KBEM

StationAccount image
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

Caption: Steve Kenny, Credit: Andrea Canter
The Twin Cities jazz Fest takes place Thurs-Sat June 21-23. There is a lot of local jazz at the event, much of it at the Black Dog in Lowertown Sai...

  • Added: May 22, 2018
  • Length: 08:00
Caption: Steve Kenny, Credit: Andrea Canter
The Twin Ciites Jazz Festival is coming, and The Black Dog in Lowertown stages a lot of local jazz. It starts at the Black Dog this Thurs evening. ...

  • Added: May 20, 2018
  • Length: 08:00
Caption: Elgin Foster, Credit: Benny Moreno
Modern guitarists are difficult to categorize. They seem to take a part of the world’s music or a type of mood, and constantly develop from that ba...

  • Added: May 18, 2018
  • Length: 08:00
Caption: Mother Banjo, Credit: Anna Kostochko
Mother Banjo—Ellen Stanley-- is well known to acoustic music audiences in Minnesota and beyond. Mother banjo seems like an old idea, but it is all ...

Bought by WAMC Northeast Public Radio


  • Added: May 17, 2018
  • Length: 08:00
  • Purchases: 1
Caption: Mother Banjo, Credit: Anna Kostochko
Mother Banjo—Ellen Stanley-- is well known to acoustic music audiences in Minnesota and beyond. You can catch the act Thurs May 24, 7pm, at the Hoo...

  • Added: May 17, 2018
  • Length: 08:00
Caption: Mike Salovich, Credit: Benny Moreno
Mike Salovich, guitarist. And his field on the guitar is the world. His most recent recorded project features tabla player Marcus Wise, and the two...

  • Added: May 17, 2018
  • Length: 08:00
Caption: Ben Abrahamson, Credit: Corinna Bernstein
Ben Abrahamson is a Twin Cities guitarist who specializes in Flamenco. But to Ben, it’s not only the great historic flamenco, but combining the idi...

  • Added: May 16, 2018
  • Length: 08:00
Caption: Elgin Foster, Credit: Benny Moreno
When it comes to modern finger-style guitar, every player seems to have a special stylistic niche. This Saturday, the Icehouse presents three of th...

  • Added: May 15, 2018
  • Length: 08:00
Caption: Erica West Band, Credit: Jessica Hegland
Erica West is a Minneapolis singer who comes from a musical family. Her mother is a singer, too. Erica combines jazz, r and b and pop in front of a...

  • Added: May 13, 2018
  • Length: 08:00
Caption: Erica West Band, Credit: Jessica Hegland
Erica West is a local singer who comes from a musical family. Her mother is a singer, too. Erica combines jazz, r and b and pop in front of a band ...

  • Added: May 13, 2018
  • Length: 08:00