 8 min

    Vocal Essence Performs Berlioz "Te Deum" at Cathedral of St Paul

    Jazz88 Morning Host Peter Solomon speaks with Philip Brunelle, Founder and Artistic Director of VocalEssence.He discusses an upcoming performance of the monumental Berlioz composition "Te Deum," which will feature a chorus of 200 singers, a full orchestra, a pipe organ, and twelve harps. Details on the concert, taking place the Cathedral of Saint Paul Friday, October 30th at 7:30 PM can be found at www.VocalEssence.org.

  • October 20 · 8 min

    Last Performance by Natania with Ticket to Brasil at Crooners, Sunday October 25

    Ticket to Brasil has been a Twin Cities source of many types of Brazilian music for many years. One big reason for the quality and variety has been its singer for something like 15 years, Natania. Her farewell show with Ticket to Brasil is Sunday, October 25, 6:30pm at Crooner’s Supper Club in Fridley. The leader of Ticket to Brasil is Pavel Jany. When Pavel talked to Phil Nusbaum about Natania, the conversation started with how Ticket to Brasil got started, and where Natania came in.

  • October 16 · 6 min

    Jason Marsalis Debuts at Berlin Minneapolis

    Yonci chats with Jason Marsalis ahead of his Berlin debut on October 17th 2026, featuring local talent Kavyesh Kaviraj, Dan Carpel, and Abinnet Berhanu.

  • October 15 · 23 min

    Woody 'n' Me - The Lasting Impact of Woody Herman on John Fedchock's Career

    Trombonist John Fedchock spent the first seven years of his professional career with Woody Herman's band, filling a variety of roles, including section playing, arranging, and eventually music director and coordinator for recording sessions. That experience gave him a solid grounding for the career he has had over the last four decades both leading his own big band and combos. In this conversation with Peter Solomon, he talks about some of the things that impressed him about Woody Herman, as well the influence of Carl Fontana on his playing, and his collaboration with his wife - bass trombonist Jennifer Wharton - in her band Bonegasm. Fedchock plays at Jazz Central Studios October 20th at 8 PM.

  • October 13 · 8 min

    Charlie Parr Celebrates New CD with State Theater Concert October 30

    Charlie Parr’s New CD, Rooming House, concerns fictitious characters trying to figure out how to negotiate real world problems, and at times, ill-equipped to do so. The release show for Rooming House is at the State Theatre in Minneapolis, 8pm October 30. The performance features Charlie Parr, songs, voice and guitar with percussionist Don King. When Charlie talked to Phil Nusbaum about the show, Charlie first addressed his inspiration for Rooming House.

  • October 6 · 8 min

    Larry Long’s Career Work with Communities Bear Long-Term Fruit

    Twin Cities folksinger Larry Long has always enjoyed connecting elders and school kids in specific communities. Much of this work has been archived at the University of Minnesota, and the original documentation has been used in various ways. Phil Nusbaum interviewed Larry about some of this work. When we open the report, we’ll hear the voice of Ezra Cunningham of Beatrice, Alabama, telling a group of school kids about his life.

  • October 4 · 8 min

    Juanito Pascual’s Trio Fuses Flamenco with Other Forms October 10 and 11

    Juanito Pascual leads his acclaimed Trio into the Granada Theater in Minneapolis, 8pm Saturday October 10; and 4pm Sunday October 11. In addition to a few originals, the centerpiece of the shows will be the flamenco interpretations of Jimi Hendrix songs featured on album to be released in February. The performance will also include dancers from the Twin Cities’ Zorongo Flamenco Dance Theatre. When Juanito met with Phil Nusbaum, Juanito they talked about the connections between rock, blues and flamenco. The conversation started with Juanito talking about the title of one of Juanito’s originals, “Viaje.”

  • October 1 · 17 min

    From Carne Y Frijol to Carnegie Hall: Documentary Tells Life Story of Paquito D'Rivera

    Latin jazz legend Paquito D'Rivera is the subject of a documentary premeiring on PBS this month called "Paquito D'Rivera: From Carne Y Frijol to Carnegie Hall." It tells his story from his earliest days as musical progidy growing up in Cuba and follows his first encounter with Dizzy Gillespie, his defection to the United States, and his unparalleled career in Latin, jazz, and classical music in the four and a half decades since. In addition to extensive interviews with Paquito, there are conversations with some of the extraordinary musicians who have collaborated with him, including Chucho Valdes, Yo Yo Ma, Anat Cohen, and Diego Urcola. He speaks with Jazz88's Peter Solomon about the upcoming film, which will be broadcast locally on Minnesota PBS at 9 PM on Monday, October 12.

  • September 29 · 8 min

    New CD Documents the Creativity of Enrique Toussaint and his Two Brothers

    Enrique Toussaint has lived in the metro area for decades, and is known for performing in many musical genres, and for also his behind the scenes work in the music world. But bassist Enrique is most proud of his work with his two brothers, Fernando, the drummer, and the late Eugenio, keyboardist and lead composer. Growing up in Mexico City, the 3 brothers formed a band called Sacbe, Mayan for the Spanish el Camino Blanco, which translates to The White Road in English. The new CD, called el Camino Blanco, is a remix of classic work, with additional ideas added recently. In a conversation with Phil Nusbaum, Enrique first talked about the opening piece, Nube 1, or Cloud 1.

  • September 28 · 38 min

    Stanley Jordan Talks Tandem Guitar Technique and More

    Yonci sits down with legendary guitarist Stanley Jordan, discussing a new single, a forthcoming album (the first in over a decade) and a new tandem guitar technique ahead of a solo show at the Dakota. Originally aired 6/26/26 More Posts for Show: This Just In

  • September 27 · 8 min

    The Minnesota Guitar Summit Convenes at Crooner’s Supper Club, Next Wednesday

    Jeff Perry, Chris Olson, Kevin Daley and Zacc Harris are four great guitarists who delight in reimagining their favorite songs. They are all part of the Minnesota Guitar All-Star Summit, Wednesday September 30 at Crooners in Fridley. Doors open at five, with the show starting at 6. When Jeff and Chris met with Phil Nusbaum to talk about the show, they played recording of Kevin Daley’s treatment of Neil Young’s old man, and that got Jeff talking about reimagining great songs.

Showing 1–20 of 42 episodes