Minnesota Music Profiles

Series produced by KBEM

Caption: KBEM logo, Credit: Tim Nyberg (Octane Creative)
Image by: Tim Nyberg (Octane Creative) 
KBEM logo 

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.

Each Minnesota Music Profile focuses on a musician or group. Listeners learn some of the behind-the-scenes stuff related to the creative process. Programs in the series are under 10 minutes in length. They can be run anytime because they are not time sensitive. These pieces are especially appropriate when subjects perform in the areas served by given radio stations.


423 Pieces

Order by: Newest First | Oldest First
Caption: Ciprian Porumbesco, Credit: Stefan Iwaskewycz
The Romanian Colinde (co-LEEN-day) project features singers from the Minneapolis Romanian-American Community, partnering with Orkestar Bez Ime, (OR...

  • Added: Dec 07, 2017
  • Length: 08:00
Caption: Jazz 88 logo, Credit: Tim Nyberg (Octane Creative)
Fats Waller is one of the most influential musicians in the history of jazz, and also one of the most loved by the public. His music was at the sam...

  • Added: Dec 06, 2017
  • Length: 08:00
Caption: Pat Donohue, Credit: Phil Nusbaum
Pat Donohue’s Prairie All-Stars became a household name as the house band for the Prairie Home Companion radio show. Over the years, the group memb...

  • Added: Nov 30, 2017
  • Length: 08:00
Caption: Katia Cardenas, Credit: Rita Zenefski
Katia Cardenas is a young vocalist who moved to Minnesota from California to study at Macalester. Eleven years later, she’s still working out of Sa...

  • Added: Nov 29, 2017
  • Length: 08:00
Caption: Ukrainian Village Band, Credit: David Kasyanyuk
The Ukrainian Village Band has grown from a small community group to one that records and performs for varied audiences. Two band members, Stefan (...

Bought by KUER and PRX Remix


  • Added: Nov 24, 2017
  • Length: 08:00
  • Purchases: 2
Caption: Jazz 88 logo, Credit: Tim Nyberg (Octane Creative)
Behind the scenes of the Acme Jazz Company are the thoughtful big band arrangements of artistic director Bob Parsons. Bob has his own arranging sty...

  • Added: Nov 21, 2017
  • Length: 08:00
Caption: Wee Willie Walker, Credit: Doug Knutson
Wee Willie Walker is one of Minnesota’s great blues treasures. In a conversation with Phil Nusbaum, Willie reflected on the many ways, it’s a long ...

  • Added: Nov 20, 2017
  • Length: 08:00
Caption: Jazz 88 logo, Credit: Tim Nyberg (Octane Creative)
Mango Jam. It’s a Twin Cities band that formed in 1989, and has played in 46 states. And throw in a good deal of recording as well. Because of fami...

  • Added: Nov 16, 2017
  • Length: 08:00
Caption: Cedar Avenue Big Band, Credit: Jim Richards
The Cedar Avenue Big Band. After 25 years, it’s still a leading Twin Cities Big Band. Why do they do it? They just love playing big band music, and...

  • Added: Nov 09, 2017
  • Length: 08:00
Caption: Twin Cities Community Gospel Choir, Credit: Jerry Nelson
The Twin Cities Community Gospel Choir had its first performance in 1990 at which it won award for quality. From that point, it assumed an importan...

  • Added: Nov 09, 2017
  • Length: 08:00
Caption: Gentlemen's Anti-Temperance League, Credit: Aaron Davidson
The Gentlemen’s Anti-Temperance League calls what it does Prohibition Swing. It’s a collection of styles nearly a century old with a lot of cool. ...

  • Added: Nov 03, 2017
  • Length: 08:00
Caption: One Ukulele, Credit: Dan Wilder
One Ukulele. Well, it’s actually three men who sing with ukuleles and guitars, too. The group performs and spreads the word about how fun it is to ...

Bought by PRX Remix and WRST-FM Oshkosh


  • Added: Oct 18, 2017
  • Length: 08:00
  • Purchases: 2
Caption: Greenwood Tree, Credit: Roger Lundgren
Greenwood Tree is a hammered dulcimer group featuring Stu Janis on the hammered dulcimer with Bill Cagley on the guitar. Stu and Bill have been pla...

  • Added: Oct 16, 2017
  • Length: 08:00
Caption: Pavel Jany, Credit: Andrea Canter
Pavel Jany (Yanny) is known as one of the Twin Cities’ leading jazz guitarists. His most recent recorded project is called Acoustic Condition. On t...

  • Added: Oct 12, 2017
  • Length: 08:00
Caption: Mumblin' Drew, Credit: Zoe Prinds-Flash
Mumblin’ Drew is a local guy who discovered folk music, and followed the interest. His playing is based on classic performances of American folk mu...

  • Added: Oct 11, 2017
  • Length: 08:00
Caption: Brass Lassie, Credit: Nick Lethert
Celtic tradition goes back literally centuries, and well over 100 years in our town. But if you think there’s nothing new under the sun when it com...

  • Added: Oct 07, 2017
  • Length: 08:00
Caption: Charanga Tropical, Credit: Walter Horishnyk
Charanga Tropical is led by Twin Cities sax and flute player, Doug Little. Doug began studying Cuban music in 2002, and founded Charanga Tropical i...

  • Added: Oct 06, 2017
  • Length: 08:00
Caption: Twin Cities Latin Jazz Orchestra, Credit: Diego Ramallo
The Twin Cities Latin Jazz Orchestra is 18 pieces in all. It’s got a growing book of tunes, a growing audience and growing stature. In 2017, the Tw...

  • Added: Sep 22, 2017
  • Length: 08:00
Caption: JC Sanford, Credit: Andrea Canter
Trombonist JC Sanford is a prolific composer of jazz, and spends a lot of time making sure the pieces reflect different styles and inspirations. An...

  • Added: Sep 20, 2017
  • Length: 08:00
Caption: Southside Aces, Credit: Jonathan Hankin
The period after World War I in the USA is known as the Jazz Age. It was a time when Americans were trying out new things, new kinds of fun, and ja...

  • Added: Sep 12, 2017
  • Length: 08:00