Chadwick ‘Niles’ Phillips, founder & CEO of The Avant Garde entertainment production company, stopped by the Jazz88 studios to discuss his involvement with ComMUSICation, a program founded in 2013 to provide high-quality after school music programs accessible to youth. The group is celebrating their 10th anniversary on Sunday, May 21 at the Ordway in St....Read More

Trumpeter and composer Ambrose Akinmusire is getting ready for a two-night stand at the Walker Art Center on May 19 and 20. He’s been working on new music and figuring out how to balance his work with his wellbeing. Hear a conversation between Ambrose Akinmusire and Jazz88’s Sean McPherson before attending the shows this weekend:...Read More

A promising collective of young women from Franklin Middle School came through the Jazz88 studios to premiere their new single, “Positive,” and discuss their upcoming performance at South High as part of the Viva City Fine Arts Festival (May 16 at 6:30 PM).  Thanks to Mr. B and Adrian Davis for bringing in the students,...Read More

Celebrated saxophonist, composer, educator, and Music Director for the Twin Cities’ own JazzMN Orchestra, Pete Whitman, dropped by the Jazz88 studios to discuss his upcoming show leading and conducting the South High Jazz Band on May 24.   This interview originally aired May 15, 2023 on The Afternoon Cruise. This interview was produced and edited...Read More

Coming up on Wednesday, May 17, Jazz88 presents the first performance in a series of spring and summer Jazzclectic pop-up concerts. Trumpeter Omar Abdulkarim and his Quartet will play from 5:30 to 7 p.m. on the Great Lawn, just north of Allianz Field, before the Loons’ match against Houston. No game ticket required; all are...Read More

The in-demand, Twin Cities-based pianist and composer, Kavyesh Kaviraj, came through the studios of Jazz88 to talk about the importance of working as a side person, his approach to leading bands, and his upcoming show at the Dakota.   This interview originally aired May 12, 2023 on The Afternoon Cruise.       More Posts...Read More

Twin Cities Jazz Festival organizers Steve Heckler and Dayna Martinez swung through The Afternoon Cruise to chat about the event (now in its 25th year), including details about the MPS Voices Youth Stage and other schedule highlights from across the 2023 Twin Cities Jazz Fest. Listen here:   This interview originally aired May 10, 2023...Read More

Pete Whitman, the celebrated Minnesota-based saxophonist and composer, swung by The Afternoon Cruise to discuss his upcoming show with Byron Stripling and the JazzMN Orchestra on May 23, as well as an upcoming set on the books at the Dakota.   This interview originally aired May 8, 2023 on The Afternoon Cruise. This interview was...Read More

Celebrated organist Ronnie Foster is making his way to the Dakota on May 11. Ahead of the show, he hopped on a Zoom with Jazz88’s Sean McPherson to talk about his latest album, what to expect from the show, his tutelage under other organ masters, and his experience of being sampled by hip-hop group, A Tribe...Read More

Bobby Lyle is back in town for a Friday show at Crooners, and while here, he was nice enough to stop by the Jazz88 studios. He talked about growing up in Minneapolis, and hearing about young musicians in North Minneapolis who were working out of a garage. Those musicians turned out to be Prince and...Read More