Bassist Greg Bryant is one half of the jazz duo Concurrence. On their new album, Indivisible, he and pianist Paul Horton use an entire toolbox of expression to tell the story of the impact of Interstate 40 on Black neighborhoods in Nashville. Bryant, who hails from Nashville, discussed how he and Horton came to tell...Read More
In his interview with Sean McPherson this week, in-demand Twin Cities pianist Kavyesh Kaviraj said he is running on “two batteries.” His debut album as leader, Fables, is a culmination of at least a year of work for Kaviraj and his team. For his visit to Jazz88, Kaviraj focused on how a half decade of...Read More
Manny Hill is the Executive Producer of MPS Voices, and one of his closest colleagues is Olive Norvell, who serves as host and producer on MPS Voices. MPS Voices is a central hub for student and staff audio content for, and from, Minneapolis Public Schools. Learn more about MPS Voices’ triumphant first year in this...Read More
Choreographer Leslie Parker and musician DeCarlo Jackson have been working together in a larger group toward a Black Dance Improvisation concert coming up on Saturday, June 22 at the Cedar Cultural Center. The event is part of the Twin Cities Jazz Festival and represents the culmination of work done with a cast of dancers and...Read More
Jazz88’s Peter Solomon caught up with singer and songwriter Nicole Zuraitis, whose 2023 recording, How Love Begins, received the Grammy award for “Best Jazz Vocal Album.” Zuraitis plays Thursday evening, June 20th, at the Dakota in an appearance billed as a pre-Twin Cities Jazz Festival show. https://kbem-od.streamguys1.com/kbem/20240619093839-NicoleZuraoitisforWeb.mp3 More Posts for Show: Judy Carmichael’s Jazz InspiredRead More
Damian Kulash, singer and guitarist for OK Go, is getting ready for a show at First Ave on July 11, and he recently touched base with Jazz88 to discuss how he has connected with jazz throughout his life. During his conversation with Sean McPherson, Kulash discussed how jazz got him to focus on what is...Read More
In anticipation of their Courtyard Concert appearance at MIA on Thursday, June 20 for a Juneteenth Celebration, Sean McPherson connected with artists Queen Drea, PaviElle,and Tish Jones. Hailing from the same part of Saint Paul (Rondo), Jones, Queen Drea, and PaviElle have served as “co-conspirators” for decades. Throughout the conversation, the themes of Black liberation...Read More
UPDATE: March 19th is Eliane Elias’ birthday, so we are pinning this post to the front page of the website. Happy Birthday, Eliane! Jazz88’s Peter Solomon spoke with pianist, vocalist, songwriter and composer Eliane Elias about her new album, Time and Again, coming out later this month on Candid Records. The recording features background vocals...Read More
Grammy-winning bassist Ben Williams is in the Twin Cities to play the Black to Life event at Schneider Theater on Friday, June 14. Before he even got his checked baggage from the carousel, he hopped on the phone to talk with Jazz88’s Sean McPherson about how he has added producer, vocalist, and leader to his...Read More
After studying at UW-Eau Claire and a stint in Chicago, guitarist Mike Wolter has firmly planted his flag in the Twin Cities jazz scene. On Friday, June 14, he’ll be celebrating the release of his band’s debut album at MetroNOME Brewery. The Early Planets’ release is called The Waits/inBetween Music, and alongside bassist Cody McKinney...Read More
