1 – Isaiah J. Thompson – The Great Pumpkin Waltz 2 – MMYYKK – You Got Me 3 – Samara Joy – Tight 4 – Harold Lopez-Nussa – Funky 5 – Kurt Elling and Charlie Hunter – Superblue 6 – Bobby Sanabria – Capullito De Alheli 7 – Darcy James Argue – Last Waltz for...Read More

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...Read More

Bob Jurek’s Spooky Picks: 1.  The Twilight Zone by Golden Earring 2. The Egg Plant That Ate Chicago by Dr. West’s Medicine Show And Junk Band 3. Spiders and Snakes by Jim Stafford 4. Wait Til The Midnight Hour by Wilson Pickett 5. I Put a Spell On You by Screaming Jay Hawkins  Sean McPherson’s...Read More

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...Read More

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–...Read More

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...Read More

Celebrated pianist Larry McDonough has been a fixture on the Twin Cities jazz scene for decades and he’s well known for his love of Bill Evans. This Thursday (8/31), Larry and company are gracing the mainstage of Crooners to play Bill Evans’ material. They’ll also share part of a moving documentary about Evans’ life. Listen...Read More

After a chance encounter 22 years ago in the Twin Cities, Tony London went on to become friends with Tony Bennett, receiving support and sage advice from him as he built his career as a modern crooner. Like so many in the music industry, London recognizes Bennett as a “singer’s singer,” and valued his mentorship...Read More

Vocalist Maud Hixson is a mainstay of the jazz scene in the Twin Cities and she has churned out another exemplary disc. On Saturday, Sept. 2, she’s taking the stage of Crooner’s to celebrate the new release, Permanent Moonlight. Listen in to Maud’s conversation with Sean McPherson from The Afternoon Cruise about the new disc,...Read More

  Jack Barrett (piano) and Charlie Bruber (bass) are kindred musical spirits. After the pandemic, they found their way back to creativity by doing brisk, low-pressure sessions with Ben Ehrlich and Jake Baldwin bright and early in the morning. These sessions grew into the record that they are releasing as the Jack Barrett Quartet on...Read More