This Just In

Here are the top ten new releases from Jazz88! Vote for your five favorites below!   Society of Chemists – By Candlelight LA Buckner and BiG HOMiE – NORFSIDE Zaccai Curtis – Cuban Fantasy Okonski – Dusk Scott Agster – Minneapolis Horn Power Caili O’Doherty – Clip Joint Nnena Freelon – Dark and Lovely Nick […] […]

The budding local group Room3 finally has an album out and it’s been a joy to see how warmly Bill’s Garden been received in the Twin Cities scene! Today we are focusing on the third single from the album, “Don’t Forget to Breathe.” The tune features a vocal performance from the soul vocalist, Jada Lynn. […] […]

Here are the top ten new releases from Jazz88! Vote for your five favorites below! LA Buckner and BiG HOMiE – NORFSIDE Ray Barnard – Pistol Pete Concurrence – Night Cap at Brown’s Dinner Club Artemis – The Smile of the Snake Mike Munson – Night Flying Birds James Brandon Lewis – Exactly, Our Music […] […]

In the throes of winter, I received a couple new tracks from the budding new Twin Cities group, Society of Chemists. One of the standout tracks was “By Candlelight,” a three-minute tune that captures a great spectrum of emotions. The not-so-secret weapon of Society of Chemists is the writing of their saxophonist Stephanie Wieseler. My […] […]

Here are the top ten new releases from Jazz88! Vote for your five favorites below!                   David Murray – Birdly Serenade feat. Ekep Nkwelle Scott Agster – Minneapolis Horn Power WDR Big Band – Slip and Slide Nnena Freelon – Dark and Lovely Abebi Stafford – Kinderglow […] […]

Keep it simple stupid! It is one of those pieces of advice that is so easy to say and so hard to follow but I feel that Ray Barnard really channels that ethos across his output. The man prioritizes a good groove and when he has something nice to sing into the microphone he does […] […]

Here are the top ten new releases from Jazz88! Vote for your five favorites below!   Society of Chemists – Transactional Kindness Etienne Charles – Colorado River Song feat. René Marie Okonski – Summer Storm Karrin Allyson – Month of March (Dunas) Abebi Stafford – Kinderglow The Empress – Nica’s Dream Sharel Cassity – Magnetism […] […]

Sometimes it takes an outsider to really appreciate what is happening in a musical scene. Though he’s been here since 2005, Scott Agster still holds the thrill of the new kid as he tells the larger world what makes our Minneapolis music scene so special. There’s plenty to celebrate here in the Twin Cities, but […] […]

Pianist Abebi Stafford’s new record, Stolen By Lies, was primarily recorded in piano trio format, with Graydon Peterson on bass and Pete James Johnson on drums. Stafford’s original compositions are at their best when they are subtle. The tune “Kinderglow” is a great example of what makes Stafford’s understated writing so powerful. On the A […] […]

A handful of weeks ago we were highlighting the title track to Hannah Harder’s debut album as a leader The Greatest of These is Love. As I’ve continued to listen to the release, I wanted to write up the tune “I Don’t Know Yet,” another gem. In an interview with Jazz88’s Sam Keenan, Harder explained […] […]

Here are the top ten new releases from Jazz88! Vote for your five favorites below!   Okonski – Summer Storm Ebo Taylor – Get Up Zaccai Curtis – Cuban Fantasy LA Buckner & BiG HOMiE – NORFSIDE Mike Munson – Night Flying Birds Black Market Brass – Battle Ready feat. Obi Original Society of Chemists […] […]

Sean writes: I was overjoyed to get some new music from the fusion friendly group Society of Chemists in my inbox. The members of Society of Chemists are criminally busy with other projects, but they find the time to keep this one going because the band has such tangible passion for the self-described “chamber jazz […] […]

Here are the top ten new releases from Jazz88! Vote for your five favorites below!   Zaccai Curtis – Cuban Fantasy Black Market Brass – Battle Ready feat. Obi Original Renee Rosnes – Amor Até O Fim Vanisha Gould – Cute Boy Hannah Harder – The Greatest of These is Love Holly Cole – Where […] […]

Mike Munson is a Winona-based guitarist and vocalist deeply rooted in the blues. Recently Munson has been charting a new course in his career and put together a trio featuring Twin Cities mainstays featuring Nick Salisbury on bass and Lars-Erik Larson on drums. When I got my hands on the instrumental “Night Flying Birds” it […] […]

Here are the top ten new releases from Jazz88! Vote for your five favorites below!   Ebo Taylor – Get Up Chick Corea & Bela Fleck – Juno Hannah Harder – The Greatest of These is Love Yussef Dayes – Portrait of Tracy Holly Cole – Where Flamingos Fly George Cables – Clockwise Jack Barrett […] […]

This week’s Hot New Local Single is “Battle Ready,” a collab from Black Market Brass and Obi Original. Sean reflects on the single: I remember with great joy a night about twelve years ago where my idea of what was possible in Twin Cities music was recalibrated by seeing Black Market Brass on stage at […] […]

Here are the top ten new releases from Jazz88! Vote for your five favorites below!   LA Buckner & BiG HOMiE – NORFSIDE Zaccai Curtis – Cuban Fantasy Etienne Charles – Colorado River Song Ebo Taylor – Get Up Ella Fitzgerald – Moment of Truth Julian Lage – Omission Alex Coke & Carl Michel Sextet […] […]

Given Hannah Harder‘s history of posting remarkable play along videos on her instagram feed, I had relatively high expectations for her album. Even with my high expectations, I was absolutely blown away by the quality of the music on Harder’s disc, “The Greatest of These is Love.” Although she is only one year out of college, […] […]

The centerpiece of drummer L.A. Buckner‘s musical universe is North Minneapolis, aka “over North.” It only makes sense; Buckner is quick to describe his music as “very Black” and the Northside of Minneapolis is the beating heart of the Black community in Minnesota. Buckner himself is a fixture over North, both on the bandstand and […] […]

Here are the top ten new releases from Jazz88! Vote for your five favorites below! Zaccai Curtis – Cuban Fantasy Ebo Taylor – Get Up Abebi Stafford – Stolen By Lies Yussef Dayes – Portrait of Tracy Chick Corea and Bela Fleck – Bemsha Swing Hannah Harder – The Greatest of These is Love Rebecca […] […]

There is no half-stepping with Lucia Sarmiento. The sax phenom taps top notch players and matches them up with top notch material for all of her recordings. It’s no surprise that she’d keep the bar high as a leader considering that she frequently works as a player for international sensations like Pitbull and Karol G. […] […]

Here are the top ten new releases from Jazz88! Vote for your five favorites below! Room3 – Moqueca Vanisha Gould – Cute Boy Scott Agster – Minneapolis Horn Power Zaccai Curtis – Black Rice Etienne Charles – Colorado River Song feat. René Marie Dave Potter – Straight Up Jim Mullen – I’ll Close My Eyes […] […]

Abebi Stafford is a Twin Cities mainstay best known for his masterful piano and organ work. For his fourth release as a leader, Stolen By Lies, Stafford has connected with some of the great players in our scene and turned out an energetic and inspired selection of originals plus one Keith Jarrett number. The title […] […]

Here are the top ten new releases from Jazz88! Vote for your five favorites below! Julian Lage – Omission Vanisha Gould – Donovan Renee Rosnes – Amore Ate O Fim Jack Barrett – She Waits in the Window Claire Martin – Almost in Your Arms Adi Yeshaya – I Love You ft. Jennifer Grimm Etienne […] […]

I have the receipts to prove that I’ve been trying to get my hands on studio recordings from Room3 for quite some time. After I saw an explosive set from them on a flatbed truck at Grand Old Day in 2022, I’ve been jonesing to share their magic on our airwaves. The day has finally […] […]

Here are the top ten new releases from Jazz88! Vote for your five favorites below! Lizz Wright – Sweet Feeling Zacc Harris – This Day Zaccai Curtis – Black Rice Etienne Charles – Colorado River Song feat. René Marie Vanisha Gould – Donovan Sarah Hanahan – On The Trail Alex Coke and Carl Michel Sextet […] […]

Roof Access is a group composed of ambitious young players making their way in the jazz world. And thankfully, beyond just making their way, these players are thriving! Roof Access has a new collection of original material and today we are highlighting a piece penned by their pianist, Rafi Karpowitz. The tune is called “I […] […]

Purple Funk Metropolis is back in action with their new single “Liquid Death.” The veteran group has navigated many different facets of funk music and on this one I hear a deep connection to Afrobeat. “Liquid Death” has the sprightly guitar interplay, rapid hand percussion patterns and powerful horn blasts I associate with the father […] […]

Here are the top ten new releases from Jazz88! Vote for your five favorites below! Vanisha Gould – Cute Boy Orrin Evans and the Captain Black Big Band – Save the Children ft. Bilal Bilal – All for Love The Airmen of Note – Hey Lalo! ft. Jon Faddis Julian Lage – Speak To Me […] […]

The Adi Yeshaya Jazz Orchestra is back! Adi Yeshaya, a topflight arranger based in the Twin Cities, formed a 12-piece band decades ago to support the vocal performances of the Twin Cities icon Debbie Duncan. The group flourished for a number of years, but they ended up putting the project on hold. In 2020 Debbie […] […]

Jazz88’s Peter Solomon speaks with Sarah Fornace from the Chicago-based performance collective Manual Cinema. Fornace is the director of “Leonardo: A Wonderful Show about a Terrible Monster,” a show based on two stories by Mo Willems. It’s running January 8th – March 9th at Cargill stage, presented by Children’s Theatre. https://kbem-od.streamguys1.com/kbem/20250102112229-SarahPeter-SarahFornaceMondayJan62025_01078_.mp3 […]

Here are the top ten new releases from Jazz88! Vote for your five favorites below! Laufey – From the Start Happy Apple – Vanity Plate Zacc Harris – This Day Lakecia Benjamin – Phoenix Reimagined The Bad Plus – Grid/Ocean Ebo Taylor – Obi Do Woa Joel Shapira – Sleepless Montage Bilal – All for […] […]

At Jazz88, we have polled you all about your favorite music of 2024, gathered those we would like to remember, and created some great segments to celebrate the year. Here is a schedule of special programming on Jazz88 this holiday season.   Best Local Releases of the Year 2024 will premiere Monday, December 16, 2024 […] […]

Here is the top ten new releases from Jazz88! Vote for your five favorites below!   LA Buckner & Big Homie – Fireflies Zacc Harris – This Day Jake Baldwin and Ted Godbout – Cornflower Blue Peter Bernstein – Fitty for Dewey Oscar Peterson – It Ain’t Necessarily So Connie Evingson – Whisper Not ft. […] […]

  This year Jazz88 has kept track of all the local songs we’ve played from the year 2024. We are asking you to vote for your ten favorite tunes to help us put together an hour celebrating the best releases of 2024. Please place your votes before 10pm on Wednesday, December 11.   Loading… […]

  This year Jazz88 has kept track of all the songs we’ve played from the year 2024. We are asking you to vote for your ten favorite tunes to help us put together an hour celebrating the best releases of 2024. Please place your votes before 10pm on Wednesday, December 11.   Loading… […]

Jake Baldwin and Ted Godbout stay busy enough playing as sidemen that I consider it a godsend when they find time to work as leaders. When trumpet player Jake Baldwin and pianist Ted Godbout realized they had a pile of originals they had never recorded, they decided to connect with some great players and read […] […]

Here is the top ten new releases from Jazz88! Vote for your five favorites below!     Laufey – From the Start The Bad Plus – Grid/Ocean L.A. Buckner and BiG HOMiE – Fireflies Diego Figueiredo – Samba Pra Bonfa Zacc Harris – This Day Immanuel Wilkins – Dark Eye Smile feat. Cecile McLorin Salvant […] […]

Zacc Harris is a fixture in the Twin Cities jazz scene. More than just a celebrated guitar player, Harris is the head of Shifting Paradigm Records, a Minnesota-based record label that releases gems from all around the globe. For Harris’s latest release, Chasing Shadows, he left his students and his family in Minneapolis for a couple […] […]

    Zacc Harris – Catalyst L.A. Buckner and BiG HOMiE – Vengeance is Mine Saith The Lord Laufey – From the Start Tommy Boynton – I’m Gonna Lock My Heart Pat Bianchi – Stardust Connie Evingson – Whisper Not feat. Benny Golson Sarah Hanahan – Resonance Jazzmeia Horn – You’re Getting to be a […] […]

As The Bad Plus round the corner on their second full length as a guitar/saxophone/bass/drums quartet as opposed to a piano trio I am getting more drawn into their new textures. The opening track on the new album, Complex Emotions, is a Reid Anderson penned tune called “Grid/Ocean.” This song stood out to me for […] […]

    Cory Wong – 305 ft. Chris Potter L.A. Buckner and BiG HOMiE – Vengeance is Mine Saith The Lord Laufey – It Could Happen to You Dayna Stephens – Scrutiny Diego Figueredo – Samba Pra Bonfa Javon Jackson – When the Time Is Right Pat Bianchi – Stardust Lakecia Benjamin – New Mornings […] […]

Vocalist Tommy Boynton has arrived with his first album tackling jazz standards. Boynton moved to the Twin Cities about two years ago and keeps busy as a member of the Four Freshmen, the celebrated long-running vocal quartet now based partially out of the Twin Cities. Boynton has a clean, earnest voice that packs a playful, […] […]

  Laufey – It Could Happen to You L.A. Buckner and BiG HOMiE – Fireflies Cory Wong – 305 ft. Chris Potter Connie Evingson – Whisper Not feat. Benny Golson Nubya Garcia – Set it Free feat. Richie Peter Bernstein – Ditty for Dewey Judy Carmichael – I Don’t Know Enough About You Emmet Cohen […] […]

This has been a banner year for Minnesota jazz releases. We are bursting at the seams with new sounds from Kavyesh Kaviraj, Take That Back, Zacc Harris and more. Another release that deserves to be on the short list for best release of the year is L.A. Buckner and BiG HOMiE’s new outing Norfside. We have already […] […]

Minnesota mainstay Connie Evingson is preparing to release her new album, Hornucopia, and she was kind enough to share a couple tunes in advance with Jazz88. Evingson sent along two songs that feature the recently deceased jazz saxophone legend Benny Golson including “Whisper Not.” The Hornucopia album focuses on the great songs written by horn players and […] […]

  L.A. Buckner and BiG HOMiE – Vengeance is Mine Saith The Lord Julius Rodriguez – Love Everlasting feat. Keyon Harrold Khruangbin – Ada Jean Lakecia Benjamin – New Mornings Laufey – It Could Happen to You Take That Back – Playhouse Bats Joel Shapira – Sleepless Montage Orrin Evans and the Captain Black Big […] […]

Guitar phenom Cory Wong connected with the Metropole Orkest for his latest effort Starship Syncopation and the sound is rich, full and at times hypnotic. On the tune “305” Wong also tapped in saxophonist Chris Potter and the Miami mainstay quartet Electric Kif. The tune is six minutes full of groove with the band luxuriating in the […] […]

  L.A. Buckner and BiG HOMiE – Fireflies Take That Back – Lake Rousseau 1980 Laufey – From the Start Judy Carmichael – I Don’t Know Enough About You Lakecia Benjamin – Phoenix Reimagined Yussef Dayes – Rust feat. Tom Misch Lizz Wright – Sweet Feeling Shelly Berg – Home With You Julian Lage – […] […]

Guitarist, Joel Shapira, is back at it with a quartet he last recorded with almost two decades ago. The new record is called Sleepless Montage and the band sounds really comfortable diving back into a new set of tunes penned by Shapira. I was first drawn to the title track at first cause of the […] […]

  L.A. Buckner and BiG HOMiE – Fireflies Kavyesh Kaviraj – Lullaby Laufey – From the Start Take That Back – Playhouse Bats Khruangbin – Ada Jean Dayna Stephens – Scrutiny Zaccai Curtis – Let’s Do It Again Steve Turre – Mr. Kenyatta Cornelia Nilsson – John’s Abbey Emmet Cohen – Vibe Provider   Loading… […] […]

Music is the ultimate conjurer of emotions. The sounds of “Fireflies” off of L.A. Buckner and BiG HOMiE’s forthcoming record “Norfside” conjures a lifetime of triumph into three and a half minutes of music like the groove downed three espressos before the second measure and as the group navigates the various sections there is a […] […]

  Kavyesh Kaviraj – Lullaby Etienne Charles – Old School Ken Peplowski – Cabin in the Sky Michael Mayo – I Wish Mike Stern – Climate Emmet Cohen – Vibe Provider Jo Harrop – Traveling Light Samara Joy – You Stepped Out of a Dream Avery Sharpe – My Friend, Don’t Be Afraid to Ask […] […]

We are so lucky to have Zacc Harris in the Twin Cities. Harris is a top-flight guitarist, composer and educator. He also manages to run a premier record label that releases world-class music which represents our local scene and the larger international jazz scene. Through some scheduling miracle, Zacc Harris was able to connect with […] […]

I spent an inordinate amount of my teen years listening to a record by David Fiuczynski called Lunar Crush. It came out in 1994 and it featured John Medeski’s keyboard work all over it. Much of the joy of this record can be found in how wide the palette of sounds is. Multiple keyboards, percussion appearing […] […]

  Julian Lage – Serenade Steve Turre – Mr. Kenyatta Something Else! feat. Vincent Herring – Strasbourg/St. Denis Kamasi Washington – The Garden Path Lakecia Benjamin – New Mornings Khruangbin – Ada Jean Dayna Stephens – Scrutiny Cory Wong – Burning feat. Metropole Orkest Dylan Hicks – The Unicellular Spore Fernando Huergo – Panorama   […] […]

There are some great transcontinental collaborations happening in the Twin Cities Jazz scene! Technology has made it feasible for arrangers from all over the world to get their charts performed and recorded by a topflight big band without having to muster all the players individually. Adi Yeshaya, Ned Kantar and other arrangers in town have […] […]

  Julian Lage – Serenade Steve Turre – Mr. Kenyatta Lakecia Benjamin – Sweet Feeling Lizz Wright – Sweet Feeling Kamasi Washington – The Garden Path Cory Wong – Burning feat. Metropole Orkest Dylan Hicks – The Unicellular Spore Happy Apple – Antonym Requiem Parlor Greens – Driptorch Khruangbin – Ada Jean   Loading…   […]

  Dylan Hicks – The Unicellular Spore Happy Apple – Antonym Requiem Parlor Greens – Driptorch Kerry Politzer – A Breeze Comes Jeff Coffin – Only the Horizon Andrew Bird – I Fall in Love Too Easily Pavel Jany – Flying to Rio George Benson – One Goodbye Baby Rose with BADBADNOTGOOD – It’s Alright […] […]

  Fernando Huergo – Panorama Ken Peplowski – Cabin In The Sky George Benson – One Goodbye Etienne Charles – Old School Nduduzo Makhathini – Izinkonjana Conrad Herwig – Walk Spirit, Talk Spirit feat. Eddie Palmieri Pavel Jany – Flying to Rio Jeff Coffin – Only the Horizon Take That Back – Playhouse Bats Hiatus […] […]

  George Benson – One Goodbye Baby Rose with BADBADNOTGOOD – It’s Alright Lucia Sarmiento – Look Up Concurrence – Night Cap at Brown’s Dinner Club Alan Braufman – Brooklyn Antonio Adolfo – You Do Something To Me Pavel Jany – Flying to Rio Charles McPherson – Ode to Barry Eliane Elias – Making Honey […] […]

Dylan Hicks is a Minneapolis-based writer and musician who leads a stellar group called Dylan Hicks & Small Screens. It’s obvious that Hicks is confident exploring various forms of writing and music genres, as his song, “The Unicellular Spore,” incorporates brass, woodwinds, and vocals. There’s a little something for anyone wanting to get a peek […] […]

  Dan Pugach – Bianca Kamasi Washington – The Garden Path Julian Lage – Serenade Antonio Adolfo – You Do Something To Me Pavel Jany – Flying to Rio Sugaray Rayford – Run for Cover Eric Alexander – Serenade to a Cuckoo Kerry Politzer – A Breeze Comes Etienne Charles – Old School Parlor Greens […] […]

  Kamasi Washington – The Garden Path Parlor Greens – Driptorch Take That Back – Playhouse Bats Concurrence – Nightcap at Brown’s Dinner Club Jo Harrop – Only The Horizon WJ3 All-Stars – Jitterbug Waltz Eric Alexander – Serenade to a Cuckoo Matthew Whitaker – Expect Your Miracle Karrin Allyson – Wave Andrew Bird – […] […]

Greetings! Sean here. I’m honored to be joined by student intern Laelah Stephney, who is working with me this summer on music programming and on producing This Just In. Our last review this week is penned by Olive Norvell, a host on Jazz88 and MPS Voices. Every Friday, we’ll be bringing you some highlights of […] […]

  Lucia Sarmiento – Look Up Jeff Coffin – Only the Horizon Concurrence – Nightcap at Brown’s Dinner Club Kavyesh Kaviraj – Rain Khruangbin – Three From Two Karen Mack – Come To Baby, Do Andrew Bird – I Fall In Love Too Easily Dayna Stephens – Bubbly SugaRay Rayford – Run for Cover Kerry […] […]

  Kamasi Washington – Prologue Karen Mack – Come To Baby, Do Hiatus Kaiyote – Everything’s Beautiful Davina and the Vagabonds – Build Me Up Buttercup Stefon Harris – Devil in the Details Andrew Bird – I Fall In Love Too Easily Matthew Whitaker – Expect Your Miracle Eliane Elias – Making Honey Jacky Terrasson […] […]

Greetings! Sean here. I’m honored to be joined by student intern Laelah Stephney, who is working with me this summer on music programming and on producing This Just In. Every Friday, we’ll be bringing you some highlights of new music we are featuring here on Jazz88. This is all connected to This Just In, our […] […]

  Davina and the Vagabonds – Build Me Up Buttercup Something Else! with Vincent Herring – Strasbourg St. Denis SugaRay Rayford – Run for Cover Angela DeNiro with the Ron Aprea Big Band – You’d Be So Easy to Love Conrad Herwig – Walk Spirit, Talk Spirit feat. Eddie Palmieri Stuart Mack – Summertime Stefon […] […]

Greetings! Sean here. I’m honored to be joined by student intern Laelah Stephney, who is working with me this summer on music programming and on producing This Just In. Every Friday, we’ll be bringing you some highlights of new music we are featuring here on Jazz88. This is all connected to This Just In, our […] […]

  Kamasi Washington – Prologue Davina and the Vagabonds – Build Me Up Buttercup Khruangbin – Three From Two The Early Planets – DONKEY WJ3 All-Stars – Jitterbug Waltz Kirsten Edkins – Party Slug Cornbread Harris – Night Train Karrin Allyson – Wave Charles McPherson – Ode to Barry Nick Finzer – Say When   […] […]

  Kamasi Washington – Prologue Julian Lage – Nothing Happens Here Nduduzo Makhathini – Izinkonjana The Early Planets – DONKEY WJ3 All-Stars – Jitterbug Waltz Lauren Henderson – Venas Kirsten Edkins – Party Slug Cornbread Harris – Night Train Karrin Allyson – Wave Stuart Mack – Summertime   Loading…   […]

  Dayna Stephens – Bubbly Julian Lage – Nothing Happens Here Khruangbin – Three From Two The Early Planets – DONKEY Bill Frisell – Electricity Kandace Springs – Broken Keys Willie Morris – The Imitation Game Greg Murphy – The Cure Kamasi Washington – The Garden Path Birckhead – Cacao   Loading…   […]

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, Fridays at noon on 88.5, or catch it on your own schedule […] […]

  Bill Frisell – Electricity Kamasi Washington – Prologue Julian Lage – Nothing Happens Here Diego Rivera – Tinte Latino Jenny Klukken – La Vie En Rose Dan Pugach – Bianca Karrin Allyson – Wave Kirsten Edkins – Party Slug WJ3 All-Stars – Jitterbug Waltz Jeremy Pelt – No A.I.   Loading…   […]

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, Fridays at noon on 88.5, or catch it on your own schedule […] […]

  Kamasi Washington – Prologue Julian Lage – Nothing Happens Here The Early Planets – DONKEY Willie Morris – The Imitation Game Charles McPherson – Ode To Barry Birckhead – Cacao Jenny Klukken – La Vie En Rose Dan Pugach – Bianca Chris Botti – Old Folks Angela DeNiro with the Ron Aprea Big Band […] […]

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, Fridays at noon on 88.5, or catch it on your own schedule […] […]

  Kirsten Edkins – Party Slug HEYARLO – Chanting and Gossip Ghost-Note – Mustard N’Onions Ethan Iverson – Victory is Assured Julian Lage – Nothing Happens Here Alliance – Maiden Voyage Lynne Arriale – Courage Remy Le Bouef’s Assembly of Shadows – Barbara Monty Alexander – I’ll Never Smile Again Kamasi Washington – Prologue   […] […]

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, Fridays at noon on 88.5, or catch it on your own schedule […] […]

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, Fridays at noon on 88.5, or catch it on your own schedule […] […]

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 […] […]

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 […] […]

Though he’s short on released material, Kavyesh Kaviraj is already one of the most sought after collaborators in the Twin Cities. Sharing the stage with artists like Lady Midnight, Kevin Washington, Lady Midnight and more, Kaviraj brings a tangible enthusiasm and inspiration to every note he plays. The glimpse we’ve gotten into his work 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 […] […]

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 […] […]

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 […] […]

Hot New Local Singles highlight local new songs. Sean will let you know a bit about the song and we will share a link to the song so you can check it out. 2023 was a good year for Jake Baldwin; he got a shining review in Downbeat magazine for his “Misc. Items” albums, showed […] […]

I’ve loved Blue Note Records for as long as I’ve loved jazz. Growing up as an aspiring jazz musician not much felt better than leaving Applause/Cheapo on Snelling in Saint Paul with a couple of those white jewel boxed Blue Note releases and heading home and finding out what they were all about. Early on […] […]

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 […] […]

Grammy-nominated alternative jazz drummer, producer, and rapper Kassa Overall has released “2 Sentimental,” a melancholic reimagining of Duke Ellington’s ballad, “In a Sentimental Mood,” which Overall has transformed into an anthem for musicians struggling to survive the economic upheaval of the post-pandemic era. Enjoy the single, and check out an email conversation between Kassa Overall […] […]

1- Meshell Ndegeocello – Gatsby 2- Javon Jackson – Amy’s Theme 3- Robert Glasper and Derrick Hodge – New Potential 4- Joel Harrison – Today is Tomorrow’s Yesterday 5- Alfredo Rodriguez – El Llamado feat. Cimafunk 6- Sarah Morris – Something That Holds 7- Joe Alterman – Ruby Jubilation 8- HEYARLO – Rememberance 9- Honeybutter– […] […]

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 […] […]

Saxophonist and composer Lakecia Benjamin connected with Sean from The Afternoon Cruise via Zoom to chat about her new record, Phoenix, and her rising star in the music world. Listen to the interview here:   Portions of this interview originally aired April 7, 2023 on This Just In. This interview was produced and edited by […] […]

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, […] […]

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 […] […]

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 […] […]

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. […] […]

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, […] […]

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 […] […]

You’re on a jazz radio station’s website right now. Chances are, I’m preaching to the choir here, but in case you’re new to jazz, Mingus Ah Um is the cream of the crop. If you thought jazz was stuffy background music for academics who are afraid to feel anything, every note of this record will change […] […]

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 […] […]

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 […] […]

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 […] […]

On today’s Afternoon Cruise we’ll be doing a deep dive into Abbey Lincoln’s 1991 album You Gotta Pay The Band. The featured guest on the album is the esteemed legend Stan Getz in one of his last recording sessions before his passing in June of 1991. Throughout the album I am reminded of three primary […] […]

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 […] […]

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 […] […]

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 […] […]

The great music just keeps on coming in and we haven’t even tapped into the pile of holiday releases that have come in in the last couple weeks. 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. […] […]

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 […]

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. […] […]

Acclaimed Cabo Verdean singer, Lucibela, is out on the road and coming through town to play a show at the Cedar Cultural Center on Friday, September 16. She was nice enough to swing through Jazz88 with her guitar player and her tour manager/translator before the show. She performed the songs “Amdjer Ka Bidje” and “Adeus […] […]

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 […] […]

Julian Lage is out on the road in support of his new Blue Note release, View With A Room. He’s swinging through the Dakota in Minneapolis on Saturday, September 17, and he was nice enough to connect with Sean on The Afternoon Cruise to discuss Bill Frisell’s contributions to the album, the history of jazz […] […]

Theo Croker connected with Sean for This Just In to talk about his new record, Love Quantum, and recommended a couple of artists he’s been listening to lately. Check out the full conversation right here! […]

When vocal and piano powerhouse Diana Krall burst on to the jazz scene in the mid-nineties, the form was getting a bit long in the teeth. Most of the legends had passed on or exceeded their peak as far as female vocalists go. In walked Diana: Great vocal and piano chops, a reverence for the […] […]