Sullivan Fortner is one of the most prominent and esteemed pianists in the contemporary jazz scene. We caught up with him in between a busy schedule, ahead of his performance at the Twin Cities Jazz Festival. […]

Trumpeter Ella Grace came up in the Twin Cities Area, playing many a jazz fest as a student musician. Now, she’s back as an established composer and educator, to perform her debut album “Figments.” […]

Brooklyn-based trombonist and composer Kalia Vandever is a rising figure in the contemporary jazz landscape. Yonci Jameson chatted with Vandever about their most recent release, collaborations and composition process. Aired April 2026.  https://kbem-od.streamguys1.com/kbem/20260429123934-KALIAVANDEVER_mixdown.mp3 […]

Bassist, bandleader and educator David Ambrosio has been a fixture of the New York jazz scene over the past three decades. His upcoming project Civil Disobedience explores buried Blue Note recordings from the late Civil-Rights era, alongside a stellar lineup. Hear the chat here: […]

This week’s hot new local single is “Twelve Thirty-Four,” from Johannes Wallmann’s newest release, Not Tired, released on December 5th. While the musicians are from our neighboring state Wisconsin, the record was released on the Twin Cities’ Shifting Paradigm Records, whose roster of artists are no strangers to Jazz88’s airwaves. Here, Nick Moran sets the pace […] […]

Please join Jazz88 in welcoming Yonci Jameson! From North Minneapolis, Yonci Jameson (she/they) joins KBEM-Jazz88 as Music Director and host of the Afternoon Cruise, which airs Monday through Friday from 3-7pm. Rooted in a rich cultural lineage, Yonci’s broadcasting career began as a child on KFAI’s Mostly Jazz, established in 1993 by her Great-Grandmother Patricia Walton, […] […]

  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 […] […]

“THERE IS A LEGEND AMONG US FOLKS!!” – this is my constant rallying call to my brothers and sisters in local media. Stokley, the iconic R&B musician who fronted Mint Condition for 20+ years is a half-decade into a fruitful solo career and I can’t believe the man can shop for groceries at Mississippi Market […] […]

Pianist Yuko Mabuchi is bringing her trio to the Selby Ave Jazz Fest for a performance on Saturday, September 13. Mabuchi, who hails from Japan but is based in L.A., was nice enough to connect with Sean McPherson and talk about her trio, her repertoire and her love of improvisation.   This interview originally aired […] […]

It is with mixed emotions that I let you all know that Friday, September 12, will be my last day as the host of the Afternoon Cruise. Why am I leaving one of the world’s perfect jobs? To take another job that I hope will be perfect and will also let me have dinner with […] […]

Jazzy Offerings at the State Fair Click here for MN state Fair website where you can find more info about all these offerings.  Friday August 22 Davina and the Vagabonds 1:00-1:45, 2:30-3:15 at the Bandshell Iconic Jazz Artist out the Twin Cities   MPLS the Band 3:45-4:30, 4:45-5:30 at the Bandshell Groundbreaking R&B and hip-hop […] […]

After completing the long drive from the Upper Peninsula back to the Twin Cities, trumpet player and composer Adam Meckler was happy to pop in the booth at Jazz88 and discuss his upcoming gigs at Berlin on Friday, August 15. Meckler also talked about his upcoming record “Sampled” which drops in November. Meckler also shared […] […]

Cody Steinmann is a trusted guitar player and teacher in town who can be found giving lessons, playing gigs and sitting in. Steinmann is also a recording artist who is consistently putting out new material. Earlier this summer, Steinmann released the new EP Barely Anyone Calls Me So I Just Stay At Home and Make My […] […]

    Professional pianist Abebi Stafford and student saxophonist Sam Stauning stopped by the Jazz88 studios to talk about the fundraiser concert the MN Hard Bop Collective is hosting on Monday, August 11 at Metronome in Lowertown. The concert will feature a student ensemble with Stauning, alongside pianist Basil Saathoff and guitarist Kyle Baxter. The […] […]

I don’t know what the feel is called when the drummer hits a cross stick on every quarter-note, but I love it. To me it will always be the “Swept Away” feel from the masterful playing of Questlove on The Roots album “Do You Want More?!??” Heck, maybe that’s what leader Joan Hutton called out […] […]

The celebrated multi-instrumentalist Dosh dreamed big a couple years ago when he put together the Larry Schaefer Memorial Orchestra. This fully improvised 12-piece unit has been performing for a handful of years and Dosh is ready to bring the show to Palmer’s on the West Bank for a show this Saturday. The orchestra will be […] […]

The legendary guitarist Mark Whitfield is making his way back to the Twin Cities for a set at the Lakeside Guitar Festival on Saturday, August 9. Whitfield is no stranger to Minnesota, having played here frequently at the beginning of his career when he was touring with Brother Jack McDuff. Whitfield covered the details of […] […]

There are few things in the music world as joyous as a well-delivered shuffle. A shuffle is a rhythmic feel with swung eighth-notes and a strong and persistent backbeat. In my opinion, a blues shuffle divides the pros from the amateurs in most settings. When a band can really cook over a shuffle beat the […] […]

Trumpeter Jake Baldwin is back with another great solo effort titled Vanishing Point. The album comes out in full in mid-August but we are excited to feature one of the tunes this week! Baldwin tapped the same supporting cast he used on his 2023 release Misc. Items, to explore a new set of beautifully rendered […] […]

JC Sanford, the organizer of the Northfield Jazz Festival, swung by the studios of Jazz88 to discuss the 2025 installment of the festival, which takes place July 11-13. The event is only its second year, but it’s already tripled in size. Sanford and co will host events from Friday evening all the way to Sunday […] […]

I frankly didn’t expect to hear recorded music from the Riffin’ Trio. I knew the Riffin’ Trio held court monthly over at Dusty’s in Northeast Minneapolis and I figured it was a project where A-list players had some fun on the side with no recording technology insight. But I’m so glad the group ended up […] […]

Joan Hutton from Take that Back was nice enough to visit the Jazz88 studios in anticipation of their upcoming performance at Taste of MN this weekend (Sunday July 6 at 5:45). Hutton was joined by Stephanie Wiesler, who is filling in on sax and flute for Sue Orfield. The duo discussed the upcoming gig, the […] […]

Summer jams don’t come in one variety. There are the romantic/erotic summer jams that prompt you to pull that special somebody a little closer, sweat be blessed. There are the summer songs that function like a musical ice cube, you drop them into the mix on the hottest day imaginable, and you feel like mother […] […]

Toussaint Morrison is a journalist, an actor and a recording artist. This Friday, Toussaint is premiering five new music videos and a live set of all new music at the Green Room in Minneapolis. The event is in celebration of his forthcoming new album, Shapeshifter. Morrison took the time to visit with Sean from Jazz88 […] […]

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 […] […]

Pianist and composer Emmet Cohen will be back in the Twin Cities to play at the Twin Cities Jazz Festival on Friday, June 20 at 8:30 with his trio and the Four Freshmen. Cohen took a break this week to catch up with Sean McPherson and talk about his latest studio release and what he […] […]

I stay overwhelmed by the amazing things that happen in our scene! I want to explain to you how one of the most storied vocal groups in jazz history started collaborating with one of the biggest voices in modern jazz and to do that we’ll have to travel back to the 1940s! The Four Freshmen […] […]

Bassist and composer Ted Olsen is back with a new disc titled Violette. The album comes out on June 6 on Shifting Paradigm and Olsen is celebrating the release at the Cedar Cultural Center on Wednesday, June 11. Eric Mayson will be opening that show with a set. Olsen was nice enough to stop by […] […]

The celebrated bassist and composer Ted Olsen is back with a new set of originals titled Violette. Olsen is no stranger to releasing his own music and this album continues Olsen’s penchant for bringing lush, through-composed moments into conversation with improvisers. Throughout the album, Ted’s compositions and bass playing are buttressed by support from multiple string […] […]

Dayna Martinez is gearing up for a busy June but she took some time to visit Jazz88 and talk about the upcoming Twin Cities Jazz Festival. Festival events begin on June 19 with the main action happening June 20-21. Martinez talked about performances and masterclasses that she’s excited about and she provided some tips on […] […]

The Zoo Too Trio is a new recording project from some very big names in the world of modern jazz. Before listening to their new disc, Poetry Legroom, I was most familiar with the work of pianist and keyboard player Michael Cain. Michael Cain is an accomplished pianist who has been popping up in liner-notes of […] […]

Hot New Local Single for Wednesday, May 21 In the Twin Cities we are blessed to have a thriving music scene that features great players at every stage of their career. One sign of a thriving scene can be measured in the ability for new players to arrive to town, land a couple gigs and […] […]

Vocalist Connie Evingson is getting ready to do her final performance at the Woman’s Club. Next Wednesday, May 28, Connie and Lori Dokken are co-presenting a concert titled “Our Heart Will Go On.” The event features an incredible list of Twin Cities talent such as Mary Jane Alm, Doug Anderson, Ginger Commodore, Lori Dokken, Joan […] […]

  2025 marks the centenary year of Malcolm X’s birth. For the occasion, Dr. Rose Brewer, Thandisizwe Jackson-Nisan and additional planners have organized an event uplifting the politics and vision of Malcolm X. The event is on Saturday, May 17 at UROC at Plymouth and Oliver. The event is described in the promotional materials as […] […]

Jazz88 is honored to be representing at Grand Old Day with our very own stage full of spectacular Minnesota talent! Grand Old Day is on Sunday June 1 and we’ll be hanging at the Jazz88 stage. Sean McPherson, the Afternoon Cruise host and music director at Jazz88, will be hosting the stage! More info about […] […]

Michael Bland is a musical powerhouse who calls the Twin Cities home. He is best known for his tenure as the drummer for Prince, but he has been a part of so many great moments in Twin Cities music. This Saturday, Bland will be diving back into the music of Prince for a show titled […] […]

Grammy-nominated drummer, vocalist and producer Kassa Overall is bringing his approach full circle with a performance at The Dakota on Wednesday night. Some of Overall’s earliest professional experiences were traveling with Geri Allen, Wallace Roney and others in very formal jazz bandstand settings. On Wednesday, Overall will bring all the enthusiasm and adventurousness that he’s […] […]

Somali blues & American gospel-style sounds have a conversation in a show coming to two venues in Minnesota this month. Bobby Vandell spoke with the principal artists, vocalist/conductor JD Steele and musician/poet Ahmed Yusuf.  Also along for the conversation is event organizer Beck Lee. https://kbem-od.streamguys1.com/kbem/20250404102019-Crossroads.mp3   “Meet You at the Crossroads” will be at the […] […]

Judi Vinar is a singer’s singer. Her skills and her collaborative spirit have made her an in-demand vocalist and vocal instructor nationwide. She dropped by Jazz88 to discuss her upcoming shows with Dennis Spears and the Wolverines Jazz Trio at The Capri Theater on Saturday, April 5 and Sunday, April 6. Vinar talked about maintaining […] […]

Trombonist Ryan Keberle is making his way back through town for a performance at Berlin on April 11 with his group Reverso. Keberle was nice enough to catch up with Jazz88 and talk about Reverso as well as his other projects, Colectivo De Brasil and Catharsis. Keberle also shared his thoughts about writing memorable melodies […] […]

Her voice has been with me my whole life. I bet it’s the same for you. Don’t ask me the first time I heard Aretha Franklin. Chances are, I was in the womb at the time. Aretha Franklin is present in my moments of heartache, of triumph, of resistance and of joy. She’s also with […] […]

Singer Yazmin Bowers is also a pianist, painter, dancer and teacher. She’s also quite the world traveler spending a lot of her time in Havana, Cuba where she teaches music and culture and eventually incorporating her own experiences into her own music. With her heart and soul ultimately coming from her Midwestern roots, it’s always a […] […]

Shabaka is one of the most vital voices working in music today. For the past decade, he has been heralded as one of the strongest and most imaginative saxophonists and bandleaders in jazz. And while the past handful of years have seen Shabaka turn his focus towards the flute, his mission of creating “the best […] […]

Bob James and Dave Koz are titans in the world of contemporary jazz. After years of guesting on each other’s productions, the pair decided to toss off a “mini CD” of duets as a ‘thank you’ for guests on one of Dave Koz’s jazz-oriented cruises. This miniature collaboration led to a full-blown duo release recorded […] […]

Black Market Brass and Obi Original are two of the most respected names in Minnesota music and now they have teamed up for a collaborative release. Obi is the featured vocalists on the new single “Battle Ready” from Black Market Brass. Vocalist Obi Original along with Mitch Sigurdson (guitar) and David Tullis (congas) swung by […] […]

  Bobby Commodore has been an indispensable part of the Twin Cities music scene since he sat behind the kit with Sounds of Blackness in 1974. During tenures with Sounds of Blackness, Moore by Four and many other great groups, Commodore served the Twin Cities. Beyond his work behind the kit, Bobby Commodore has served […] […]

Drummer and composer Emma Garau is performing on Monday, March 3 at Berlin in Minneapolis with Bryan Nichols (piano) and Chris Bates (bass). Garau recently moved to town from North Carolina and she discussed how she’s enjoying the Twin Cities so far. She also explained her approach to making music and connecting her love of […] […]

Hannah Harder is a young saxophonist and composer from the Twin Cities who recently released her debut album as leader, The Greatest of These is Love. Harder connected with Sam Keenan from Minnesota Jazz Tracks to discuss the new record, her path to jazz, and her upcoming release show at MetroNOME Brewery in St. Paul […] […]

Gabe Terracciano is one of the most celebrated violinists from the jazz world and tonight, Feb. 24, he’s stepping on stage at Berlin with Minneapolis players Greg Byers on cello and Geoff LeCrone on guitar. Terracciano and Byers stopped by the Jazz88 studios to talk about the show and the importance of rhythm for string […] […]

Lucia Sarmiento is a stellar leader, saxophonist, and vocalist who has toured with the likes of Pitbull and Karol G., and has collaborated with many of the biggest names in music. This weekend, Sarmiento is celebrating the release of her debut album as a leader, Escape. She will play shows on Friday,February 21 and Saturday, […] […]

We send sincere congratulations out to all the winners and nominees from the 2025 Grammys! We want to tip our hat specifically to the jazz musicians and creators who were recognized yesterday! We will be featuring music from the Grammy winners on Friday’s installment of This Just In at Noon on Friday February 7. Artists […] […]

The players in Room3 are keeping busy. After building up a reputation in the past handful of years for electrifying live shows the band has finally released some recorded material and they’re preparing for a performance on Friday, January 31 at First Ave as part of the Best New Bands concert. Keyboardist Eli Awada and […] […]

After years of sessions and casual collaborations, trumpet player Omar Abdul-Karim and pianist Kavyesh Kaviraj have forged a collaborative project. The quartet, which also features Ted Olsen on bass and Kevin Washington on drums, will perform on Tuesday, January 28 at the Dakota. Sean McPherson from the Afternoon Cruise caught up with the duo to […] […]

On January 14, Sean McPherson from Jazz88 headed down to Whitey’s Old Town Saloon in Northeast Minneapolis to check out a weekly Tuesday jam session helmed by bassist Graydon Peterson. Check out audio of the jam session, details about how to get involved and interviews with key players from the night. This interview originally aired […] […]

Jazz88 is happy to be a part of the thriving Minnesota Jazz scene. Year after year the players from this town deliver the goods with stellar performances and masterful recordings. This year, our Minnesota Jazz Tracks host Sam Keenan compiled the top twenty local tracks as voted on by the listeners of the Jazz88. Thanks […] […]

2024 has been a magical year in the world of new releases. Many long-awaited releases from the most revered names in jazz saw the light of day. We also discovered new artists who took a huge leap forward this calendar year. Jazz88 is proud to celebrate the Top 20 songs of 2024 as voted on […] […]

  In 2024 the world saw the passing of some of the most iconic jazz artists, composers and personalities in the music’s history. Listen below to celebrate these artists and hear some of their most celebrated recordings! Artists Featured:   Les McCann September 23, 1935 – December 29, 2023 Marlena Shaw September 22, 1939 – […] […]

Before Stanley Jordan was a household name he was getting his career started with Madison, Wisconsin serving as his home base. The young player made routine trips up to the Twin Cities and he credits the Twin Cities as the first major metro area where he built up a fanbase. Even though Jordan can now […] […]

Pianist Bryan Nichols is embarking on a new chapter in his musical life. On Saturday, Dec. 21, he launches a new quintet to navigate his original compositions. The group premieres at Berlin and he’ll be joined by Sophia Kickhofel (sax), Jake Baldwin (trumpet), Dan Carpel (bass), and JT Bates (drums). Nichols was nice enough to […] […]

Reid Anderson, the co-founder and the bassist for The Bad Plus, recently connected with Sean McPherson’s Jazz88 for a chat. Anderson discussed the new album from The Bad Plus and their upcoming run of shows starting on Christmas Day at the Dakota. Full interview: This interview aired on The Afternoon Cruise 12/9/24     […]

Vocalists Toussaint Morrison and Roz Prickel are deep into the world of holiday music. They are in rehearsals for their Sno Ball event on Saturday at PNA Hall in Northeast. They swung by the Afternoon Cruise to chat about their favorite holiday music, their love of all things pickle, and their upcoming show. Full interview: […] […]

Vocalist Bruce A. Henry is back in town for a holiday performance with the JazzMN Orchestra. Though Henry didn’t sing holiday music for the first half of his career, he reconnected with the canon during a holiday show at a shopping mall in Colorado and hasn’t looked back since. In this conversation, Henry shares how […] […]

Jazz88 connected with Windom, Minnesota’s own Maria Schneider on her birthday to celebrate her Grammy-laden career and her continued connection to Minnesota but Schneider wanted to talk about was the new anthem she’s written for her hometown team, the Vikings. Supported by her orchestra’s trombone section and the beefiest baritones Julliard has to offer, Schneider’s […] […]

The New Standards are a jazz-adjacent trio featuring John Munson (bass and vocals), Chan Poling (piano and vocals), and Steve Roehm (vibes). Though the group has plenty of rock’n’roll pedigrees on their resume, all the members have a deep love and knowledge of jazz. The New Standards rely on that love of jazz and the […] […]

This month Crooners Supper Club celebrates their ten year anniversary. Jazz88 caught up with their Music Director, Jennifer Grimm, to talk about the club’s history, it’s triumphant series of outdoor concerts during the pandemic and the importance of having clubs that serve as a listening rooms. This weekend on Sunday Jazz88’s own Patty Peterson will […] […]

Guitarist Zacc Harris is back with Chasing Shadows, the follow-up to his well-received 2021 effort Small Wonders. In the summer of 2022 Harris took an opportunity to get away to a cabin for five days sans family and with nothing specific on the agenda. During the retreat Harris found his way into about twenty new […] […]

Warren Wolf is celebrating a birthday today and beyond being one of the most talented musicians working today, he is also a true ambassador for his fellow vibraphone players. His latest record is called History of the Vibraphone and the entire record celebrates songs either penned by or made famous by vibraphone players. It was […] […]

Oogie_Push is from the Meskwaki Nation and is currently creating on Dakota territory, aka the Twin Cities. She’s an actor, writer, storyteller, dancer, a Meskwaki twine bag weaver, a production assistant and an award-winning documentarian. She is the playwright and lead performer for the Full Circle Production The Adventures of a Traveling Meskwaki. The show […] […]

Broadcaster and Grammy-nominated performer Judy Carmichael is coming back to the Twin Cities for a performance at the O’Shaugnessy in Saint Paul on Saturday, November 16. She’s no stranger to listeners of Jazz88 as we carry her show Judy Carmichael’s Jazz Inspired on Monday nights at 10pm. She connected with Sean McPherson from Jazz88 to […] […]

Bassist Erik Fratzke from Happy Apple was nice enough to stop by the Jazz88 studio to discuss the group’s new studio album New York CD. It’s the group’s first release in 17 years and Fratzke talked about the life cycle of the band and the beautiful rapport and camaraderie the group is enjoying as they […] […]

Today, Jazz88 celebrates the birthday of Russell Malone, a technically brilliant jazz guitarist whose tasteful solos and swinging and crisp rhythm accompaniment lent a spark to dozens of great jazz recordings with an impressive list of jazz legends. Malone was a native of Albany, Georgia and was influenced by recordings of B.B. King, the Dixie Hummingbirds and particularly […] […]

On the week of the release of MaLLy and Last Word’s new album, The Sweetest of It All, MaLLy took some time to connect with Jazz88 to discuss his love of jazz. MaLLy’s artform is hip-hop, but his sources for inspiration run way deeper. He discussed how jazz can invite him to listen deeply, to […] […]

Vocalist Dane Stauffer visited the Afternoon Cruise to discuss his upcoming Monstrous Melodies Cabaret at the Dakota. The performance features Stauffer, Maria Jette, Prudence Johnson and Dan Chouinard. Though Dane said he wasn’t sure if any of the performance was legitimately “scary” he assured us it was lots of fun. He even brought along a […] […]

Bassist Liz Draper has been running a residency at Berlin for October and she’s wrapping it up on Sunday, October 27 with her friend Ava Mendoza. Mendoza is a celebrated guitarist and composer based in Brooklyn and her friendship with Draper goes back almost 25 years. Liz spoke about her approach to improvising on the bass, her recent experience with […] […]

Mike Lewis, the celebrated multi-instrumentalist known for his work with Happy Apple, Fat Kid Wednesdays and Alpha Consumer, connected with Jazz88 to discuss the run of shows he’ll be doing in November at Icehouse. Lewis highlighted some of the artists he’ll be collaborating with like Anthony Cox, S. Carey and Jeremy Yvilsaker. He also discussed […] […]

Mere days away from releasing their sophomore album NORFSIDE drummer L.A. Buckner and his bandmates from BiG HOMiE are ready to celebrate an album that’s been years in the making. Buckner, alongside David Smith and percussionist Jamani Buckner, spoke about the songwriting process, the importance of releasing the album at an iconic venue (the Capri […] […]

Celebrated Danish vocalist Sinne Eeg is making her way to the Twin Cities for a show at Crooners on Thursday, October 17. Eeg was nice enough to hop on the phone with Sean from the Afternoon Cruise to talk about her upcoming performance at Crooners and about how she approaches singing with different size groups! […]

Obi Original is an accomplished musician/composer and vocalist. Obi agreed to come by to discuss one of his musical heroes, Fela Kuti. Fela was born October 15, 1938 and he, alongside his drummer Tony Allen, is recognized as one of the architects of the Afrobeat genre. Listen in to hear Obi Original’s reflections on Fela’s […] […]

The internationally acclaimed vocalist Samarth Nagarkar is bringing his Khayal Ensemble to MacPhail for a performance on Saturday October 12. In advance of the concert Mr. Nagarkar and Michael Cain, the Director of Electronic Music Recording Arts at MacPhail connected with Jazz88 via ZOOM to discuss the concert, the improvisational traditions of North Hindustani music […] […]

Joel Shapira is always out there playing. He’s out playing in town four or five times a week. But behind the scenes Shapira is always working on his own material. Joel came through the Jazz88 studios to discuss his new record Sleepless Montage and the release party coming up on Thursday, October 3 at Berlin […] […]

As we celebrate the centenary of Bud Powell’s birth today I want to reflect on his impact on me and the wider world. Sometimes it is not complicated why you like a jazz musician. For me, I started to love Bud Powell cause I thought his music was. . .cool. I didn’t know it featured […] […]

Drummer and bandleader L.A. Buckner lovingly describes fellow drummer/bandleader Brandon Commodore as the “big homie”. These two great drummers and bandleaders have years of history and the love will come through loud and clear on Saturday at Crooners when they share a bill. In their visit with Jazz88 Commodore pointed out that not only is […] […]

Pictured L to R: José Galván, Sergio Quiroz, Vanessa Millán, Luis Giolando Martínez, Sonia Solórzano and Mariana Cailly   Voz En Punto, the wildly talented acapella group out of Mexico City visited Jazz88 on Monday September 16. It was a beautiful coincidence that the group was visiting on Mexican Independence Day. Voz En Punto is […] […]

Trombonist Dave Graf has made friends with almost everyone’s he’s ever played with and he has a frighteningly strong command of jazz trivia. As if that wasn’t enough, Graf has also been a fixture in the Twin Cities jazz scene for decades but he spends most of his time behind the scenes.  That changes on […] […]

Vocalist extraordinaire Samara Joy is coming to the Ordway on Saturday, September 14. During a break in her schedule, Joy connected with Jazz88’s Sean McPherson, and discussed her technique for picking songs, her quick rise to becoming one of the biggest names in jazz, and her love of ensemble singing. Full interview: This interview aired […] […]

Celebrated vocalist Ashley DuBose took some time out of her day to chat about her songs, her love of jazz and her upcoming performance at the Selby Ave JazzFest on Saturday, September 14 in Saint Paul. Full interview: This interview aired 09/11/24 on The Afternoon Cruise       […]

There are no names bigger in jazz than Louis Armstrong and Miles Davis. And for aspiring trumpet players it is essential learning to understand the careers and influences of these two icons. For Solomon Parham and Omar Abdulkarim the invitation to pay tribute to these icons at the Capri Theater in North Minneapolis gave them […] […]

The Marcin Wasilewski Trio has been going for thirty years and their chemistry shines on and off stage. Tonight they’re preparing for two shows at Berlin in the North Loop of Minneapolis. Sean McPherson connected with Marcin Wasilewski, Slawomir Kurkiewicz and Michal Miskiewicz to find out about their staying power, the Polish jazz scene and […] […]

The world is paying enough attention to Cory Wong. . .but is Minnesota? Cory Wong is a bona fide festival headliner all around the world with accolades and ticket sales that match or exceed some of the titans in the world of jazz. But perhaps because he hails from Minnesota and is still based here, […] […]

Like so many jazz performers, Davina from Davina and the Vagabonds discovered jazz music early on in her life through her father and has loved and studied the music ever since. Davina connected with Sean via phone in advance of her upcoming show at the Dakota to discuss some of her favorite songs including Fats […] […]

After having the pleasure of writing about one of the tunes on pianist Kavyesh Kaviraj’s debut album, Fables, I knew I couldn’t stop there. Track seven, titled “Lullaby,” starts out with relaxed percussion, followed by piano and an enchanting melody delivered by Omar Abdulkarim (trumpet) and Pete Whitman (saxophone). It’s all so dreamy! Kaviraj’s piano solo […] […]

Author and journalist Andrea Swensson (above; R), along with Youa Vang, Vice President of the Ramsey County Historical Society (above; L), visited The Afternoon Cruise to discuss an event happening at the RCHS on Thursday, September 12 surrounding Swensson’s latest book, Deeper Blues: The Life, Songs, and Salvation of Cornbread Harris. Co-presented by Jazz88, History […] […]

Preparing for our move back to Minneapolis North High means we won’t be able to hang with you at the State Fair this year, but that doesn’t mean we don’t have hot tips on music happenings at the Great Minnesota Get-Together! Below, read what Jazz88’s Sean McPherson is looking forward to. When I go to […] […]

New Jazz88 merch is here to buy for yourself or your favorite music lovers. Jazz88 knows you love to vibe with us. Check out our new “Vibin’ with Jazz88” merch. We have t-shirts, crop tops, vintage tee styles and hoodies! AND YOUTH T-SHIRTS! In multiple colors! We still have your beloved pithy fun Everyone Listens […] […]

Celebrated reed player and composer Alan Braufman has a new album out, called Infinite Love, Infinite Tears. In conjunction with the release, he connected with Jazz88’s Christian Fritz to revisit his fascinating career–from his blossoming as a player in the early 1970s, to his stints with the Psychedelic Furs, Carla Bley, and others, and his […] […]

The team at Jazz88 is going to help you end your summer with an awesome celebration of the best jazz ever recorded. On Labor Day (September 2), Jazz88 will count down “The Best 88 and a Half Jazz Songs of All Time” as voted on by the listeners of Jazz88. The countdown starts at 6 […] […]

A call from a storage unit manager led guitar icon George Benson down the path to releasing one of the most majestic and compelling albums of his entire career. Hear George Benson in conversation with Jazz88’s Sean McPherson, as he reflects on the recording sessions that led up to this new release, Dreams Do Come […] […]

Moore by Four is getting ready for a show this Friday, August 9, over at Crooners. Members Ginger and Ashley Commodore stopped by to talk about the group’s thirty-plus year history and what gives them their staying power. Full interview: This interview aired on The Afternoon Cruise 08/06/24     […]

Astronomy Town is an indie jazz group based right here in the Twin Cities! Their first EP, Welcome To Astronomy Town, is a great introduction for what to expect when listening to them: a mix of jazz, lo-fi, and lounge. The track “Coffee & Guinness” lures you into a dreamlike state with the graceful keyboard […] […]

Twin Cities-based guitarist Pavel Jany and his Global Jazz Collegium are back with their latest disc, Labyrinth. Jany and many of the other members of the Collegium also work in the group Ticket to Brasil, but for this group, they follow their interests beyond Brazil and explore many of the international sounds that have become […] […]

Local mainstay and friend of the station, Ginger Commodore, came to visit Sean McPherson on The Afternoon Cruise to discuss her new four-show series, “And the Melodies Still Linger On”. The series launches on Thursday, August 1 at Crooners. Ms. Commodore discussed how she picks songs, accompanists, and why she has been so focused on […] […]

Take That Back is a jazz quartet made up of some seriously talented musicians. Led by reed players Joan Hutton and Sue Orfield, the group will release their sophomore album, Splash, on Friday, July 26th. The song “Playhouse Bats” sounds right at home with other groove-oriented jazz, but upon more listens, I discovered its unique, […] […]

 Joyann Parker isn’t one to slow down. Since finding blues and soul music in her mid-thirties, she has been on a campaign to learn, celebrate, and perform Black American music. She’s doing just that on Friday night, July 26, at The Woman’s Club of Minneapolis. She and Lori Dokken from The Woman’s Club stopped by […] […]

Lucia Sarmiento is a local artist who recently released a single titled “Look Up,” which features her incredible saxophone skills. To me, this song perfectly encapsulates the nature of curiosity and wonder. You can hear her genuine joy for creating music and how that’s expressed in “Look Up.” She has an obvious talent at integrating […] […]

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 […] […]

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 […] […]

Kavyesh Kaviraj, a local composer/pianist/arranger, has managed to give new life to a sound that we are all familiar with. His debut album, Fables, features a unique, nature-inspired piece, “Rain.” It starts soft, but quickly becomes cacophonous, jumping back and forth between the two. I’ve listened to “Rain” all the way through three times so […] […]

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 […] […]

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 […] […]

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 […] […]

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 […] […]

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 […] […]

The Neighborhood Quartet has been a beneath-the-radar Twin Cities mainstay for years, providing their sound on stages all across the metro. I was elated when I found out they were taking the step into commercially releasing an album, and when I heard the tune “Hey Fellas,” I knew they had found their stride. The tune […] […]

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 […] […]

Joe Lovano connected with Jazz88’s Sean McPherson in anticipation of his performance at the Twin Cities Jazz Festival on Saturday, June 22. Lovano and McPherson discussed Lovano’s long-running quartet, his legendary role in the Paul Motian Trio alongside Bill Frisell, and Lovano’s many great experiences in the Twin Cities, including a show with the Woody […] […]

Since moving to the Twin Cities from the East Coast a handful of years ago, Abinnet Berhanu has become an essential part of the Twin Cities music scene. He’s spent time supporting touring artists, playing countless jam sessions around the city and celebrating the music of Ethiopia with his group Andanet. This Saturday he brings […] […]

Celebrated vibraphonist and visionary Stefon Harris is making his way back to the Twin Cities for a headlining performance on the Jazz88 Mainstage at the Twin Cities Jazz Festival. In anticipation of his set on Friday, June 21, Harris was kind enough to connect with Sean McPherson from Jazz88 and discuss his career, his purpose, […] […]

It’s another banner year for the Cornbread! Friend of the station and celebrated music writer, Andrea Swensson, recently released the book, Deeper Blues: The Life, Songs and Salvation of Cornbread Harris, and this past March, Harris released a new collection of tunes. The bluesy jam sounds lively, joyous, and comfortable. The band sounds relaxed, and I swear […] […]

Drummer and composer Kevin Washington is bringing his group, Ra Spirit, to the stage of Icehouse for a performance on Friday night. Washington stopped by Jazz88 to discuss the gig and discussed his policy for curating a show and keeping his musicians and the audience engaged with the material. Full interview: This interview aired on […] […]

Lucia Sarmiento hails from Peru but she’s been carving a path with the Twin Cities as her homebase for ten years. In that time she has toured internationally with some of the biggest names in music include Karol G and Pitbull. But when Sarmiento is in town she can fit in in almost any musical […] […]

Jazz88 and MPS Voices host Olive Norvell recently connected with the team from Keane Sense of Rhythm Tap Dance School to get the update on their celebration of National Tap Dance Day at Como Park Pavilion on Saturday, May 25. Full interview: This interview aired on The Afternoon Cruise 05/16/24     […]

From the Desk of Sean McPherson: Mischief is an under appreciated emotion to conjure in music. Blues music does mischief great, maybe the best. Mischievous jazz is a close second and “DONKEY” from The Early Planets’ debut record captures that for me. From note one, you can tell that all three players are listening, reactive […] […]

Iconic producer and musician Don Was is bringing his new project, The Pan-Detroit Ensemble, to the Dakota for two shows on Tuesday, May 21. Though much of Was’s work nowadays is working as the head of Blue Note Records, he recognizes the importance of getting out and playing the music. In the conversation, he confesses […] […]

Atlanta-based pianist Joe Alterman hopped on the phone recently to catch up with Jazz88’s Sean McPherson about his upcoming show at Crooners. Alterman discussed how a love of bluegrass brought him to his career in jazz, and discussed the humor he sometimes finds in a player’s dynamic range. Full interview: This interview aired on The […] […]

From the Desk of Sean McPherson: I expect new projects to often sound overly ambitious at their first couple stabs at studio recording. There’s a desire to impress each other, a desire to make it count cause who knows how long the project will last. I hear the opposite in HeyArlo. With two songs released […] […]

Ron Carter is THE bass player. He is the most recorded bass player in the history of jazz and he continues to deliver quality recordings and performances as he prepares to celebrate his 87th birthday on Saturday, May 4th. Mr. Carter was nice enough to join Sean McPherson from The Afternoon Cruise on a short […] […]

Start seeing marimbas! It’s a bumper sticker I would buy for sure. Jenny Klukken has carved out a lane for herself as a jazz-conversant marimba player. In the past two years, Klukken has released a handful of singles that display her great approach and her chemistry with the rhythm section of Chris Bates (bass) and […] […]

Cory Wong and his ascent to become one of the biggest jazz acts working today can often be taken for granted in his own backyard. For years Wong has been a fixture in our scene, showing up at jam sessions, collaborating with world class players and always letting his music do the talking. Here in […] […]

On April 23, 2024 Cornbread Harris celebrated his 97th birthday. Ahead of his birthday festivities at the Hook and Ladder on Thursday, Harris took the time to chat with Jazz88’s Sean McPherson about his life. Special thanks to Andrea Swensson for facilitating the interview. Photo credit: Anthony Markunas Full interview: This interview aired on The […] […]

Saxophonist Steve Cole is a big name in the world of smooth jazz and he has been based in the the Twin Cities for over fifteen years now. He’s bringing his horn and his Super Band onto the stage of the Dakota for two shows on Friday, April 26. Cole dropped by the Jazz88 studio […] […]

Bassist Anthony Cox joined Jazz88’s Sean McPherson to discuss Charles Mingus and Paul Chambers on their birthday (April 22). As a fellow bass player Cox shared the influence these icons of the instrument had on his development as a bass player, including how catching a live performance from Charles Mingus shaped Cox’s decision to pursue […] […]

Like so many of the greats out of the Twin Cities, Steve Yeager is equally comfortable on stage, in the studio or in a lesson setting. Wherever he goes Yeager carries his love and dedication to the vibraphone. His recent release, Collective Vibe, gives listeners a chance to hear some highlights from Yeager’s earlier releases […] […]

Adi Yeshaya is an in-demand arranger and composer whose has done work for Whitney Houston, Prince, Lena Horne and more. In the Twin Cities Yeshaya might be best known for his longtime collaboration with Debbie Duncan. After Duncan’s passing in 2020 Adi started to revisit the charts he had worked up during their decades of […] […]

Starting his professional career in the late 70s and staying vital and relevant up to today, Kenny Garrett truly bridges generations as a jazz icon. Frequently recognized as the greatest alto player of his generation, Garrett is also a generational talent as a composer. Check out the conversation between Kenny Garrett and Sean McPherson as […] […]

Greetings! Every Friday I’ll be bringing you some highlights of new music we are featuring here on Jazz88. This is all connected to This Just In, our weekly show that celebrates new jazz releases. You can catch This Just In, hosted by moi, on Fridays at Noon on 88.5 or catch it on your own […] […]

After a decade as one of the most celebrated instrumental groups in the Twin Cities, Purple Funk Metropolis is back in action for 2023. Fresh off a band vacation to Puerto Rico, the group is preparing to head back into the studio and get a couple shows on their calendar. Purple Funk Metropolis is getting […] […]

We’ll take all the new music we can get from Kevin Washington & RA Spirit. From his drum stool Kevin Washington has been telling the story of Twin Cities music for decades. But Washington has a lot more to offer than his mastery of the kit. He’s a writer, a vocalist and quite the guitar […] […]

Greetings! Every Friday I’ll be bringing you some highlights of new music we are featuring here on Jazz88. This is all connected to This Just In, our weekly show that celebrates new jazz releases. You can catch This Just In, hosted by moi, on Fridays at Noon on 88.5 or catch it on your own […] […]

Wil B, one half of the hip-hop meets classical string duo Black Violin connected with Jazz88 in anticipation of their show on Saturday, February 10 at the State Theatre. Full Interview: This interview aired on The Afternoon Cruise 02/09/24     […]

More than any other hip-hop producer, J. Dilla, born James Yancey February 7, 1974, has impacted how jazz musicians write and play today. His famously “drunken” drum programming, his singular approach to harmonization and his bass playing have all become part of the lexicon of modern jazz. To mark what would be Dilla’s 50th birthday […] […]

It’s a big deal in town when Leslie Vincent drops a new record. She’s a gifted writer and vocalist and she’s got the right players in town to bring her tunes to another level. Jazz88 has been very supportive of the song “Icetown Blues.” It’s a great chart and the telepathic interplay between Vincent and […] […]

It was a legendary night for the 2024 Grammys on February 4, 2024 and we want to congratulate the winners in the Jazz categories. The winners are listed in bold! Best Jazz Performance Samara Joy – Tight Adam Blackstone Featuring The Baylor Project & Russell Ferranté – Vulnerable (Live) Fred Hersch & Esperanza Spalding – […] […]

Adam Levy is a career guitar player and educator who has shared stages and recording studios with Norah Jones, Tracy Chapman, Meshell Ndegeocello and more. Listen to find out more about Levy’s new album Spry and his approach to writing and playing. Adam Levy plays Friday February 2 at metroNOME in Saint Paul and Saturday […] […]

The Grammys are coming up this weekend (telecast live on CBS on Sunday at 7pm Central Time). After Samara Joy’s banner year last year nabbing Best New Artist and Best Jazz Vocal Album, more attention has been justifiably put upon the jazz world and it’s relation to the Grammys. I had the opportunity to connect […] […]

Dennis Spears is the longtime curator of the Legends Series at the Capri Theater. Spears was nice enough to visit Jazz88 on his “day off” to discuss Souled Out, the show he is putting up at the Capri this weekend. The focus for the concert is the legendary soul sounds of the 1960s and 1970s. […] […]

Greetings! Every Friday I’ll be bringing you some highlights of new music we are featuring here on Jazz88. This is all connected to This Just In, our weekly show that celebrates new jazz releases. You can catch This Just In, hosted by moi, on Fridays at Noon on 88.5 or catch it on your own […] […]

The state of the jazz union is good. We’ve got jazz artists all over the upcoming Grammy ceremony in early February, and according to Axios Gen Z is connecting with jazz in a big way. And even though historically January can be a bit of a lull for new releases, this year I’ve been getting […] […]

Jazz88 is getting ready to launch their newest show, “The Jazz Impulse”. Danny Sigelman will host the new show on Saturdays 7-10pm. This show will be about the “now”. The artists stepping on stage that night, the music that’s making this great jazz scene go strong. Sigelman joined Sean McPherson to talk about the show […] […]

Saint Paul Peterson is a funk ambassador, gifted vocalist, bassist and a curator of the Funk Friday series. He’s been a member of The Family and The Time and he’s been a recognized fixture in the music world on an international level for decades. Saint Paul is bringing his online series, Funk Friday, onto the […] […]

  Jenny Klukken has been bridging the gap between her classical background and her passion for jazz on her primary instrument, the marimba, for years. She’s back at it on Thursday night over at Crooners with an all-star band of Chris Olson (g), Chris Bates (b) and non-Chris Dave Schmalenberger (d). Klukken caught up with […] […]

Joyann Parker is all in for the blues and for weighted blankets. As she travels the road as a celebrated blues musician she has been amassing a fan base across the Midwest and beyond. Check out the conversation to find out all about Joyann Parker’s 2023 album Roots, her holiday show at KJ’s Hideaway and […] […]

  In 2023 the world saw the passing of some of the most iconic jazz artists, composers and personalities in the music’s history. Listen below to celebrate these artists and hear some of their most celebrated recordings! Artists Featured: Ahmad Jamal – July 2, 1930-April 16, 2023 Tony Bennett – August 3, 1926-July 21, 2023 […] […]

DeCarlo Jackson is a shining light in the Twin Cities. He is a member of HEYARLO, Hippo Campus and is a gifted trumpet player and bassist. After a viewing of the Spike Lee classic Mo’ Better Blues, DeCarlo Jackson wanted to combine the thriving jazz scene in the Twin Cities with the thriving comedy scene […] […]

2023 has been a banner year for new jazz music. After the jolt of seeing Samara Joy’s historical Grammy wins early in the year for both Best New Artist and Best Vocal Jazz Album it seems like the world has been paying more attention to the world class 2023 releases from the jazz world. Jazz88 […] […]

Toussaint Morrison and Roz Prickel are no strangers to stages of all varieties. But after about a year of contemplation and a handful of weeks of intense work, the duo are ready to stage their debut holiday show. They’ll be staging it at Northeast Social on Thursday and Friday December 14 and 15. More info […] […]

Joshua Redman recently released his Blue Note Records debut Where Are We. The album is much more lyrics heavy than Redman’s previous outings and features Redman’s maiden voyage as a lyric writer. The album is built around a collaboration between Redman and vocalist Gabrielle Cavassa as well as a top notch band featuring Aaron Parks, […] […]

We are stuffed to the gills in Minnesota with great jazz artists. We wanted to highlight some of the best songs released in 2023. This list is by no means comprehensive and we encourage you to listen our stream dedicated to Minnesota music, Minnesota Jazz Tracks. And don’t miss out on the great local show […] […]

Jazz88 celebrates the birthday of Jim Hall, born this day in 1930 in Buffalo, New York. Hall was widely admired for his harmonic acumen, his understated guitar style and his distinctive compositional voice. While he admired guitar innovators like Charlie Christian and Barney Kessel, he was largely inspired by horn players like Coleman Hawkins and Lester Young. After morving to Los Angeles […] […]

José James is a product of South Minneapolis and even though he lives elsewhere he is still strongly connected with the Twin Cities. In fact, James fell in love with jazz as a young teenager thanks to an announcer on Jazz88 outlining the role of Billy Strayhorn in the composition “Take The A Train”. In […] […]

Craig Dion and Jason Craft alongside a cast of talented musicians and vocalists will be gracing the stage of the Capri Theater in Minneapolis this Sunday for a concert celebrating the music of Stevie Wonder. They visited the Afternoon Cruise to discuss the concert, Wonder’s vast musical output and the unique unpolished joy that Stevie […] […]

Ginger Commodore, Judi Vinar and Connie Evingson are all headliners in their own right but they have elected to get together as a triple threat for the first time to usher in the holidays with their Crooner’s concert on November 30 “Holiday Sugar, Spice and Everything Nice”. The trio connected with Sean McPherson from the […] […]

Maurice Jacox is a living legend. He’s lived his life on stages around the world and nowadays the Twin Cities is blessed to see him all over town. On November 28 Maurice will be leading his group “We Still R” through a concert at the Dakota. In the conversation with Jazz88’s Sean McPherson Jacox discusses […] […]

Jazz 88 celebrates the birthday of Eddie Condon, born November 16, 1905 in Goodland, Indiana. As a guitarist and banjo player based in Chicago in the 20’s, Condon cut his teeth working with artists like Bix Beiderbecke, Jack Teagarden and Frank Teschemaker.  Relocating to New York in 1928, he got work organizing recording sessions and was responsible for racially integrated […] […]

Congratulations to all the great jazz musicians who received Grammy nominations for the upcoming 2024 awards. Many of the nominees are mainstays on Jazz88. Here is a complete list of the jazz category nominations as well as a handful of categories outside of jazz that featured artists we are supportive of on Jazz88 (we have […] […]

Harold López-Nussa is already out on the road and is ready to visit the Cedar Cultural Center on Wednesday November 15 for his debut performance at that venue. López-Nussa’s new release is his first for Blue Note and it’s garnering lots of acclaim for good reason; it’s a reflection on his experiences, both joyous and […] […]

“Every Other Culture Knows Their History, We Need to Know Our History Too” – Nabaté Isles Nabaté Isles connected with Jazz88 in advance of his show this Sunday at Crooners. The show is titled “Jazz’s Influence on Hip-Hop”. Isles was quick to point out how his upbringing in NYC in the golden era of hip-hop […] […]

The celebrated Twin Cities vocalist Kathleen Johnson is back onstage this weekend at the Capri Theater this weekend (November 4 and 5th) for Blue Gardenia. The show features three singers, Johnson, Thomasina Petrus and Patricia Lacy. The trio is navigating the songbooks of Etta James, Billie Holiday and Phyllis Hyman. Kathleen Johnson took the time […] […]

LA Buckner and his Big HomiE project are preparing for another big show at the Dakota. This week he’ll be bringing a special Halloween friendly program to the stage. When he visited Jazz88 he talked about this show and his recent experience playing with Big HomiE on stages that require different levels of restraint in […] […]

Dez, Rokkstar Savage and Glo visited the studios of Jazz88 to announce an exciting development for their podcast, 4theKulture. The 4theKulture podcast is presented by the Kulture Klub Collaborative. Glorius L. Martin, aka Glo, has been helping the team produce the podcast. And starting next week, you can hear the 4theKulture podcast on MPS Voices […] […]

Vic Volare is preparing to throw his Monster Mash Birthday Bash on Halloween night over at the Granada Theater in Uptown Minneapolis. In regards to throwing a night of swinging music, this is not Volare’s first rodeo. Vic Volare was at the epicenter of the swing dancing renaissance of the mid-90s here in the Twin […] […]

Craig Taborn was raised in the Twin Cities but set his sights on the East Coast early in his professional career. After cementing his status as a top-flight straight-ahead jazz player in the 1990s, Taborn has become one of the most inventive and forward thinking musicians in any genre. Although he is well-known for his […] […]

Twin Cities mainstay, and friend of the station, Leslie Vincent, visited the studios of Jazz88 to perform a haunting ukulele version of her song, “Bury Her Down,” and to chat up her upcoming performance at the Granada Theater in Uptown Minneapolis on Saturday, October 21. Take a listen: This interview aired on The Afternoon Cruise […] […]

Back in 2017, Jazz88’s Bobby Vandell, host of Bridge to the Blues and Jazz Futures, connected with drum legend David Garibaldi for an extended interview, covering many aspects of Garibaldi’s impressive career, beginning with his early years in Tower of Power. Jazz88 will continue to share portions of this interview throughout the coming months. Enjoy […] […]

Roy Hargrove was born October 16, 1969. In his too-short life (Hargrove died in 2018), he became an icon–sharing stages with musicians from across genres, winning Grammys, and penning songs that would live on for generations. Minnesota-based trumpeter Omar Abdulkarim had occasion to share stages and conversations with Hargrove during his time living in New […] […]

Jazz88 offers so much more than a streaming service ever can by connecting you to the world of jazz. With the support of our listeners, we are able to present live events, capturing world-class talent from resident and touring artists, all year long. Throughout our Fall Drive, we will be sharing selections from our audio […] […]

Jazz88 offers so much more than a streaming service ever can by connecting you to the world of jazz. With the support of our listeners, we’re able to present live events, capturing world-class talent from resident and touring artists, all year long. During our Fall Drive, we will be sharing full live concerts from our […] […]

Jazz88 offers so much more than a streaming service ever can by connecting you to the world of jazz. With the support of our listeners, we are able to present live events, capturing world-class talent from resident and touring artists, all year long. Throughout our Fall Drive, we will be sharing selections from our audio […] […]

Jazz88 offers so much more than a streaming service ever can by connecting you to the world of jazz. With the support of our listeners, we are able to present live events, capturing world-class talent from resident and touring artists, all year long. Throughout our Fall Drive, we will be sharing selections from our audio […] […]

Jazz88 offers so much more than a streaming service ever can by connecting you to the world of jazz. With the support of our listeners, we are able to present live events, capturing world-class talent from resident and touring artists, all year long. Throughout our Fall Drive, we will be sharing selections from our audio […] […]

Jazz88 offers so much more than a streaming service ever can by connecting you to the world of jazz. With the support of our listeners, we are able to present live events, capturing world-class talent from resident and touring artists, all year long. Throughout our Fall Drive, we will be sharing selections from our audio […] […]

Jazz88 offers so much more than a streaming service ever can by connecting you to the world of jazz. With the support of our listeners, we’re able to present live events, capturing world-class talent from resident and touring artists, all year long. Throughout our Fall Drive, we will be sharing selections from our audio archives […] […]

Drummer, vocalist, and bandleader Stokley is an internationally-acclaimed R&B star, both as a solo act and through his 20+ year career with Mint Condition, though he keeps a fairly low profile in his native Twin Cities. Stokley doesn’t perform locally all that often, but when he does. . .it’s an event. This Saturday, Oct. 7, […] […]

Grammy award-winning vocalist Kurt Elling took some time out of his touring itinerary to chat with The Afternoon Cruise’s Sean McPherson about his new album, SuperBlue: The Iridescent Spree. He’ll be coming to town on Sunday, October 1, with Charlie Hunter and the rest of his SuperBlue touring ensemble for a performance at The Parkway […] […]

Trumpeter/composer John Raymond (above; R) was raised in the Twin Cities, but now spends most of his time between Bloomington, Indiana and New York. However, he’ll back in town on Friday, Sept. 29 at the Cedar Cultural Center to kick off a tour supporting his new collaborative album with S. Carey (above; L), Shadowlands. Jazz88 […] […]

Braxton Haulcy (above; R), Executive Director at St. Paul’s WalkerWest Music Academy, and Ernest Bisong (above; L), a WalkerWest instructor and curator for the newest installment of their long-running Rondo Community Music Series, stopped by the Jazz88 studios to discuss this annual musical community event, how it comes together, and the different ways you can […] […]

Twin Cities-based vocalist and educator Dorothy Doring (above; L) has added a new chapter to the long story of her life as a musician. In the past couple of years, Doring has started writing her own songs and she’s ready to share them with the world. She’ll be playing at Metronome Brewery in St. Paul […] […]

PaviElle (aka DJ Lady Luca), celebrated vocalist, bandleader, and host on Jazz88, has teamed up with vocalist and curator Dennis Spears to kick of season 14 of Legends @ the Capri. This weekend (Sept. 23 & 24), the Capri will be transformed into a juke joint for “Hot Times at Zona’s Cabaret and Blues Joint.” […] […]

Yohannes Tona, an internationally-renowned bassist, has teamed up with vocalist Dibekulu to bring Ethio-Jazz to the Twin Cities. Ethio-Jazz will headline a show at the Green Room in Minneapolis on Friday, September 22. Listen to the conversation below to hear how Yohannes discovered the sounds of Ethio-jazz–while also learning other styles of music–and discover how […] […]

Cuban-American piano phenom, Alfredo Rodriguez, is coming to the Turf Club for a show on Sunday night (Sept. 24) with his trio. He’s celebrating the release of his new Mack Avenue recording, Coral Way.  Hear a conversation between Alfredo Rodriguez and Jazz88’s Sean McPherson below, and get ready for Rodriguez’s first visit to the Twin […] […]

Kavyesh Kaviraj is in demand in the Twin Cities as a phenomenal pianist. Throughout his ten years in the Twin Cities, he’s developed quite the network of players to call on when he’s leading the bandstand, so when he took on the duty of curating a Jazz88 JazzClectic pop-up concert, he knew just who to […] […]

Marcus Kar, the Program Director at Youth Farm and co-chair of the Homegrown Minneapolis Food Council, recently came to visit Jazz88 and brought along Jesse Miller, a FAIR School junior and Youth Farm lead. This Saturday, Sept. 16, they are celebrating the season with Playing For the Plants 2023: a concert featuring free food (while […] […]

Twin Cities vocalist Aja Parham fell in love with the voice of Sarah Vaughan the first time she heard her on CD. From there, Parham has made an effort to celebrate Sarah Vaughan on stages across the Twin Cities and beyond. She’ll be exploring the Sarah Vaughan songbook on Sunday night over at Crooners. Listen […] […]

Jon Reyerson of the Wayzata Chamber of Commerce is preparing for the annual James J. Hill Days celebration this weekend. This year, as part of the festivities, Jazz88 will be presenting a JazzClectic pop-up concert on Friday night (Sept. 8) with the Jack Brass Band. Jon stopped by to chat about the concert, and about […] […]

In anticipation of the upcoming Zorn @ 70 event at the Walker Art Center this Saturday (Sept. 9), Jazz88’s Sean McPherson sat down with Philip Bither, Senior Curator of Performing Arts at the Walker, to highlight some tracks from John Zorn’s vast catalog, and to talk about Zorn’s significance in the musical world. Listen: Portions […] […]

“Deedles,” AKA Diane Schuur, is making her way back to the Twin Cities for two shows on Saturday, August 12 with the JazzMN Orchestra. She’ll be exploring the Count Basie songbook–something she’s been doing since the mid 1980s. Diane was joined for this interview by her feline partner, Puss Puss. Listen here: This interview originally […] […]

Celebrated pianist and MacPhail instructor, Michael Cain, spent about a decade working with Jack DeJohnette from 1990-99. It was a joy having him in the Jazz88 studios to reflect on his love for DeJohnette and the larger importance he had on the music world at large. Listen here: This interview originally aired on The Afternoon […] […]

Award-winning pianist Isaiah J. Thompson is navigating life as a rising star in the jazz world, an in-demand sideman touring the world with John Pizzarelli, and a newlywed! It’s a lot to balance, but Thompson finds a way to do it, while still finding time to serenade his mother’s old Volvo. Take a listen here: […] […]

Minneapolis-based drummer/producer JT Bates is preparing for a show on Monday, August 14 with Todd Clouser (guitar) and John Medeski (keys). Bates connected with The Afternoon Cruise to talk about what it’s like to play with such heavyweights and what they plan to bring to the Icehouse stage. Listen here: This interview originally aired on […] […]

Adam Meckler isn’t just a trumpet player. He’s a writer, an arranger, a curator, a podcaster, an educator, and more. He came down from Michigan’s upper peninsula to get his Twin Cities-based orchestra back together for a show at Crooners on Friday (Aug. 4). In the conversation, Meckler and Jazz88’s Sean McPherson discuss Meckler’s approach […] […]

Jason Fabus is a Minnesota-educated jazz musician making his way out in Los Angeles. He’s swinging back through town to visit friends and play a couple of shows. He’ll be at Crooners this Friday night (Aug. 4) with Graydon Peterson (bass) and Phil Hey (drums) supporting. Fabus is a bit of an odd bird in […] […]

Jazz is having a moment. I start most every day here at Jazz88 reviewing music that comes in via mail and email from players all over the globe. Is it all excellent? Absolutely not. I receive some duds, and I know that, in my music career, I have definitely sent out my share of duds […] […]

Composer/pianist/music director/vocalist Billy Stritch connected with Jazz88 ahead of his upcoming Crooners show, “A Musical Night Out with Billy Stritch.” In the interview, Billy talks about what he’s learned from working with greats like Liza Minnelli, Linda Eder, and others. He also shared a memory of playing with the late, great Tony Bennett in Stritch’s […] […]

Local artists Katia Cardenas and Lucia Sarmiento are both instructors of a new program at WalkerWest Music Academy called the “Women in Jazz Initiative.” The first combo of players from the program are playing on Saturday, June 24 at the Twin Cities Jazz Festival (7:30pm set at the MPSVoices Future of Jazz Stage in the […] […]

When Christian McBride was in town to play the Dakota in January, he made time to discuss the ensemble he’d be bringing to the Twin Cities Jazz Festival this Saturday with Jazz88. Listen here:   This interview originally aired June 22, 2023 on The Afternoon Cruise.       […]

“It’s a jazz concert, so you never know what to expect! Anything goes!” NEA Jazz Master saxophonist, clarinetist, and composer Paquito D’Rivera connected with Jazz88 in anticipation of his performance, along with the Dizzy Gillespie Afro-Latin Experience, on Friday, June 23 for the 25th Twin Cities Jazz Festival. D’Rivera covered his love of Dizzy Gillespie’s […] […]

Saxophonist, flautist, vocalist, and composer, Camille Thurman, along with the Darrell Green Quartet, are getting ready to hit the Jazz88 Mainstage for night one of the 25th Twin Cities Jazz Festival on Friday, June 23rd (set time 6:00 PM). They caught up with Sean from The Afternoon Cruise to talk about their plans for the […] […]

Jazz88 Program Director and Midday Host, Travis Ryder, chatted with Sean from The Afternoon Cruise about the broadcast schedule for this weekend’s Twin Cities Jazz Festival. Here’s a quick summary: Friday, June 23 3:30 – 8:30 PM: MPS Voices Future of Jazz Stage wall-to-wall streaming at MPSVoices.com Scheduled: Walker West Jazz Ensembles, Minnesota Jazz Youth […] […]

Gary Hines, the leader of Sounds of Blackness, connected with Sean from The Afternoon Cruise to discuss the group’s new single, “Woke” as well as their upcoming Juneteenth show at Allianz Field. Listen: […]

  Manny Hill, the executive producer of MPS Voices, was nice enough to swing through The Afternoon Cruise and talk about the exciting new service designed to let more listeners discover the talents of the Minneapolis Public Schools community. Listen here:   This interview originally aired June 15, 2023 on The Afternoon Cruise. This interview […] […]

Local guitarist Cody Steinmann visited The Afternoon Cruise to discuss his upcoming concerts, his monthly jam session, and his love of the Twin Cities. He was raised in Milwaukee, but relocated to the Twin Cities about five years ago. Sean McPherson also quizzed him about Milwaukee’s not-so-famous food, hoppel poppel. Listen here:   This interview […] […]

“Everybody wants to be free.” Minneapolis-based vocalist Jevetta Steele (of the celebrated family gospel group, The Steeles) caught up with Sean from The Afternoon Cruise to discuss her upcoming appearance with the Minnesota Orchestra for their Juneteenth Celebration (happening June 23) and the importance of reflecting on the holiday, especially as Minnesotans. Listen here:   […] […]

Ernest Bisong, an accomplished violinist based out of the Twin Cities, swung through the Jazz88 studios to talk about the role of violin in jazz music and to discuss his upcoming summer camp for young violinists at Walker West Music Academy. Listen:   This interview originally aired June 5, 2023 on The Afternoon Cruise. This […] […]

Legendary guitarist, vocalist, and Radio Deluxe co-host, John Pizzarelli, hopped on the phone with Jazz88 to discuss his new album, Stage & Screen, and his recent travels with his trio. Check it out:   This interview originally aired June 2, 2023 on The Afternoon Cruise. This interview was produced and edited by Autumn Haeg. […]

Dave King of The Bad Plus made time to talk with Sean from Jazz88 about the group’s new lineup and their upcoming show at First Ave on June 10. Plus, they discussed King’s work with guitarist Julian Lage and his connection to the Twin Cities. Listen here:   This interview originally aired May 31, 2023 […] […]

Grammy-nominated producer (Stevie Wonder, Kendrick Lamar, Raphael Saadiq), vocalist, and multi-instrumentalist, Terrace Martin, got with The Afternoon Cruise to discuss his latest project with the jazz “supergroup,” Dinner Party, and his upcoming run of shows at the Dakota. During the conversation, Martin shared his deep knowledge of the Twin Cities music scene–including gracing the stage […] […]

The celebrated MC, artist, and activist Lewiee Blaze came through to discuss his upcoming performance at The Purple Day on Saturday, June 3rd. This annual celebration of Prince, aka “The Purple One,” brings together some of the best and brightest of the Twin Cities music scene for a great community event. Listen:   This interview […] […]

Minnesota-based trumpet player Jake Baldwin swung through the studios of Jazz88 to discuss garnering a 4-star review in DownBeat magazine for his latest release on Shifting Paradigm records, Misc. Items. Listen:   This interview originally aired May 22, 2023 on The Afternoon Cruise. This interview was produced and edited by Autumn Haeg.     […]

Byron Stripling, a nationally-acclaimed trumpet player and conductor, joined The Afternoon Cruise to discuss his upcoming season-opening show, celebrating the music of New Orleans and the legacy of Louis Armstrong, with the JazzMN Orchestra on Tuesday, May 23. Listen:   This interview originally aired May 19, 2023 on The Afternoon Cruise. This interview was produced […] […]

Sloane Martin, a broadcaster with the Minnesota Lynx, swung by the Jazz88 studios to talk about the upcoming season, which gets underway on May 19 with a home game against the Chicago Sky. Listen:   This interview originally aired May 18, 2023 on The Afternoon Cruise. This interview was produced and edited by Autumn Haeg.   […] […]

Local, in-demand drummer, bandleader, educator, and friend of the station, LA Buckner, stopped by to discuss his upcoming show at Indeed Brewing’s Whirlygig event, part of this weekend’s Art-A-Whirl festivities. Listen:   This interview originally aired May 19, 2023 on The Afternoon Cruise.       […]

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. […] […]

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: […] […]

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, […] […]

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 […] […]

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.       […]

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 […] […]

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 […] […]

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 […] […]

Pianist Billy Childs connected with Sean McPherson via Zoom to discuss his new album, his collaborators, and his upcoming show at the Dakota in Minneapolis on Wednesday, May 10th. Listen:   This interview originally aired May 3, 2023 on The Afternoon Cruise. This interview was produced and edited by Autumn Haeg.     […]

Grammy-nominated jazz vocalist, Karrin Allyson, hopped aboard The Afternoon Cruise to talk about her upcoming show at the Dakota on Tuesday, May 16. She’s preparing for a new album centered on the music of Brazil, and she’s bringing some collaborators along, including Brazilian singer and guitarist, Rosa Passos. Listen:   This interview originally aired May […] […]

deVon Russell Gray, Nathan Hanson, and Davu Seru swung through the Jazz88 studios ahead of their 4/28/23 release show at the Cedar Cultural Center to discuss the making of their new album, We Sick, their process for making music together in general, and more. Listen:   This interview originally aired April 26, 2023 on The Afternoon […] […]

The jet-setting Twin Cities-based saxophonist Lucia Sarmiento swung by The Afternoon Cruise to chat with Sean McPherson in anticipation of her first headlining concert ever, taking place at Crooners on Thursday, April 27. Listen:   This interview originally aired April 24, 2023 on The Afternoon Cruise.       […]

Long-time soul and blues singer, Willie West, hopped on the phone with Sean McPherson from The Afternoon Cruise to chat about his upcoming show at Crooners, the re-release of his record, The Soul Sessions, and more. Listen: Portions of this interview originally aired April 19, 2023 on This Just In.       […]

It’s happening. This Saturday, April 22, is Record Store Day. If you aren’t familiar with Record Store Day, it’s an opportunity for the music world to give love to the saints who still shop, work, and thrive at independent record stores. The event got started in 2007 as a way to call attention to the […] […]

Patty Peterson stopped by The Afternoon Cruise to discuss the Minnesota Jazz Legends event coming up on Sunday, April 2nd. Dive into this conversation to get a glimpse of what goes into producing an event like Minnesota Jazz Legends, and we’ll see you there on Sunday! Listen to the interview here: Portions of this interview […] […]

It’s been a while since we’ve done a Rhythm Changes update, and we’re very glad to be back! For the first few months of 2023, we’ve been focusing on one new release per week for This Just In. That pushed our Rhythm Changes series to the side. but with this great influx of new music, […] […]

Saxophonist and composer Immanuel Wilkins came through The Afternoon Cruise and talked with Jazz88 ahead of his performance at the Dakota on Wednesday, April 5. Listen to the interview here: Portions of this interview originally aired March 30, 2023 on The Afternoon Cruise. This interview was produced and edited by Autumn Haeg.     […]

In preparation for their show on Saturday, April 1 at the Dakota, Jay Young brought his son and fellow bassist, Ian Young, as well as celebrated vocalist Ginger Commodore, into the Jazz88 studios to discuss the Lyric Factory project. Listen to the interview here: Portions of this interview originally aired March 27, 2023 on The […] […]

While he was in Minneapolis, Christian McBride was nice enough to connect with Sean from The Afternoon Cruise to discuss his upcoming performances in the Twin Cities, his love and support for all things jazz, and his work on Jazz Night in America. Listen to the interview here: Portions of this interview originally aired March […] […]

Acclaimed poet and educator Desdamona stopped by Jazz88 to discuss her work with TruArt Speaks and the upcoming relaunch of their acclaimed Re-Verb Open Mic series. Listen to the interview here: Interview audio edited by Autumn Haeg Originally aired March 23, 2023 on The Afternoon Cruise.     […]

The Mental Health Department at Minneapolis Public Schools is set to host the next Caregiver Institute, coming up on Monday, March 20 at Olson Middle School. Jazz88’s Manny Hill spoke with MPS Mental Health Support Specialist, Annie Loch, and two students from Olson Middle School about how the Caregiver Institute will focus on helping children […] […]

I love Bessie Smith, but there are times where, no matter how much you love the sound, you wish you could hear those songs done faithfully, but recorded with technology that wouldn’t become available until after Smith’s passing in 1937. That’s where this set of performances from Dinah Washington fit in. By 1958, the studios […] […]

The celebrated saxophonist and composer James Brandon Lewis visited with Sean from The Afternoon Cruise to discuss the music and legacy of Ornette Coleman on Coleman’s birthdate, March 9. Lewis’ path in the music world is connected to Coleman not only by Coleman’s musical legacy, but also by players like Charlie Haden and Jamaaladeen Tacuma, […] […]

When an album gets sampled over and over by hip-hop artists, it’s a clear indicator that something incredibly funky was happening on said release. In the case of Bobbi Humphrey’s Blacks and Blues, there’s a reason so many artists gravitate to the sounds. Larry Mizell laid down the compositions for Humphrey to sink into, with […] […]

LA Buckner was nice enough to visit The Afternoon Cruise before his headlining show at the Dakota on Monday, March 6. Listen to the interview here: Originally aired March 2, 2023 on The Afternoon Cruise. […]

Cassandra Wilson could’ve been the “next great” jazz singer, but she chose a vastly more interesting path. By bringing the sounds of blues, R&B, and more into her fold, Wilson tossed a well-deserved middle finger to the gatekeepers who expect jazz musicians to stay in the Real Book and blues musicians to stay in Mississippi. […] […]

Cécile McLorin Salvant joined a Zoom with Sean from The Afternoon Cruise in advance of her shows this weekend (2/24-25) at the Walker Art Center. Check out the full conversation right here! […]

This year, Jazz88 is sharing space with the team from iHeart Media, including KFAN, while our North Minneapolis studios and offices are undergoing renovations. Turns out, these sports people also know their music, and we’ve received a couple of thoughtful jazz gifts from Mr. Paul Allen. His gifts have been welcome, thoughtful, and, most importantly, […] […]

Joan Griffith visited The Afternoon Cruise to discuss her new album, Sambanova 2, and her upcoming show at Crooner’s on February 17. […]

Minnesota jazz royalty stopped by The Afternoon Cruise to discuss the upcoming release party for their new album, Weights and Measures. Thanks to Nathan Hanson, Chris Bates and Shifting Paradigm records for visiting Jazz88! Listen to the interview here: Originally aired Feb 06, 2023 on The Afternoon Cruise. […]

This Just In is Jazz88’s weekly celebration of new releases. It hits the airwaves every Friday at noon and this week, we are diving into Kassa Overall’s latest mixtape, Shades 3. Kassa Overall is a drummer, producer and vocalist who refuses to water down any part of his skill set to fit into a single genre […] […]

If you’re a music enthusiast, chances are your “favorite” is a moving target–something that changes with the season; perhaps a new release that you predict will turn into a core album for years to come. I’m full of “favorites” that wax and wane. I just had a long discussion with Fletcher from Cities 97 about […] […]

In my job, I’m lucky to receive mountains of world-class music in my inboxes–both digital and physical–day in and day out. It’s beautiful, receiving all this music, but it becomes important to use shorthand to seek out the truly high quality stuff as a matter of efficiency. Jeremy Pelt, a celebrated trumpeter based out of […] […]

Rachael Price hosted Sean McPherson from The Afternoon Cruise at the Palace Theatre in St. Paul ahead of her concert with her group Lake Street Dive.  The subject: her other project with guitarist/composer Vilray, and their new release I Love A Love Song! Listen to the interview here: Originally aired Jan. 27, 2023 on The Afternoon […] […]

This Just In is Jazz88’s weekly celebration of new releases. It hits the airwaves every Friday at noon and this week, we are diving into Lakecia Benjamin‘s latest release, Phoenix. It is worth mentioning that the producer of this new release is none other than Terri Lyne Carrington, whose own album was featured last week on […] […]

  Happy Robert Glasper week, Twin Cities. This weekend, Robert Glasper sets up camp at The Dakota for a run of shows starting on Friday night. Today, on The Afternoon Cruise, we are taking a Deep Dive into one of my favorite records from Glasper’s catalog, 2012’s Black Radio. If you’re making world class music, […] […]

This Just In is Jazz88’s weekly celebration of new releases. It hits the airwaves every Friday at Noon and this week we are diving into Terri Lynn Carrington’s latest release, New Standards Volume 1. For her latest effort Carrington worked with purpose at every turn, working up material exclusively from women composers and drawing in an […] […]

It’s a Deep Dive Wednesday on The Afternoon Cruise and we are going to check out Chris Potter‘s 2006 effort Underground. Ten albums deep into his solo career, Underground has been critically acclaimed as an album where many of the most promising pieces of Potter’s previous releases came together in one package. Chris Potter has a […] […]

Drummer and composer extraordinaire Kevin Washington visited the Jazz88 studios to discuss his upcoming concert on January 19 at The Hopkins Arts Center. […]

This Just In is Jazz88’s weekly celebration of new releases. It hits the airwaves every Friday at Noon and this week we are diving into Jason Marshall‘s latest release, New Beginnings.  It’s not a coup to see a baritone sax player leading a band by any stretch of the imagination, but it’s still certainly not […] […]

Gary Hines, the longtime leader of Sounds of Blackness, stopped by Jazz88 to visit and discuss the group’s upcoming show, “Music for Martin” which takes place at the Ordway on Friday, January 13.     […]

This Just In is Jazz88’s weekly celebration of new releases. It hits the airwaves every Friday at Noon and this week we are diving into Lauren Falls‘ new album A Little Louder Now. Lauren is a bass player/composer who spent some time out in New York before returning to her hometown of Toronto. The release features […] […]

On today’s Afternoon Cruise we’ll be doing a deep dive into Joe Henderson’s debut album as a leader, the 1963 release “Page One”. This album marks the second time that Kenny Dorham and Joe Henderson got into the studio together, though it was the first session to be released to the public. There’s a Ghostface […] […]

Minnesota musician Keyez Williams paid a visit to The Afternoon Cruise to discuss his run of shows at the Granada in uptown Minneapolis and to play a bit of his music. His remaining shows are on December 22, 27, and 29!     […]

Greetings! Sean here, Music Director and Afternoon Host at Jazz88. I’m honored to share the Top Ten Songs of 2022 on Jazz88. A quick note about the methodology: I gathered the fifty most played songs on Jazz88 that were released in the year 2022 and then put up a poll for listeners to pick their […] […]

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We’ve got some new releases, including some holiday fun, to welcome into the rotation here at Jazz88. As always, if there is some new jazz you are loving that you aren’t hearing, I’d love to know about it! I can be reached at sean@jazz88.fm. ST4TA– “Lazy Days feat. Emma-Jean Thackray” from their album ST4TASFEAR  Listen Here […] […]

Congratulations to all the great jazz musicians who received Grammy nominations for the upcoming 2023 awards. Here is a complete list of the jazz category nominations: Best Improvised Jazz Solo Ambrose Akinmusire – Rounds (Live) Gerald Albright – Keep Holding On John Beasley – Cherokee/Koko Marcus Baylor – Call of the Drum Melissa Aldana – […] […]

The guitarist Marc Ribot was nice enough to catch up with The Afternoon Cruise in advance of his upcoming show at the Cedar. Ribot discussed his love of solo performance, his short-lived tenure in Brother Jack McDuff’s band, and his close associations with the no-wave scene in New York City. […]

NOTE: This show has been postponed. When there is a new date we will announce it here.   Award-winning music icon Vijay Iyer was nice enough to join Sean McPherson from The Afternoon Cruise in anticipation of his Thursday (11/3) show at the Dakota. In this interview, Iyer discusses his new record, Uneasy, his love […] […]

In anticipation of his Saturday show at Jazz Central (10/22), saxophonist Dennis Mitcheltree hopped on a Zoom with Sean from The Afternoon Cruise to talk about new album, Golden Rule. […]

The celebrated vocalist Kendra Morris, who is currently on tour with labelmates, Monophonics, hopped on a ZOOM to chat with Jazz88 host, Christian Fritz, in advance of her upcoming show at the Fine Line. https://kbem-od.streamguys1.com/kbem/20220929162343-KendraMorrisPodcastInterview.mp3 […]

Kelly Finnigan, the leader of psych soul/funk group, Monophonics, connected via ZOOM with Jazz88 host, Christian Fritz, in advance of their show on October 3 at the Fine Line in Minneapolis. Listen below. https://kbem-od.streamguys1.com/kbem/20220929154643-MonophonicsPodcastInterview.mp3 […]

The musical icon Jellybean Johnson swung through Jazz88 to talk blues, museums, and the greatness of the Twin Cities music scene. […]

The Minnesota-based music icon, Nachito Herrera, hopped on the phone with Jazz88’s Sean McPherson to discuss his upcoming performance at The Ordway. He’ll be playing with a 7-piece band featuring the cream of the crop from the Cuban music scene. Enjoy the conversation about what concert-goers can expect from the show. […]

William Eddins, the accomplished pianist, conductor, and proprietor of Jazz88 business sponsor, MetroNOME Brewery, was nice enough to take some time out of his busy schedule to talk about his gig this weekend. Mr. Eddins will be conducting both the Minnesota Orchestra and the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra for their performances at Orchestra Hall. […] […]

If you’re looking to see a show from dour musicians who seem to take themselves much too seriously, the Delvon Lamarr Organ Trio is not for you. Saturday’s show (9/17/22) at the Hopkins Center for the Arts demonstrated that this is a brotherhood of musical jokesters, with the three members–Delvon Lamarr (Hammond B3), Jimmy James […] […]

We are in a golden age for new jazz releases, and figuring out the right tunes to get into our playlists has been a true joy. Check out a couple of these highlights and be sure to let us know what you think of the new music. I can be reached at sean@jazz88.fm. Samara Joy […] […]

Guitarist/composer John Scofield is out on the road with his band to support his new, self-titled release, and they’re taking the stage of the Dakota on Thursday evening, September 8th.  He was nice enough to take some time out of his busy schedule to visit with Sean McPherson on The Afternoon Cruise.   […]

The Minnesota State Fair is here and we couldn’t be more excited about how much jazz there is to offer this year. No matter what day you go, you should be able to take in a great jazz experience. We sincerely encourage you to come through on Friday, August 26 and/or Saturday, August 27 when […] […]

Local guitar maven and friend of the station, Zacc Harris, is celebrating the legacy of Pat Martino on Thursday, August 25 at Crooners. He hopped on The Afternoon Cruise to discuss Martino’s influence in the jazz world. […]

Keyboardist/producer, Ben Sidran, is rolling through town for a two night stand on Friday, August 19 and Saturday, August 20 at Crooners. He was nice enough to hop on a Zoom and chat with Sean McPherson about his new album and his upcoming shows. […]

Vocalist and pianist Andrew Walesch connected with Patty Peterson to discuss his upcoming CD and CD release show exploring the catalog of Cole Porter. […]

The Minnesota jazz legend and Jazz88 broadcaster, Butch Thompson, passed away on Sunday, 8/14/22. Below, is audio of a tribute to Butch from the 8/16/22 Afternoon Cruise with Tony Balluff (Southside Aces) and Sean McPherson (Jazz88). […]

PaviElle is releasing a new documentary that tracks the making of her newest album, Sovereign. Check out the extended conversation between PaviElle and Jazz88’s Sean McPherson. […]

Songwriter and vocalist, Ann Hampton Callaway, is visiting the Twin Cities for a two-show stand over at Crooners this weekend. She was kind enough to talk about her love of the Linda Rondstadt songbook, and her love of performing in general. […]

Hear trumpeter and director of the Count Basie Orchestra, Scotty Barnhart, talk about the upcoming show at Crooners, alongside a discussion about the role of the trumpet in jazz and Scotty’s take on the most important jazz musician of all time. […]

Michael Cain joins The Afternoon Cruise to talk about his upcoming show as part of MacPhail’s Water Works concert on July 9!   […]

Emmet took a minute between soundcheck and his performance on Friday June 24 to touch base with Sean McPherson from Jazz88. […]

Benny Jones Sr., bass drum player and bandleader for the Treme Brass Band took the time to catch up with Sean McPherson from Jazz88 via phone from his home in New Orleans.   […]

Zacc Harris was nice enough to swing by and chat about his upcoming concert at the Twin Cities Jazz Fest. The show is happening on Saturday June 25th at 2pm on the Jazz88 Mainstage.   […]

Gary Hines, the longtime leader of Sounds of Blackness, stopped by Jazz88 to visit and discuss the group’s new anthem, “Juneteenth Celebration.”   […]

Julius Collins, the vocalist for Dr. Mambo’s Combo and a fixture in the Twin Cities music scene, stopped by The Afternoon Cruise to talk about the shows that the Combo will be a part of this weekend over at the Capri. Check out the conversation in advance of their shows on Saturday and Sunday at […] […]

The celebrated Chicago-based drummer Makaya McCraven is coming through town for a show at The Fine Line on Wednesday. Makaya was nice to hop on a ZOOM call with Sean from The Afternoon Cruise in advance of Wednesdays show! Listen to the interview: final Makaya Audio – Sean McPherson   […]

Throughout the week, I’ll be connecting with artists who are set to take the stage of Indeed Brewing for the Whirlygig event happening in Northeast Minneapolis this weekend, May 20-22, as part of Art-A-Whirl. Erik Fratzke, the bassist for Happy Apple,  stopped by to talk about the gig and what we can expect from their […] […]

Throughout the week, I’ll be connecting with artists who are set to take the stage of Indeed Brewing for the Whirlygig event happening in Northeast Minneapolis this weekend, May 20-22, as part of Art-A-Whirl. L.A. Buckner, drummer extraordinaire and leader of Big Homie, stopped by to talk about the gig and what we can expect […] […]

Throughout the week, I’ll be connecting with artists who are set to take the stage of Indeed Brewing for the Whirlygig event happening in Northeast Minneapolis this weekend, May 20-22, as part of Art-A-Whirl. Andrew Tomten (saxophone; L) and Andy Schupp (bass; R) stopped by to talk about the gig and everything that is happening […] […]

Nate Smith’s Kinfolk project is coming to town for a two-night stand at the Dakota on Tuesday and Wednesday of this week. I had the chance to catch up with him as he was wrapping up another tour down in Chicago to talk about his most recent recordings and the differences in creating in real […] […]

John Pizzarelli’s schedule permitted him to stop by our studios before his visit to the Dakota tonight. It’s no surprise that John was an absolute natural doing radio, I mean he has his own radio show. We even broadcast it on Jazz88 on Saturdays at 5pm. John was more than happy to talk about his […] […]

I had the honor of catching up with Cyrille Aimée in advance of her performance on Friday night, April 1st, at the Dakota. In the interview, you’ll hear about Cyrille’s fascination with the Dakota, Minneapolis in general, and her adopted hometown of New Orleans. We touch on her impressive 14 disc discography and the band […] […]

  If you are a regular listener to KBEM, hopefully you’ve heard Phil Nusbaum’s informative and entertaining feature Twin Cities This Week/Twin Cities Weekend. On a recent playback, I was intrigued by a new band, Sprig Of That, who discussed in-depth a new recording, Eight Threads. Like Phil’s featurette, the group had received an endowment […] […]