Jazz88’s Peter Solomon caught up with clarinetist Tony Balluff of the Southside Aces. Balluff talked about one of his musical heroes: New Orleans clarinetist Jimmy Noone. He also discussed the formation of the Southside Aces, the group he co-founded twenty years ago with tuba player Erik Jacobson (The Southside Aces will be featured in the...Read More

MPS Voices Associate Educator Jedediah Jones spoke with Laura Louis-Jacques, District Program Facilitator- Secondary Special Education, and Jesse Morgan, Department Head at MPS Assistive Technology Center, about the Special Education Community Resource Fair taking place Thursday, May 9th from 5-7:30 PM at the MPS Center for Adult Learning. https://kbem-od.streamguys1.com/kbem/20240506125022-SpecialEducationCommunityResourceFair.mp3Read More

Guitarist and singer John Pizzarelli is from an illustrious jazz family. His father was the legendary guitarist Bucky Pizzarelli and John grew up around jazz legends like Benny Goodman, Zoot Sims, Les Paul and Slam Stewart. Pizzarrelli discusses his recent album, Stage and Screen, his current trio, and his upcoming performances with the JazzMN Orchestra and...Read More

Dayna Martinez, Executive Director of the Twin Cities Jazz Festival, visited the Morning Show on International Jazz Day to reveal the complete lineup of artists performing at the Twin Cities Jazz Festival on June 21st and 22nd. https://kbem-od.streamguys1.com/kbem/20240430101811-SolomonandMartinez4-30.mp3Read More

Lynne Arriale has been a leading pianist and educator on the international jazz scene for more than thirty years. In this conversation with Jazz88’s Peter Solomon, she discusses her development as a jazz artist, the craft that goes into creating memorable compositions, and her recent recording, Being Human. Arriale is appearing May 4th and 5th...Read More

Twin Cities singer Maud Hixson won a Bistro Award recently for “Permanent Moonlight,” an album of songs by Richard Rodney Bennett. She spoke with Jazz88’s Peter Solomon about her path to becoming a professional jazz singer and about a Doris Day Tribute at Crooners’ Dunsmore Room on April 20th. https://kbem-od.streamguys1.com/kbem/20240415113940-MaudHixson_webmixdown.mp3Read More

Peter Solomon speaks with Duluth-based trombonist Thomas Woytko about JAM Duluth, a program of live performances scheduled at Duluth breweries and other locations through the month of April. https://kbem-od.streamguys1.com/kbem/20240409110119-ThomasWoytkoMixdown.mp3Read More

Jazz88’s Peter Solomon spoke with pianist Aaron Diehl about his recent recording of Mary Lou Williams’ “Zodiac Suite,” the influence of pianist and composer John Lewis, and his upcoming performance of music by Lewis, Gunther Schuller and others with members of the Chamber Music Society of Minnesota Sunday, April 7th at Sundin Hall on the...Read More

Jazz88’s Peter Solomon spoke with Victor Cole, Director of Recruitment, Retention and Induction in the School of Urban Education at Metro State University, about a Graduate Programs Preview Day coming up April 13th. https://kbem-od.streamguys1.com/kbem/20240403094031-VictorColeInterview.mp3Read More

Jazz88’s Peter Solomon spoke with Brazilian guitar virtuoso Diego Figueiredo about his musical development and his recent album “My World,” which featured guest appearances by clarinetist/saxophonist Ken Peplowski and trumpeter Nicholas Payton. Figueiredo is appearing at Crooners on Friday 3/29. https://kbem-od.streamguys1.com/kbem/20240328093738-DiegoFigwithmusic3_01080.mp3Read More