Guitarist Kenny Reichert is an artist who splits his time between the Twin Cities, Milwaukee, Chicago, and a teaching job in Oklahoma. He is Artist in Residence at the Minneapolis venue Berlin this month, and through the month of May he is featuring several of his different projects in a series called “Letters from the...Read More

Red Planet has been lighting up the Twin Cities jazz scene since 2003 with their fearless blend of originals and bold reimaginings of Coltrane, Monk, and Hendrix. Featuring guitarist Dean Magraw, bassist Chris Bates, and drummer Jay Epstein, the trio is known for its explosive creativity, soulful interplay, and a sound that stretches from deep...Read More

Saxophonist Steve Cole is a Mack Avenue recording artist based in the Twin Cities preparing for a show at the Dakota on Saturday, June 14. Cole checked back in with Jazz88 to talk about his recent studio album Without a Doubt and the fun he’s having with his band of Twin Cities heavyweights.   This...Read More

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...Read More

  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…...Read More

  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...Read More

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...Read More

  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 –...Read More

  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...Read More

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...Read More