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

Eclectic Edge Ensemble is celebrating 15 years of jazz dance in Minnesota with performances at The Lab Theater in Minneapolis July 19-22.  Dancers and musicians will present a collage of company favorites and works by incredible jazz guest artists including Zoe Sealy, Karla Grotting, Cynthia Gutierrez-Garner and Danny Buraczeski. Eclectic Edge Ensemble works with Minnesota composers...Read More

“Bonnie Raitt meets Alabama Shakes?” Though these may not be binding distinctions, one thing is certain:  Hannah von der Hoff  is a unique talent. She will be playing Friday 7/13 at Aster Cafe Hannah was gracious enough to give us an exclusive performance of two songs, one of which debuts as a video this week. You...Read More

The Piano Prince of New Orleans, Davell Crawford, is coming to play two shows at the Dakota on Tuesday, July 10th and Wednesday, July 11th. He spoke with Jazz88’s Emily Reese about the shows, his devotion to recording his practice sessions, and what he loves about music from New Orleans. The Dirty Dozen Brass Band...Read More

Hear Leigh Kamman’s Jazz Image Minnesota Edition on Jazz88, weekdays in June starting Monday, at 6:25 a.m. and 1:25 p.m. The five-minute programs will feature interview excerpts and music from important Minnesota-based jazz musicians of yesterday and today, from the collection of a great jazz broadcaster. Featured artists include Shirley Witherspoon, Irv Williams, Jeanne Arland Peterson, and...Read More

In a world and time of differences, music has the power to bring us together, to unite us through a shared experience. Music knows no boundaries. It transcends that which keeps us apart. Performing on self-made hand drums, students from Urban Arts Academy join Douglas R. Ewart (didgeridoo, flutes, and other instruments), Bobb Fantauzzo (Native...Read More

Celebrate Jazz Appreciation Month with some of Minnesota’s most notable jazz legends, hosted by Patty Peterson (award winning vocalist and KBEM Radio host) in an intimate afternoon of live music and inspiring stories. Presented by Jazz88, this special concert will be held at the Minnesota History Center on Sunday, April 22, 2018, 2:00-3:30pm. Tickets are...Read More

String Theory host Kevin Barnes welcomes banjo maestro and muse Béla Fleck to the show. Béla will be joining his music and life partner Abigail Washburn to perform at Live at The Guthrie Monday, February 26th celebrating their latest album “Echo in the Valley”. Béla Fleck and Abigail Washburn are two of the least complacent musicians you’ve encountered. With...Read More

Jazz88’s REEL Jazz Film Series is pleased to partner with The Film Society of Minneapolis-St. Paul to co-present a screening evening of “DJANGO”, a new French film drama about legendary jazz guitarist Django Reinhardt. Join us Friday evening February 2nd at the Saint Anthony Main Theater in Minneapolis. Screening is at 7 p.m. General Tickets...Read More

Thanks to Jazz88 and the Minnesota Arts & Cultural Heritage Fund,  Calley Bliss from Entertainment Jill is producing a compilation EP of hits made famous by Minnesota artists. The EP will feature some of the Twin Cities finest jazz musicians as the backing band, and YOU could be selected to sing on it! LEARN MORE AND...Read More