Tina Schlieske has been a fixture in the Twin Cities music scene since the 1990s but this is the first time she’s had a project so centered in jazz. On her new album, The Good Life,  Schlieske performed classic numbers with some of the finest musicians in the Twin Cities jazz scene. Tina stopped in...Read More

According to LA Buckner, he is putting “all his eggs into his own basket.” After years of splitting his time as a sideman and as a leader he is focusing on taking LA Buckner and BiG HOMiE up to the next level. To that end, Buckner is making his debut as a leader at Crooners...Read More

Adi Yeshaya is an in-demand arranger and composer whose has done work for Whitney Houston, Prince, Lena Horne and more. In the Twin Cities Yeshaya might be best known for his longtime collaboration with Debbie Duncan. After Duncan’s passing in 2020 Adi started to revisit the charts he had worked up during their decades of...Read More

Starting his professional career in the late 70s and staying vital and relevant up to today, Kenny Garrett truly bridges generations as a jazz icon. Frequently recognized as the greatest alto player of his generation, Garrett is also a generational talent as a composer. Check out the conversation between Kenny Garrett and Sean McPherson as...Read More

Peter Solomon spoke with Cathy McLeer, State Director for AARP Minnesota, about the Twin Cities Winter Jazz Fest. More Posts for Show: The Morning ShowRead More

Jazz88’s Peter Solomon spoke with singer Jamecia Bennett about her concert Friday, February 23rd at the Ordway, which she says will celebrate the the evolution of music from African roots to jazz, blues, and soul. Bennett is a resident artist at the Ordway. More Posts for Show: The Morning ShowRead More

Though performing his own originals and doing tributes is still on the menu for Bruce A. Henry, in recent years he has gravitated towards shows where he explores facets of the African-American experience through music. Though educational, these performances are also engaging and electrifying. The key to maintaining that balance is Henry’s personal investment in...Read More

After a decade as one of the most celebrated instrumental groups in the Twin Cities, Purple Funk Metropolis is back in action for 2023. Fresh off a band vacation to Puerto Rico, the group is preparing to head back into the studio and get a couple shows on their calendar. Purple Funk Metropolis is getting...Read More

Wil B, one half of the hip-hop meets classical string duo Black Violin connected with Jazz88 in anticipation of their show on Saturday, February 10 at the State Theatre. Full Interview: This interview aired on The Afternoon Cruise 02/09/24     More Posts for Show: The Afternoon CruiseRead More

More than any other hip-hop producer, J. Dilla, born James Yancey February 7, 1974, has impacted how jazz musicians write and play today. His famously “drunken” drum programming, his singular approach to harmonization and his bass playing have all become part of the lexicon of modern jazz. To mark what would be Dilla’s 50th birthday...Read More