Celebrated pianist Larry McDonough has been a fixture on the Twin Cities jazz scene for decades and he’s well known for his love of Bill Evans. This Thursday (8/31), Larry and company are gracing the mainstage of Crooners to play Bill Evans’ material. They’ll also share part of a moving documentary about Evans’ life. Listen...Read More

After a chance encounter 22 years ago in the Twin Cities, Tony London went on to become friends with Tony Bennett, receiving support and sage advice from him as he built his career as a modern crooner. Like so many in the music industry, London recognizes Bennett as a “singer’s singer,” and valued his mentorship...Read More

Vocalist Maud Hixson is a mainstay of the jazz scene in the Twin Cities and she has churned out another exemplary disc. On Saturday, Sept. 2, she’s taking the stage of Crooner’s to celebrate the new release, Permanent Moonlight. Listen in to Maud’s conversation with Sean McPherson from The Afternoon Cruise about the new disc,...Read More

  Jack Barrett (piano) and Charlie Bruber (bass) are kindred musical spirits. After the pandemic, they found their way back to creativity by doing brisk, low-pressure sessions with Ben Ehrlich and Jake Baldwin bright and early in the morning. These sessions grew into the record that they are releasing as the Jack Barrett Quartet on...Read More

  On August 21, 1904 Count Basie was born in Red Bank, NJ. In his seventy-nine years on planet earth, he contributed immense amounts to the development of jazz, and the legendary orchestra that he led for the majority of his life continues on to this day under the tutelage of Scotty Barnhart. Rick Carlson,...Read More

  The Minnesota State Fair is here! We couldn’t be more excited about how much jazz there is on offer this year! No matter what day you go, you should be able to take in a great jazz experience. We sincerely encourage you to come through on Saturday, August 26 and/or Sunday, August 27 when...Read More

Jamecia Bennett took time out of her busy schedule to chat with Jazz88 in advance of her headlining show at the Art and All That Jazz Festival this weekend in Burnsville. Ms. Bennett, well-known for her long tenure with Sounds of Blackness, is bringing her critically acclaimed solo show to Nicollet Commons Park, and is...Read More

“Deedles,” AKA Diane Schuur, is making her way back to the Twin Cities for two shows on Saturday, August 12 with the JazzMN Orchestra. She’ll be exploring the Count Basie songbook–something she’s been doing since the mid 1980s. Diane was joined for this interview by her feline partner, Puss Puss. Listen here: This interview originally...Read More

Celebrated pianist and MacPhail instructor, Michael Cain, spent about a decade working with Jack DeJohnette from 1990-99. It was a joy having him in the Jazz88 studios to reflect on his love for DeJohnette and the larger importance he had on the music world at large. Listen here: This interview originally aired on The Afternoon...Read More