KBEM

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Recognized as the Twin Cities’ public radio voice for jazz and education, KBEM is a program of the Minneapolis Public Schools (MPS) Approximately 150 students annually participate in KBEM’s hands-on educational program, which focuses on all aspects of broadcasting and production. Students who develop their skills and select broadcasting experience can gain significant on-air time. The station is on-air 24/7 with 35 hours of student programming each week, with live professional announcers and pre-recorded, syndicated programming filling out the rest of the schedule. KBEM is the only station in the Twin Cities market which offers a jazz format and officially provides MN-DOT traffic reports.

KBEM was initially established at Minneapolis Vocational High School in the 1960s. The station was moved to North High School in 1983 as a part of the District’s desegregation initiative and it continues to reside there today. The vast majority of KBEM students attend North High School.

Series

Caption: Acme Big Band
1 Piece

This progam features Minnesota Big Bands, including the Nova Big Band, the Acme Big Band and the University of Minnesota. Twenty-five Big Bands in Minnesota have recorded CDs. Interviews with local Big Band personalities are presented occasionally.

  • From: KBEM
  • Updated: Mar 23, 2010
Caption: PRX default Series image
3 Pieces

Minneapolis high school students script and read 60-second pieces based on research into important figures in African American history.

  • From: KBEM
  • Updated: Feb 11, 2010
Caption: PRX default Series image
4 Pieces

"Classic Jazz MN" is a series exploring Minnesota's classic jazz roots. The series includes shows on Doc Evans, Doc Evans at the Walker Art Center, Preservation Hall Era and the Emporium of Jazz. Written and produced by Butch Thompson. Co-produced by Todd Melby.

  • From: KBEM
  • Updated: Nov 23, 2011
Caption: Jazz At MPS with Josh Jones and the Dynamics
24 Pieces

Jazz music from students in the Minneapolis Public Schools.

  • From: KBEM
  • Updated: Jul 24, 2013
Caption: South High School Jazz Band-director/Scott Carter with guest Irvin Mayfield
6 Pieces

Jazz at South High features music from past and present South High Jazz Ensembles and brand new recordings by the South High Jazz Combo. Each week's show will feature never before heard performances of the South High Jazz Combo that are recorded at South High.

  • From: KBEM
  • Updated: Jan 03, 2013
Caption: KBEM Jazz 88 FM, Credit: http://www.jazz88fm.com
4 Pieces

The Twin Cities Jazz Society annually presents a series of concerts by local artists. Jazz 88 chose six of these concerts to record for broadcast.

  • From: KBEM
  • Updated: Apr 12, 2010
Caption: Butch at the Steinway, Credit: Ross Ayoka
4 Pieces

Butch Thompson hosts this program that features original jazz recordings and the occasional live performance.

  • From: KBEM
  • Updated: Apr 24, 2011
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12 Pieces

Long-form interviews and performances by Minnesota musicians

  • From: KBEM
  • Updated: Nov 14, 2018
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12 Pieces

Junctions & Sidetracks, the story behind the creation of Empire Builder a musical about a time traveling train. Conversations about family, history, race and forgiveness. Music by George Mauer. Libretto by Ann Bertram. Funded by the Minnesota Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund.

  • From: KBEM
  • Updated: Mar 28, 2019
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31 Pieces

From humble beginnings in 1970, KBEM-FM has become the most powerful and longest-lasting radio station owned by a Minnesota school district, and one of the nation’s leading broadcast voices for jazz. Explore the people, places and events that have shaped KBEM’s first 50 years in this audio series.

  • From: KBEM
  • Updated: May 02, 2022

Latest Pieces

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This episode of Jazz At MPS features the best tunes from Minneapolis South High School. All the songs were chosen from the last two years and featu...

  • Added: May 25, 2017
  • Length: 54:36
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This episode of Jazz At MPS features Minneapolis South High School's first Jazz swing dance. The jazz band is lead by South's band director Eric Sa...

  • Added: May 25, 2017
  • Length: 58:55
Caption: Matra, Credit: Alison Bents
Today there are so many instrument combinations and influences coming in that would not have happened a few decades ago. Like matra, with its combi...

  • Added: May 19, 2017
  • Length: 08:12
Caption: Matra, Credit: Alison Bents
Matra presents its CD Release Concert at the Cedar Cultural Center this Friday night. The group is influenced by many music styles, but does not se...

  • Added: May 19, 2017
  • Length: 05:00
Caption: Jazz88 logo, Credit: Tim Nyberg (Octane Creative)
The Phil Hey Quartet. It’s a veteran group whose members have shared a lot of experiences over the years. That’s and the repertoire they love, serv...

  • Added: May 12, 2017
  • Length: 07:44
Caption: Patty Peterson with the Legends, Credit: Andrea Canter
KBEM held a very special concerts at the Minnesota History Center to honor the Elder Jazz musicians and singers in Minnesota. Patty Peterson is hos...

  • Added: May 12, 2017
  • Length: 01:58:31
Caption: Jazz88 logo, Credit: Tim Nyberg (Octane Creative)
The Phil Hey Quartet plays at Jazz Central on May 19. It’s a group of 4 committed jazz musicians who got started playing together almost by acciden...

  • Added: May 11, 2017
  • Length: 05:00
Caption: Ritika Ganguly, Credit: Vinod Srinivasan
Ritika Ganguly is conversant in many music styles. But her true genius may just be in finding ways of combining them so that the outcome is greater...

  • Added: May 09, 2017
  • Length: 12:28
Caption: Nikki Matteson Roux, Credit: Joel Jackson
The Blues has been around a long time because it’s a way of telling it like it is. And that is how Nikki and the RueMates operates. Nikki told Phil...

  • Added: May 05, 2017
  • Length: 08:12
Caption: Nikki Matteson-Roux, Credit: Joel Jackson
Nikki and the RueMates does a lot of old music, a few new songs, and all with fresh spins. Nikki talked about the evolution or her sound with Phil ...

  • Added: May 04, 2017
  • Length: 05:00