Peter Solomon speaks to Paul Fonfara and Spencer Roth of The Brass Messengers, a Twin Cities-based brass band that blends elements of Balkan, Macedonian, Afrobeat, Free Jazz, New Orleans sounds. The group will play a Mardi-Gras show called “Dance Your Brass Off” Tuesday, February 17th at the Turf Club, presented by Jazz88. More Posts for...Read More

Jazz88’s Peter Solomon speaks with Craig Ritacco, COO and General Manager of The Lexington, a historic restaurant in St. Paul that features jazz between Labor day and April. Benny Weinbeck, a jazz pianist who books the shows, also joins the conversation. https://kbem-od.streamguys1.com/kbem/20260129124949-TheLexFINAL.mp3Read More

Pianist Aaron Parks speaks to Jazz88’s Peter Solomon about his most recent project on the Blue Note label, a quartet session called “By All Means,” featuring bassist Ben Street, saxophonist Ben Solomon, and legendary drummer Billy Hart. Parks also discusses his musical influences, how he dealt with being labelled a jazz prodigy, and talks about...Read More

Vocalist Maud Hixson has released a new album of holiday songs called When Winter Comes. She speaks with Jazz88’s Morning Show host Peter Solomon about the project, and the segment includes samples of several of the tunes from the new album. Hixson goes beyond the standard holiday fare and comes up with some really interesting...Read More

Hanukkah comes early this year on the Jazz Impulse! Tune into the Jazz Impulse on Jazz88  Saturday Night as we will be live from the Dakota in Minneapolis, broadcasting The Klezmatics “Happy Joyous Hanukkah” performance live on the air! Their record  Woody Guthrie’s Happy Joyous Hanukkah” has recently been reissued for the holidays and is the highlight of the current...Read More

Patty Peterson had the pleasure to interview Connie Evingson and Bruce Henry who are both singing with JazzMN Orchestra on December 8th on the mainstage at Chanhassen Dinner Theaters. They talk about the thrill of singing with this incredible orchestra, and how much fun it is to reunite with the friends who are top musicians...Read More

Jazz88’s Peter Solomon speaks with singer, composer, and songwriter Yazmin from the band Yazmin and Beat Zero As a teenager in rural Wisconsin, Yazmin fell in love with the sounds of Cuba, and and as an adult she spent a few years studying dance and music there. Her band is a fusion of her original...Read More

Jazz88’s Peter Solomon speaks with arranger and composer Adi Yeshaya about his latest recording, Produce. The album showcases vocalist Jennifer Grimm. Yeshaya discusses his association with the late Twin Cities singer Debbie Duncan, sheds some light on the arrangements featured on the album, and talks about his upcoming appearance at the Dakota on Wednesday, October...Read More

On his website, drummer, producer and bandleader Makaya McCraven describes himself as a “beat scientist.”Much of McCraven’s work is involved in picking musical moments from his recorded performances and applying hip-hop style production techniques to reinvent the material. McCraven is releasing four new EPs in October, and he is performing live at Icehouse in Minneapolis...Read More

  photos by Ian Buck Since it’s founding in 1985, The Dakota has become a linchpin of the music world. The Dakota’s founder, Lowell Pickett, has been at the helm since the beginning and the journey from it’s beginnings as a no-cover, all local music spot to one of the premier performance venues in the...Read More