The Twin Cities Jazz Festival happens in multiple locations and performers range of students to legends. Sam Keenan spoke with musicians we want to highlight. These are great teasers to help you decide all the places you need to listen to jazz during the Twin Cities Jazz. Festival Marimbist Jenny Klukken and her quartet will...Read More

Taiko Arts Midwest presents a concert and dance party called Taiko Groove, Saturday June 7 at the Cedar at 7pm. The event features not only the long-standing Taiko Arts Midwest group, but a rare US performance by Go-koo, visiting from Tokyo. Jennifer Weir is the executive director of Taiko Arts Midwest. When Jennifer talked to...Read More

Jazz88’s Peter Solomon speaks with trumpeter Frank London about the history of klezmer music in America and 40 years of genre bending klezmer interpretations and collaborations by the Klezmatics. London was a founding member of the Grammy-award winning ensemble. The Klezmatics play the Dakota Tuesday night (May 27th) with Minneapolis-based ensemble Red Thread. Find details...Read More

In the days of silent film – the period from the late 1890s until the late twenties –  women had prominent and important creative roles. Not just as actors, but as directors, writers, and producers.  Many of the films that these pioneering film makers created explored provocative feminist themes that might seem surprising today. Peter...Read More

Award-winning saxophonist, Patrick Lamb, is stepping into the spotlight with his new single, “Mint Condition.” Lamb is celebrated for his collaborations with music legends like Gino Vannelli, Bobby Caldwell, and Diane Schuur and now he is stepping into the spotlight. Patrick talks with Jazz88’s Patty Peterson about his Twin Cities debut concert at The Belvedere...Read More

  Good Acoustics–the radio show for musical omnivores on KBEM Jazz88—has decided to start a regular showcase for the local artists we feature on our program. Come gather at MetroNOME Brewing in Lowertown St. Paul on Saturday, May 10th from 730-9pm, to hear some of the artists whose music we love. This month we’ll be...Read More

Jazz88’s Peter Solomon spoke with banjoist Béla Fleck about his recent Grammy Award-winning recording with the late Chick Corea and his new project, a collaboration with Colombian harpist Edmar Castaneda and drummer Antonio Sanchez. They perform at the Dakota on Monday, March 24th and Tuesday, March 25. (Attached photo by Shervin Lainez)Read More

April is “Jazz Appreciation Month,” and Jazz88 is looking forward to celebrating with a concert honoring our 2025 Minnesota Jazz Legends: drummer Jay Epstein, pianist and Walker West Music Academy founder Grant West, Dixieland trombonist Art Katzman, and the late, award-winning jazz vocalist Debbie Duncan. Presented by Jazz88, this special concert will be held at...Read More

Join Next Level Collaborations at their winter coat giveaway at 1220 N Logan Ave, MPLS, MN 55411 on December 7th from 10am to 2pm With any questions contact jmason@nextlevelcollaborations.org More Posts for Show: Jazz with ClassRead More

New-York based singer Richard Cortez is releasing his debut album, Mood Swings, this week. Jazz88’s Peter Solomon caught up with Cortez to discuss how his long history of gay activism plays into his musical career. Remarkably, he only started singing jazz publicly a few years ago. He made a name for himself by organizing jazz...Read More