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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20 Pieces

Joan Griffith, Twin Cities musician and educator, has conversations with prominent Minnesota jazz musicians.

  • From: KBEM
  • Updated: May 25, 2016
Caption: Joan Griffith, Credit: Ann Marsen
20 Pieces

Joan Griffith, Twin Cities guitar player and educator, interviews Minnesota jazz artists.

  • From: KBEM
  • Updated: May 27, 2016
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13 Pieces

Minneapolis Public School teachers talk with Kevin O'Connor about their accomplishments.

  • From: KBEM
  • Updated: Jul 14, 2011
Caption: Leigh Kamman, Credit: Andrea Canter
57 Pieces

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.

  • From: KBEM
  • Updated: Jun 29, 2020
Caption: Leigh Kamman, Credit: Andrea Canter
14 Pieces

Minnesota jazz broadcasting legend Leigh Kamman conducted hundreds of interviews with jazz artists, including some of jazz's illustrious figures. Now, these treasures have been lovingly preserved and edited into a new series of broadcasts, The Jazz Image: Special Edition. These recordings preserve priceless conversation Leigh Kamman had with such luminaries as Duke Ellington, Sarah Vaughan and Stan Kenton. In his ninth decade, Kamman adds fresh commentary to round out these 5 minute broadcasts, 13 in all in this series.

  • From: KBEM
  • Updated: Jan 14, 2014
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776 Pieces

5 to 8-minute, highly produced heads-ups highlighting great musical activities in the Twin Cities broadly conceived. The pieces feature the musicians, their music, club owners, fans, in short all of those responsible for creating musical experiences.

  • From: KBEM
  • Updated: Dec 10, 2019
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0 Pieces

Viva City, Festival of the Arts, was initiated thirteen years ago as a way to showcase arts education in Minneapolis Public Schools (MPS). In this pod cast, we feature the musical portion of Viva City from the Ted Mann Concert Hall at the University of Minneapolis.

  • From: KBEM
  • Updated: May 29, 2011
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31 Pieces

Minneapolis High School Students comment on Minnesota Arts, Culture and History

  • From: KBEM
  • Updated: Aug 24, 2011

Latest Pieces

Caption: Ben Cook-Feltz by Ben Suh, Credit: Ben Suh
Ben Cook-Feltz is hosting the 3rd annual Holiday Shindig to Benefit Rein in Sarcoma. This year’s event takes place Sunday December 10 at 5pm at KJs...

  • Added: Dec 03, 2023
  • Length: 08:01
Caption: Robert Robinson, Credit: Terence Penister
Gwen Matthews and Robert Robinson celebrate the Christmas season with A Joyful Night of Christmas, 7:30pm Monday December fourth at Crooner’s Suppe...

  • Added: Dec 01, 2023
  • Length: 08:00
Caption: Courtney Burton, Credit: Tera Gerardin
Vocalist Courtney Burton and the Minnesota Jazz Chamber Orchestra perform distinctive holiday shows. In a conversation with Phil Nusbaum, Courtney ...

  • Added: Nov 30, 2023
  • Length: 08:00
Caption: Courtney Burton, Credit: Tera Gerardin
Vocalist Courtney Burton leads the Minnesota Jazz Chamber Orchestra in four holiday shows this season. Catch the act at 7pm Thursday December 21 at...

  • Added: Nov 30, 2023
  • Length: 08:00
Caption: Maud Hixson, Credit: Olivia Wilcox
Vocalist Maud Hixson has a deep knowledge of American song, including songs for the holidays. In a conversation with Phil Nusbaum, she first talked...

  • Added: Nov 29, 2023
  • Length: 08:00
Caption: Maud Hixson, Credit: Olivia Wilcox
Vocalist Maud Hixson has a deep knowledge of American song. Maud presents some of her seasonal favorites in concert this Saturday night, December 1...

  • Added: Nov 29, 2023
  • Length: 08:00
Caption: Davu Seru, Credit: Andrea Canter
Percussionist Davu Seru, Levi Schwartzberg on the vibes and saxophonist Nathan Hanson have played together over the years in multiple bands. Nathan...

  • Added: Nov 22, 2023
  • Length: 08:00
Caption: Davu Seru, Credit: Andrea Canter
Percussionist Davu Seru, Levi Schwartzberg on the vibes and saxophonist Nathan Hanson have played together over the years in multiple bands. Next F...

  • Added: Nov 22, 2023
  • Length: 08:00
Caption: CD Cover, I Awake, Credit: design by Ryan Picone, logo by Jacqui Cary, graphic work by Ian Stenlund
Ryan Picone’s new CD features Ryan’s compositions which frequently reference people and events important to Ryan. When Ryan talked to Phil Nusbaum ...

  • Added: Nov 18, 2023
  • Length: 08:00
Caption: CD cover I Awake, Credit: design by Ryan Picone, logo by Jacqui Cary, graphic work by Ian Stenlund
Ryan Picone’s new CD features Ryan’s compositions which frequently reference people and events important to Ryan. Ryan will feature selections from...

  • Added: Nov 18, 2023
  • Length: 08:00