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: Erin Schwab, Credit: Dan Brakke
Singer Erin Schwab has been singing to the accompaniments of pianist Jay Fuchs for a long time. Their performances are audience engaging with reque...

  • Added: Feb 15, 2018
  • Length: 08:00
Caption: Erin Schwab, Credit: Dan Braake
Erin Schwab has been singing to the accompaniments of pianist Jay Fuchs for a long time. Their performances grab audiences through the combination ...

  • Added: Feb 15, 2018
  • Length: 08:00
Caption: Cassandra Cole, Credit: Drew Jonell
Cassandra Cole is a local songwriter who writes pop songs reflecting sometimes hard realities. In a recent conversation with Phil Nusbaum, Cassandr...

  • Added: Feb 08, 2018
  • Length: 08:00
Caption: Cassandra Cole, Credit: Drew Jonell
Cassandra Cole is a local songwriter who writes pop songs reflecting sometimes hard realities. And her songs are the center of attention in her sin...

  • Added: Feb 08, 2018
  • Length: 08:00
Caption: Cody Steinmann, Credit: Kyndal Johnson
Cody Steinmann leads the Sightless Quartet. It’s a jazz group that that is open to influence by other contemporary genres, such as pop and metal. C...

  • Added: Feb 07, 2018
  • Length: 08:00
Caption: Cody Steinmann, Credit: Kyndal Johnson
Cody Steinmann leads the Sightless Quartet. It’s a jazz group that that is open to influence by other contemporary genres, such as pop and metal. C...

  • Added: Feb 07, 2018
  • Length: 08:00
Caption: Silverback Trio, Credit: Sara Horishnyk
With its strong emphasis on improvisation, the Silverback Trio of Minneapolis does “outside” well. But it also plays with a strong group feeling. Y...

  • Added: Feb 05, 2018
  • Length: 08:00
Caption: Jazz 88 logo, Credit: Tim Nyberg (Octane Creative)
We know Judi Vinar as a singer’s singer, a voice that likes to take risks. Her show of love songs is a great example. Judi and the band put out som...

  • Added: Feb 01, 2018
  • Length: 08:00
Caption: Jazz 88 logo, Credit: Tim Nyberg (Octane Creative)
We know Judy Vinar as a singer’s singer, a voice that likes to take risks. Her Valentine’s Day show at the Capri in Minneapolis, Feb 10 at 7 and Fe...

  • Added: Feb 01, 2018
  • Length: 08:00
Caption: Cedar Commissions poster, Credit: photos by Anna Schultz; design by Alana Horton
One of the most unique and, cutting edge musical shows of the year, the Cedar Commissions, is coming to the Cedar Cultural Center in Minneapolis. T...

  • Added: Jan 30, 2018
  • Length: 08:00