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

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62 Pieces

Minneapolis High School Students, with the help of a team of educators and poets, were encouraged to write poetry. The poems created by the students are in some cases hard-hitting, and in others, cute.

  • From: KBEM
  • Updated: Jan 13, 2014
Caption: Susan Spongberg, Credit: Frank T. Heffelfinger III
9 Pieces

Minnesota Creates is curious about how creativity occurs, so Susan Spongberg asked an assortment of Minnesota artists how do you choreography a dance? Where do your novel’s characters come from? How do you decide what to paint?

  • From: KBEM
  • Updated: Jan 14, 2014
Caption: Minnesota Jazz Legends: The Elders, Credit: Jim Davis
7 Pieces

Minnesota has many wonderful jazz musicians, still playing well into their 80's. Minnesota Jazz Legends: The Elders, features live and in studio performances and interviews, talking about their careers in the Twin Cities from early on to present.

  • From: KBEM
  • Updated: Nov 11, 2021
Caption: Jazz 88 FM, Credit: http://www.jazz88fm.com
15 Pieces

Minnesota Music Moment is a weekly feature of KBEM FM 88.5, each week highlighting a different Minnesota musician.

  • From: KBEM
  • Updated: Feb 25, 2011
Caption: KBEM logo, Credit: Tim Nyberg (Octane Creative)
421 Pieces

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.

  • From: KBEM
  • Updated: Oct 09, 2015
Caption: Arne Fogel, Credit: John Whiting
65 Pieces

Minnesota Voices-Certain Standards Minnesota Vocalists perform new renditions of the Great American Songbook. Arne Fogel-Host

  • From: KBEM
  • Updated: Oct 31, 2012
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2 Pieces

In a world and time of differences, music has the power to bring us together, to unite us through a shared experience. Music knows no boundaries. It transcends that which keeps us apart. Join Jazz88 for an evening of discovery with Music Without Borders.

  • From: KBEM
  • Updated: Sep 04, 2019
Caption: Bobb Fantauzzo performing with Lyz Jaakola, Credit: Andrea Canter
18 Pieces

Native flute player Bobb Fantauzzo illuminates the contributions made by jazz musicians with Native American heritage.

  • From: KBEM
  • Updated: Apr 19, 2016
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4 Pieces

Butch Thompson's Piano Bench Show looks at the piano stylings of the early performers of jazz.

  • From: KBEM
  • Updated: Jul 14, 2011
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0 Pieces

Perspectives relating to Minnesota culture, history and the arts contributed by Minneapolis high school students.

  • From: KBEM
  • Updated: Apr 04, 2010

Latest Pieces

Caption: Lori Dokken, Credit: Jennifer Bong
The Lori Dokken Story is one of constant growth. She started out playing and singing, but now she also arranges music and directs ensembles. She sp...

  • Added: Dec 05, 2016
  • Length: 09:19
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Sonny Knight. He’s Mississippi born, but has lived in Minnesota since childhood. He talked with Phil Nusbaum about music in general, and about his ...

  • Added: Dec 04, 2016
  • Length: 05:00
Caption: Kate Lynch, Credit: Drew Shonka
Kate Lynch and Her Most Excellent Fellows started out almost by accident. But Kate fell in love with old jazz, took off with it and met some top-n...

  • Added: Dec 03, 2016
  • Length: 04:59
Caption: Cafe Accordion, Credit: Jim Dryden
Dan Newton is a Twin-Cities based accordionist who does it all on the accordion. Yes, he plays polkas and waltzes, but all kinds of pop music, too....

  • Added: Nov 27, 2016
  • Length: 09:10
Caption: Dakota Dave Hull, Credit: Dale B. Hanson
Dakota Dave Hull has been recording and performing for decades. But as time has moved forward, the output has increased. And it all seems original,...

  • Added: Nov 21, 2016
  • Length: 06:49
Caption: Dan Newton w/Cafe Accordion, Credit: Jim Dryden
Dan Newton is playing seemingly all the time and seemingly every musical genre. It all adds up to entertaining accordion-based shows with a great c...

  • Added: Nov 21, 2016
  • Length: 05:00
Caption: Patty and the Buttons, Credit: Elizabeth WIndsperger
For variety, you can’t top vaudeville. Carrying the torch for this venerable concept is Patty and the Buttons who lead a troupe of seasoned pros in...

  • Added: Nov 15, 2016
  • Length: 05:00
Caption: Dakota Dave Hull, Credit: Dale B. Hanson
Dakota Dave Hull plays many musical forms, all with understanding and sensitivity. Plus, his commentaries on music contain a lot of the fun factor....

  • Added: Nov 11, 2016
  • Length: 05:00
Caption: Bob Bovee, Credit: Bill Patterson
Bob Bovee is a committed singer of old folk songs, playing concert halls, living rooms and everything in between. He does it with good humor and ha...

  • Added: Nov 09, 2016
  • Length: 07:13
Caption: Steve Kenny of the Illicit Sextet, Credit: Andrea Kramer
Illicit Sextet is a group composed of composers with varied approaches. Theirs is mature modern jazz, with varied approaches and thoughtful, collab...

  • Added: Nov 05, 2016
  • Length: 05:00