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.


426 Pieces

Order by: Newest First | Oldest First
Fellow Pynins, Unique Musical Storytellers
From: KBEM
Series: Minnesota Music Profiles
Caption: Fellow Pynins, Credit: Beehive Productions
Ian Van Ornum and Dani Aubert are Fellow Pynins. Ian and Dani sing stories. When they got together with Phil Nusbaum, the talk turned to Dani’s rec...

  • Added: Jan 02, 2020
  • Length: 08:00
King Wilkie’s Dream Offers a Fresh Spin on Bluegrass, Country, Americana
From: KBEM
Series: Minnesota Music Profiles
Caption: Jazz 88 logo, Credit: Tim Nyberg (Octane Creative)
King Wilkie’s Dream plays new acoustic country music and strives for originality. In a conversation with Phil Nusbaum, fiddler Robbi Podrug and ma...

  • Added: Jan 01, 2020
  • Length: 08:00
The Barley Jacks with Brian Wicklund is Both Rooted and Forward Leaning
From: KBEM
Series: Minnesota Music Profiles
Caption: Jazz 88 logo, Credit: Tim Nyberg (Octane Creative)
The Barley Jacks with Brian Wicklund. It’s a string band influenced by bluegrass, Appalachian tradition, rock and blues. When Phil Nusbaum caught u...

  • Added: Dec 26, 2019
  • Length: 08:00
The Orange Mighty Trio Blends Styles Like No Other Band
From: KBEM
Series: Minnesota Music Profiles
Caption: Orange Mighty Trio, Credit: Nik Powell
The Orange Mighty Trio is an instrumental band with a stylistic breadth like no other. Some might view the mix as a great risk, but the mix seems p...

  • Added: Dec 24, 2019
  • Length: 08:00
Good Morning Bedlam Combines Crafted Compositions with Sophisticated Arrangements
From: KBEM
Series: Minnesota Music Profiles
Caption: Good Morning Bedlam, Credit: Shea Grehan Photography
Good Morning Bedlam is a contemporary folk group from Minneapolis. The group hangs its hat on detailed arrangements of original songs. Isaak Elker ...

  • Added: Dec 20, 2019
  • Length: 08:00
Southside Aces Big Five Evokes the Legacy of Louis Armstrong
From: KBEM
Series: Minnesota Music Profiles
Caption: Southside Aces Big Five, Credit: Alain Kraus
At every performance, the Southside Aces Big Five pays tribute to Louis Armstrong, one of the most important creative forces in the history of Jazz...

  • Added: Dec 19, 2019
  • Length: 08:00
Larry McDonough’s Irreverent Jazz Christmas Concert
From: KBEM
Series: Minnesota Music Profiles
Caption: Cover of Angels, Kings, My Favorite Things by Eric Hanson, Credit: Eric Hanson
Festivus and Other Twisted Holidays represents Larry McDonough’s Irreverent Jazz take on Christmas with a little influence from the Seinfeld TV sho...

  • Added: Dec 16, 2019
  • Length: 07:59
Jazz Duet Covers a Lot of Musical Ground with Piano and Bass, Plus an Assist from Modern Technology
From: KBEM
Series: Minnesota Music Profiles
Caption: Tasha Baron, Credit: Mike Madison
Liz Draperand Tasha Baron. Liz plays the bass, Tasha the keyboards. And then there’s the 3rd group member: Modern Technology. When Phil Nusbaum tal...

  • Added: Dec 12, 2019
  • Length: 08:00
Solar Sistren Improvises All the Way
From: KBEM
Series: Minnesota Music Profiles
Caption: Jazz 88 logo, Credit: Tim Nyberg (Octane Creative)
Mankwe Ndosi presents a group of improvisers known as Solar Sistren. Te players take inspiration from their music training, and each other, to crea...

  • Added: Dec 12, 2019
  • Length: 08:00
Eastern European Christmas Traditions Staged as Kolyada by Orkestar Bez Ime and Others
From: KBEM
Series: Minnesota Music Profiles
Caption: Orkestar Bez Ime, Credit: Stefan Iwaskewycz
Kolyada, the Ukrainian word for Christmas carol is the title of a Christmastime performance presented by Orkestar Bez Ime. Kolyada creates a narrat...

  • Added: Dec 06, 2019
  • Length: 08:00
Minnesota Music Icons Debbie Duncan and Andrew Walesch Sing Holiday Seasonal Songs
From: KBEM
Series: Minnesota Music Profiles
Caption: Debbie Duncan, Credit: Nathan Yungerberg
Twin Cities Music Icons Debbie Duncan and Andrew Walesch Welcome the Holiday Season with seasonal songs. Phil Nusbaum dropped by as Debbie and Andr...

Bought by WOUB


  • Added: Nov 27, 2019
  • Length: 08:00
  • Purchases: 1
Eric Christopher and Anthony Ihrig Present their Fresh New Duet
From: KBEM
Series: Minnesota Music Profiles
Caption: Anthony Ihrig and Eric Christopher, Credit: Anthony Ihrig
Eric Christopher and Anthony Ihrig have years of experience playing in the 5-piece High 48s bluegrass band. But lately they’ve been working togethe...

  • Added: Nov 11, 2019
  • Length: 07:59
Twin Cities Jazz Workshop Trains Middle and High School Musicians in Jazz Performance
From: KBEM
Series: Minnesota Music Profiles
Caption: Charlie Lincoln, Credit: Andrea Canter
Jazz pros Doug Little and Charlie Lincoln lead a group of high school jazz musicians known as the Twin Cities Jazz Workshop. The group learns music...

Bought by WOUB


  • Added: Nov 03, 2019
  • Length: 08:00
  • Purchases: 1
Accordo Plays String Ensemble Music with Passion and Virtuosity
From: KBEM
Series: Minnesota Music Profiles
Caption: Jazz 88 logo, Credit: Tim Nyberg (Octane Creative)
Accordo is a chamber music string ensemble composed of present and former members of the St Paul Chamber Orchestra and Minnesota Orchestra. Members...

Bought by WOUB


  • Added: Oct 31, 2019
  • Length: 08:00
  • Purchases: 1
The Acme Jazz Company Delivers Swing and a Whole Lot More
From: KBEM
Series: Minnesota Music Profiles
Caption: Jazz 88 logo, Credit: Tim Nyberg (Octane Creative)
with Acme arranger Bob Parsons and vocalist Arne Fogel for some inside Acme Jazz Company insights.

Bought by WGZS


  • Added: Oct 18, 2019
  • Length: 08:00
  • Purchases: 1
Originality is Key for Ticket to Brasil
From: KBEM
Series: Minnesota Music Profiles
Caption: Ticket to Brasil, Credit: Andrea Canter
Pavel Jany has led Natania and Ticket to Brasil for decades. The group does bossa nova and related styles old and new. But the group values origina...

Bought by WOUB


  • Added: Oct 13, 2019
  • Length: 08:00
  • Purchases: 1
Behind the Scenes at the Twin Cities Jazz Festival
From: KBEM
Series: Minnesota Music Profiles
Caption: Jazz 88 logo, Credit: Tim Nyberg (Octane Creative)
This Twin Cities Jazz Festival takes place multiple times of year, and locates itself indoors or out, according to the season. It’s an event with a...

  • Added: Oct 10, 2019
  • Length: 08:00
Ray Barnard’s Eclectic Mix
From: KBEM
Series: Minnesota Music Profiles
Caption: Ray Barnard and band, Credit: Craig Mullenbach
Ray Barnard is a pianist who escapes categorization. His thing is noticing the multiple stylistic possibilities for good songs. In a conversation w...

Bought by WOUB


  • Added: Oct 07, 2019
  • Length: 08:00
  • Purchases: 1
Pop Wagner and Charlie Maguire Celebrate Woody Guthrie Songs and Writings in a New Big Show
From: KBEM
Series: Minnesota Music Profiles
Caption: Charlie Maguire, Credit: Cheryl Walsh Bellville
Pop Wagner and Charlie Maguire have created a performance called Woody Guthrie Legacy Voices. It combines Woody Guthrie songs framed in selections ...

Bought by WOUB


  • Added: Sep 21, 2019
  • Length: 08:00
  • Purchases: 1