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)
425 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: Bill Simenson Orchestra, Credit: Bill Simenson
Tuesday night is reserved for big bands at Jazz Central Studios in Minneapolis. And every month, the Bill Simenson Orchestra is one of the groups t...

  • Added: Mar 29, 2018
  • Length: 08:00
Caption: Jazz 88 logo, Credit: Tim Nyberg (Octane Creative)
Today there is a wave of interest in Ballroom Dance. Chino Latino gives these social dance specialists the music they need to dance to distinctive ...

  • Added: Mar 29, 2018
  • Length: 08:00
Caption: Jazz 88 logo, Credit: Tim Nyberg (Octane Creative)
Today there is a wave of interest in Ballroom Dance. Chino Latino gives these social dance specialists the music they need to dance to distinctive ...

  • Added: Mar 29, 2018
  • Length: 08:00
Caption: Michelle Kinney, Credit: Lee Glasgow
Michelle Kinney is a cellist influenced by all sorts of formal and popular music. She is also a composer who loves improvisation. She spoke with Ph...

  • Added: Mar 21, 2018
  • Length: 08:00
Caption: Michelle Kinney, Credit: Lee Glasgow
Michelle Kinney is a cellist influenced by all sorts of formal and popular music. She is also a composer who loves improvisation. Michelle leads a ...

  • Added: Mar 21, 2018
  • Length: 08:00
Caption: Chris Lomheim, Credit: Andrea Canter
Chris Lomheim is a Twin Cities pianist who plays solo, with a trio and with a sextet. He likes all the settings. But because he has been getting a ...

  • Added: Mar 16, 2018
  • Length: 08:00
Caption: Chris Lomheim, Credit: Andrea Canter
Chris Lomheim’s plays frequently in St Paul, at Vieux Carre and at the Afternoon Lobby Tea at the St. Paul Hotel. Your next chance to catch him is ...

  • Added: Mar 16, 2018
  • Length: 08:00
Caption: Diane Jarvi and Dan Newton, Credit: Nick Lethert
Diane Jarvi and Dan Newton have been part of each other’s musical careers for decades, playing at venues large and small in their home bases in Min...

  • Added: Mar 14, 2018
  • Length: 08:00
Caption: Diane Jarvi and Dan Newton, Credit: Nick Lethert
Diane Jarvi and Dan Newton have been part of each other’s musical careers for decades. You can catch this duet at the Folk house in Golden Valley, ...

  • Added: Mar 14, 2018
  • Length: 08:00
Caption: JC Sanford, Credit: Andrea Canter
JC Sanford is a trombonist, composer and arranger. And he has three bands. In a conversation with Phil Nusbaum, JC addressed the stylistic niches o...

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