April is “Jazz Appreciation Month,” and Jazz88 is looking forward to celebrating with a concert honoring our 2025 Minnesota Jazz Legends: drummer Jay Epstein, pianist and Walker West Music Academy founder Grant West, Dixieland trombonist Art Katzman, and the late, award-winning jazz vocalist Debbie Duncan. Presented by Jazz88, this special concert will be held at...Read More

Jazz88’s Peter Solomon speaks with Chicago-based singer Christy Bennett about her work researching and recording the music of Irene Higginbotham. Higginbotham (1918 – 1988) is best remembered as the co-composer of the ballad  “Good Morning Heartache,” which was one of Billie Holiday’s signature tunes. Higginbotham wrote published more than fifty songs, including “This Will Make You...Read More

Jazz88’s Peter Solomon had a chance to talk with legendary blues and soul singer Bettye LaVette about her development as an artist and how she learned to use her voice to make a song her own. LaVette is appearing at The Parkway Theater in a double billing with jazz singer/songwriter Madeleine Peyroux on Thursday, March...Read More

Percussionist Bill Summers described music as a “religious undertaking” when he connected with Jazz88’s Sean McPherson to discuss the recent Headhunters record and their upcoming performance at the Dakota. Summers was joined by their drummer Mike Clark and the conversation covered iconic moments from Headhunters history, the group’s current lineup and their concern for musicians...Read More

The celebrated vocalist Bruce Henry is back in town to perform a concert on Saturday at the Dakota titled “Everyone Under the Sun: A Celebration of Unity and Love.” Henry connected with Sean McPherson to discuss how he and the band will use Martin Luther King Jr. as a point of departure to build community...Read More

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 More Posts for Show:...Read More

Come on down for live jazz at Brianno’s Chart House with music from Courtney Burton and friends! Created by Courtney Burton, Creative Director, and vocalist, the jazz ensemble Court’s In Session, brings together the Twin Cities’ best jazz musicians to play the songs you know and love to dance to. Court’s In Session will stir...Read More

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...Read More

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...Read More

  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… More...Read More