Minnesota Music Profiles

Series produced by KBEM

Caption: KBEM logo, Credit: Tim Nyberg (Octane Creative)
Image by: Tim Nyberg (Octane Creative) 
KBEM logo 

Each item in the series tells how a musicians is inspired, how s/he works, their goals and intents for their work; in general, how each gets motivation and follows through with a creative project.

Each Minnesota Music Profile focuses on a musician or group. Listeners learn some of the behind-the-scenes stuff related to the creative process. Programs in the series are under 10 minutes in length. They can be run anytime because they are not time sensitive. These pieces are especially appropriate when subjects perform in the areas served by given radio stations.


423 Pieces

Order by: Newest First | Oldest First
Caption: Jugsluggers, Credit: Lisa Friedlander
Tom Cornish, Russ Rayfield and Mark Briere. They are known as the Jug Sluggers, a group of acoustic musicians that has been singing and playing for...

  • Added: Sep 07, 2017
  • Length: 08:00
Caption: Debbie Duncan, Credit: Nathan Yungerberg
When you go to a Debbie Duncan show you enjoy a great vocal jazz stylist. But Debbie says that it is all in service of the lyrics to the songs, and...

  • Added: Sep 08, 2017
  • Length: 08:00
Caption: The Overtones, Credit: Chimgee Haltarhuu
Background music is the specialty of the Overtones and the group does it well. Interviewer Phil Nusbaum talked to Dave Hofgren of the Overtones, wh...

  • Added: Sep 11, 2017
  • Length: 08:00
Caption: Southside Aces, Credit: Jonathan Hankin
The period after World War I in the USA is known as the Jazz Age. It was a time when Americans were trying out new things, new kinds of fun, and ja...

  • Added: Sep 12, 2017
  • Length: 08:00
Caption: JC Sanford, Credit: Andrea Canter
Trombonist JC Sanford is a prolific composer of jazz, and spends a lot of time making sure the pieces reflect different styles and inspirations. An...

  • Added: Sep 20, 2017
  • Length: 08:00
Caption: Twin Cities Latin Jazz Orchestra, Credit: Diego Ramallo
The Twin Cities Latin Jazz Orchestra is 18 pieces in all. It’s got a growing book of tunes, a growing audience and growing stature. In 2017, the Tw...

  • Added: Sep 22, 2017
  • Length: 08:00
Caption: Charanga Tropical, Credit: Walter Horishnyk
Charanga Tropical is led by Twin Cities sax and flute player, Doug Little. Doug began studying Cuban music in 2002, and founded Charanga Tropical i...

  • Added: Oct 06, 2017
  • Length: 08:00
Caption: Brass Lassie, Credit: Nick Lethert
Celtic tradition goes back literally centuries, and well over 100 years in our town. But if you think there’s nothing new under the sun when it com...

  • Added: Oct 07, 2017
  • Length: 08:00
Caption: Mumblin' Drew, Credit: Zoe Prinds-Flash
Mumblin’ Drew is a local guy who discovered folk music, and followed the interest. His playing is based on classic performances of American folk mu...

  • Added: Oct 11, 2017
  • Length: 08:00
Caption: Pavel Jany, Credit: Andrea Canter
Pavel Jany (Yanny) is known as one of the Twin Cities’ leading jazz guitarists. His most recent recorded project is called Acoustic Condition. On t...

  • Added: Oct 12, 2017
  • Length: 08:00
Caption: Greenwood Tree, Credit: Roger Lundgren
Greenwood Tree is a hammered dulcimer group featuring Stu Janis on the hammered dulcimer with Bill Cagley on the guitar. Stu and Bill have been pla...

  • Added: Oct 16, 2017
  • Length: 08:00
Caption: One Ukulele, Credit: Dan Wilder
One Ukulele. Well, it’s actually three men who sing with ukuleles and guitars, too. The group performs and spreads the word about how fun it is to ...

Bought by PRX Remix and WRST-FM Oshkosh


  • Added: Oct 18, 2017
  • Length: 08:00
  • Purchases: 2
Caption: Gentlemen's Anti-Temperance League, Credit: Aaron Davidson
The Gentlemen’s Anti-Temperance League calls what it does Prohibition Swing. It’s a collection of styles nearly a century old with a lot of cool. ...

  • Added: Nov 03, 2017
  • Length: 08:00
Caption: Twin Cities Community Gospel Choir, Credit: Jerry Nelson
The Twin Cities Community Gospel Choir had its first performance in 1990 at which it won award for quality. From that point, it assumed an importan...

  • Added: Nov 09, 2017
  • Length: 08:00
Caption: Cedar Avenue Big Band, Credit: Jim Richards
The Cedar Avenue Big Band. After 25 years, it’s still a leading Twin Cities Big Band. Why do they do it? They just love playing big band music, and...

  • Added: Nov 09, 2017
  • Length: 08:00
Caption: Jazz 88 logo, Credit: Tim Nyberg (Octane Creative)
Mango Jam. It’s a Twin Cities band that formed in 1989, and has played in 46 states. And throw in a good deal of recording as well. Because of fami...

  • Added: Nov 16, 2017
  • Length: 08:00
Caption: Wee Willie Walker, Credit: Doug Knutson
Wee Willie Walker is one of Minnesota’s great blues treasures. In a conversation with Phil Nusbaum, Willie reflected on the many ways, it’s a long ...

  • Added: Nov 20, 2017
  • Length: 08:00
Caption: Jazz 88 logo, Credit: Tim Nyberg (Octane Creative)
Behind the scenes of the Acme Jazz Company are the thoughtful big band arrangements of artistic director Bob Parsons. Bob has his own arranging sty...

  • Added: Nov 21, 2017
  • Length: 08:00
Caption: Ukrainian Village Band, Credit: David Kasyanyuk
The Ukrainian Village Band has grown from a small community group to one that records and performs for varied audiences. Two band members, Stefan (...

Bought by KUER and PRX Remix


  • Added: Nov 24, 2017
  • Length: 08:00
  • Purchases: 2
Caption: Katia Cardenas, Credit: Rita Zenefski
Katia Cardenas is a young vocalist who moved to Minnesota from California to study at Macalester. Eleven years later, she’s still working out of Sa...

  • Added: Nov 29, 2017
  • Length: 08:00