If you are a regular listener to KBEM, hopefully you’ve heard Phil Nusbaum’s informative and entertaining feature Twin Cities This Week/Twin Cities Weekend. On a recent playback, I was intrigued by a new band, Sprig Of That, who discussed in-depth a new recording, Eight Threads.Like Phil’s featurette, the group had received an endowment from...Read More
Jihye Lee Orchestra – Daring Mind – Motéma Music link: https://motema.com/As a follow up to her widely-acclaimed 2017 debut April, “Daring Mind” presents selections from Lee’s ‘Mind’ Series, including her BMI Charlie Parker Jazz Composition Prize-winning “Unshakable Mind” and her Manny Albam Commission “Revived Mind.” The album reflects her struggles, doubts, joys, and hopes while...Read More
Hello dear listener!I’m gushing as I write this week’s entry. As always, I am overwhelmed by the generous support and bounteous comments from the Jazz 88 listening family. Working remotely for the last three pledge drives as I have, I’ve spent more time on the phones. While I miss the volunteers, it’s been a...Read More
“Bonnie Raitt meets Alabama Shakes?” Though these may not be binding distinctions, one thing is certain: Hannah von der Hoff is a unique talent. She will be playing Friday 7/13 at Aster Cafe Hannah was gracious enough to give us an exclusive performance of two songs, one of which debuts as a video this week. You...Read More
May is Mental Health Awareness Month. To honor that and to do what can be done to “Smash the Stigma,” two board members of Dissonance, Katy Vernon and Carl Atiya Swanson, stopped by to explain the function of their wellness organization. Pianist and vocalist Sophia Shorai was kind enough to share a bit of her story and...Read More
Still charming audiences in his eighth decade, singer/pianist Freddy Cole talked about his new cd, growing up Cole and his shows at Crooners May 19th and 20th. Here’s a bit of his conversation with Kevin O’Connor: More Posts for Show: The Afternoon CruiseRead More
Singer/songwriter Annie Fitzgerald is getting set to unleash a work of pure beauty: “You And Me And The Sun” on June 1 at The Hook And Ladder. Here’s most of our chat: Originally aired May 10, 2018 on The Afternoon Cruise with Kevin O’Connor. More Posts for Show: The Afternoon CruiseRead More
The holidays have long since come and gone. Eagerly anticipated tropical getaways have been actualized. After a brief dearth typical of a year’s end, the music resumes. Here are a few things that arrived in the mail, as my Hawaiian tan fades to a pekid hue: Scott Bradlee’s Postmodern Jukebox: “The New Classics” ...Read More
Mississippi Hot Club is a part of a swing celebration Saturday, 1/27 at Hook and Ladder: “Prohibition Swing Night.” They stopped into the studios last week. Here are highlights, including and in-studio performance. Read More
Palmer’s on the West Bank just ramped up its music with a jazz night. Tuesdays in January find Silverback Trio taking the stage. Members David Hirsch, Brent Wallace and Byron Johnson-Blanchard discuss their innovative approach to music, democracy and what to do with instruments lying around. Oh, and a little pre-interview arm wrassle between friends!...Read More
