The Jazz Image Minnesota Edition

Series produced by KBEM

Caption: Leigh Kamman, Credit: Andrea Canter
Image by: Andrea Canter 
Leigh Kamman 

During his 60-plus years in jazz broadcasting, Leigh Kamman conducted hundreds of interviews with jazz artists, including many from the Minnesota scene. These are being preserved and edited by the Leigh Kamman Legacy Project and presented as The Jazz Image: Minnesota Edition, a continuation of the The Jazz Image: Special Edition series. These projects are part of the process of preserving and sharing the massive archive of historical recordings he left when he passed away in October 2014.

Leigh Kamman was an internationally known broadcaster and supporter of jazz music who was on the air in Minnesota – with a hiatus for World War II and 6 years in Harlem/New York City - from the late 1930’s at the University of Minnesota radio station to his retirement from Minnesota Public Radio in 2007.

Leigh conducted hundreds of interviews of jazz musicians including those from Minnesota, or lived and performed here from the 1950’s to the early 2000’s. The segments include interviews with musicians such as Irv Williams, Jeannie Arland Peterson, Percy Hughes, Mike Elliot and Anthony Cox.


57 Pieces

Order by: Newest First | Oldest First
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In 1968 trumpeter/composer Steve Wright graduated from the University of Iowa. He then began his professional career with the US Air Force Jazz Ass...

  • Added: Dec 14, 2023
  • Length: 06:42
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Pianist and composer Mary Louise Knutson was drawn to the piano at a very young age and began taking Classical piano lessons at the age of 4. Mary ...

  • Added: Dec 14, 2023
  • Length: 06:21
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Vocalist Linda Peterson is an international recording artist. She is a song writer, pianist and vocalist, and the daughter of the legendary pianist...

  • Added: Dec 14, 2023
  • Length: 06:36
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In this archival interview Minnesotan saxophonist Dave Sletten spoke with broadcaster Leigh Kamman about his effort in writing a book that covered ...

  • Added: Dec 14, 2023
  • Length: 06:16
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In this archival interview Leigh Kamman spoke with legendary drummer Dave King. Dave, a master percussionist based in Minneapolis, has appeared in ...

  • Added: Dec 14, 2023
  • Length: 06:06
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In this interview from March 2005 versatile trombonist Dave Graf sat down with Leigh Kamman to discuss the release of his Mulligan Stew CD. In th...

  • Added: Dec 07, 2023
  • Length: 06:10
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In this interview from 1990 Leigh Kamman talks with Cornetist Charlie DeVore. Charlie was cornetist for the Hall Brothers New Orleans Jazz Band an...

  • Added: Dec 07, 2023
  • Length: 06:24
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In this interview in 2003, Leigh Kamman interviews trombonist Andre Stephani. Andre Stephani was raised in Indiana where his father worked as a pro...

  • Added: Dec 07, 2023
  • Length: 05:51
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Leigh Kamman interviews pianist, composer and arranger Adi Yeshaya. Adi has arranged and orchestrated for many great musicians including Lena Horne...

  • Added: Dec 07, 2023
  • Length: 05:48
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Since the 1990's guitarist Steve Blons has been active as a teacher and freelance musician and for many years played weekly at the Dakota Club in M...

  • Added: Dec 22, 2022
  • Length: 05:32
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Guitarist Reuben Ristrom has been a stalwart in the music scene in the Twin Cities for many years. Reuben plays all styles of Jazz and in 2018 was ...

  • Added: Dec 22, 2022
  • Length: 06:04
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This archival interview was done as part of Leigh Kamman's Women in the Arts jazz series. This interview was done when Laura's second CD, " As One"...

  • Added: Dec 22, 2022
  • Length: 05:56
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Larry McDonough graduated from the University of Minnesota with a degree in music education. Larry has been performing extensively in the Twin Cit...

  • Added: Dec 21, 2022
  • Length: 06:17
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Bassist Gordy Johnson grew up in a musical family, his father was a bassist with the Minnesota Orchestra for over 40 years, and his mother was a pi...

  • Added: Dec 21, 2022
  • Length: 06:12
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Saxophonist Doug Haining grew up in St Louis Park, MN and started playing professionally in the 1970's. Doug attended St Olaf College where he grad...

  • Added: Dec 21, 2022
  • Length: 07:13
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Cornetist Paul "Doc" Evans was born in Spring Valley, MN in 1907. He started his musical journey playing piano, later adding drums, and then in hig...

  • Added: Dec 21, 2022
  • Length: 05:55
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Guitarist and composer Dean Magraw has performed and recorded with a wide variety of great musicians and is known for his masterful guitar playing....

  • Added: Dec 21, 2022
  • Length: 05:40
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Pianist, vocalist, producer and radio show host Arne Fogel has been a regular performer at clubs and concert venues in the Twin Cities for many yea...

  • Added: Dec 21, 2022
  • Length: 05:56
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Anthony Cox is a world renowned arranger, composer, educator and musician from Minneapolis. He has played and recorded with many of the greats of ...

  • Added: Dec 21, 2022
  • Length: 06:04
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Internationally acclaimed jazz singer, recording artist, voice teacher, coach, Lucia Newell is originally from Minneapolis. She has been a mainstay...

  • Added: Dec 16, 2022
  • Length: 06:29