Join Patty Peterson in honoring our jazz pioneers. The broadcast of the Minnesota Jazz Legends: The Elders concert, recorded live at the Minnesota History Center in April is now available on demand. Patty reminisces with several Twin Cities jazz legends who have achieved local and national acclaim: Bob Gilbertson on drums, Ahmed AbdulKarim on trumpet...Read More
Fourteen-year-old pianist Joey Alexander is playing two shows at the Dakota tonight (Thursday, Oct. 11th) at 7:00 p.m. and 9:00 p.m. with Reuben Rogers on bass and Johnathan Blake on drums. He spoke with Jazz88’s Emily Reese about the shows and his newest albums, Eclipse and Legion of Peace. http://kbem-recast.streamguys1.com/content/u20181011083909196.mp3 Originally aired Thursday, Oct. 11...Read More
Jazz88 is the Broadcast partner for the Minnesota Orchestra’s Jazz in the Target Atrium series. Jazz guitarist Peter Bernstein is up next in a solo performance featuring standards, originals and pieces from greats such as Thelonious Monk. Friday, October 19th, 8 p.m. at Orchestra Hall. Tune in the broadcast on 88.5 FM Saturday, October 27 at...Read More
Composers JC Sanford and Asuka Kakitani are working hard to grow the Twin Cities jazz scene, which is already rich with talent. They started a Twin Cities Jazz Composers Workshop in 2017 to encourage the creation of new music for big bands, and they started a new big band called Inatnas (a blend of their...Read More
A trio of legendary musicians is heading to the Twin Cities next week to play Vieux Carre. Pianist Cyrus Chestnut, bassist Buster Williams and drummer Lenny White are scheduled for four shows, Tuesday and Wednesday nights at 7 p.m. and 9 p.m. Chestnut called into the Morning Show to talk about the upcoming performances and...Read More
Cuban pianist Harold López-Nussa is playing the Dakota with his trio Monday, Sept. 17 at 7:00 p.m. His brother, Ruy Adrian Nussa, is the drummer and the bassist is Gastón Joya. López-Nussa’s new album, Un Día Cualquiera, translates to “Just Another Day.” It means there’s nothing special about this album; they play together as they would...Read More
Pianist Geoffrey Keezer and his trio are playing with vocalist Gillian Margot at Crooners Lounge and Supper Club Sunday, Sept. 2 at 6:30 p.m. He talked with Jazz88’s Emily Reese about the show, and about his new recording On My Way To You. http://kbem-recast.streamguys1.com/content/u20180831055425190.mp3 Originally aired Friday, Aug. 31, 2018 on the Morning Show with Emily...Read More
Starting on the first weekday in September, Jazz88 is rolling out new programs and moving some favorites to new times. On Monday evenings, Minnesota Jazz Tracks moves earlier, to 7 p.m., while Jazz@MPS airs an hour later at 9. Then at 10, we are pleased to debut Jazz Inspired. Host/pianist/vocalist Judy Carmichael visits with luminaries...Read More
Three years ago, I was in Boston at Harmonix Music Systems, visiting a composer who works there. Harmonix is a studio known for making video games tied to music, like Guitar Hero, Rock Band and the fantastic motion-based game Fantasia: Music Evolved.* When the composer, Steve Pardo, found out we were from Minneapolis, he starting professing his love for...Read More
New Orleans group the Rebirth Brass Band is playing two shows at the Dakota Sunday, Aug. 19 at 7 p.m. and 9 p.m. Rebirth started in 1983 when the members were all still in high school. Brothers Philip and Keith Frazier are two of the founding members, Philip on sousaphone and Keith on bass drum....Read More
