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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785 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: Monroe Crossing, Credit: Jamey Guy
Monroe Crossing from Minneapolis has been playing traditional and original bluegrass music for decades. The group’s talent and perseverance led to...

  • Added: May 05, 2018
  • Length: 08:02
Caption: Matthew Mahaffey with Phil Nusbaum, Credit: Connie Shaver
Next Saturday night at the Ordway in Saint Paul, The Oratorio Society of Minnesota presents The Greatest Generation. The production is a tribute to...

  • Added: May 03, 2018
  • Length: 08:00
Caption: Leah Lemm, Credit: Marla Olivia
The singing and songwriting of Leam Lemm of Minneapolis reflect both a modern sensibility and her membership in the Mille Lacs band of Ojibwe. Rece...

  • Added: Apr 30, 2018
  • Length: 08:00
Caption: Orkestar Bez Ime, Credit: Stefan Iwaskewycz
Orkestar Bez Ime is Bulgarian for Band Without a Name. That is tongue in cheek with of course. OBI is a committed Balkan Band based in Minneapolis-...

  • Added: Apr 26, 2018
  • Length: 08:00
Caption: Orkestar Bez Ime, Credit: Stefan Iwaskewycz
Orkestar Bez Ime is Bulgarian for Band Without a Name. That is tongue in cheek with of course. OBI is a committed Balkan Band based in Minneapolis-...

  • Added: Apr 26, 2018
  • Length: 08:00
Caption: Jazz 88 logo, Credit: Tim Nyberg (Octane Creative)
Uskudar Eclectic is a Turkish-based group that delights in mixing world traditional and pop styles, playing both old and original music. The group ...

  • Added: Apr 26, 2018
  • Length: 08:00
Caption: Jazz 88 logo, Credit: Tim Nyberg (Octane Creative)
Uskudar Eclectic is a Turkish-based group that delights in mixing world traditional and pop styles, playing both old and original music. The group ...

  • Added: Apr 26, 2018
  • Length: 08:00
Caption: Jax Ravel, Credit: Favtov Nja
Jax Ravel is playing a bigger than usual show at the Icehouse in Minneapolis, Monday April 30 at 9pm. Jax is an international student who was affec...

  • Added: Apr 24, 2018
  • Length: 08:00
Caption: Monroe Crossing, Credit: Jamey Guy
Monroe Crossing is one of the most successful bluegrass bands anywhere. Why? The group does a lot of things well. Group members got together recen...

  • Added: Apr 19, 2018
  • Length: 08:00
Caption: Monroe Crossing, Credit: Jamey Guy
Monroe Crossing is the most successful bluegrass band in Minnesota. The group’s next local show is on Saturday April 28 in Bloomington at the Mason...

  • Added: Apr 19, 2018
  • Length: 08:00