String Theory host Kevin Barnes welcomes banjo maestro and muse Béla Fleck to the show. Béla will be joining his music and life partner Abigail Washburn to perform at Live at The Guthrie Monday, February 26th celebrating their latest album “Echo in the Valley”. Béla Fleck and Abigail Washburn are two of the least complacent musicians you’ve encountered. With...Read More

Jazz88’s REEL Jazz Film Series is pleased to partner with The Film Society of Minneapolis-St. Paul to co-present a screening evening of “DJANGO”, a new French film drama about legendary jazz guitarist Django Reinhardt. Join us Friday evening February 2nd at the Saint Anthony Main Theater in Minneapolis. Screening is at 7 p.m. General Tickets...Read More

Thanks to Jazz88 and the Minnesota Arts & Cultural Heritage Fund,  Calley Bliss from Entertainment Jill is producing a compilation EP of hits made famous by Minnesota artists. The EP will feature some of the Twin Cities finest jazz musicians as the backing band, and YOU could be selected to sing on it! LEARN MORE AND...Read 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

The 2018 Winter Jazz Fest is set for Sunday Jan 28th at Crooners Lounge and Supper Club. The festival will run from 1:00 pm to 8:30 pm ( followed by a jazz jam session) headlined by jazz violinist Regina Carter w/Xavier Davis, legendary NOLA drummer Butch Miles and local favorites including Connie Evingson, the ACME...Read More

Rio Nido is one of the Twin Cities’ most beloved and enduring vocal jazz ensembles. The group began in the late 1970s, when chanteuse Prudence Johnson joined forces with ace guitarists and singers Tim Sparks and Tom Lieberman.  Their Minneapolis-based group’s debut LP, “I Like to Riff,” is considered by many to be a classic of...Read More

Today’s broadcast is pre-recorded. Performances took place at KBEM on 12/13/17 as well as some from last year. Photo Credits, (except Vicky Emerson): Aidan O’Connor “Jazz 88 Holiday Cruise” performers:  Harpist/singer/entertainer Katie McMahon, Irish born, helped take the world by storm in the phenomenal “Riverdance.” As a lead singer, she stunned audiences worldwide with her...Read More

Grammy Award winning saxophonist Kirk Whalum’s 6th Annual A Gospel According To Jazz Christmas concert tour, featuring South African singer/guitarist Jonathan Butler along with special guests John Stoddart, Sheléa, and Kevin Whalum is coming up this  Sunday, December 17th , 6 p.m. at Bethel University’s Benson Great Hall.  Info Tune in Kirk’s visit with Patty Peterson during The Playroom  this Sunday at 4 p.m. More Posts...Read More