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,...Read More

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...Read More

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.       More Posts...Read More

Twin Cities Jazz Festival organizers Steve Heckler and Dayna Martinez swung through The Afternoon Cruise to chat about the event (now in its 25th year), including details about the MPS Voices Youth Stage and other schedule highlights from across the 2023 Twin Cities Jazz Fest. Listen here:   This interview originally aired May 10, 2023...Read More

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...Read More

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...Read More

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...Read More

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.     More Posts for...Read More

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...Read More

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...Read More