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: Pushing Chain, Credit: Grant Frashier
Pushing Chain is the duet of Adam Moe and Boyd Blomberg. They’re on stage a lot, they drive a lot, they write their own songs and put the Pushing C...

  • Added: Jan 25, 2018
  • Length: 08:00
Caption: Pushing Chain, Credit: Grant Frashier
Pushing Chain is the duet of Adam Moe and Boyd Blomberg. They’re on stage a lot, they drive a lot, they write their own songs and put the Pushing C...

  • Added: Jan 25, 2018
  • Length: 08:00
Caption: The Skruffians, Credit: Dick Parker
The Skruffians is a group of experienced Twin Cities players that combine Jamaican reggae and ska with jazz chops. It’s always a playful combinatio...

  • Added: Jan 24, 2018
  • Length: 08:00
Caption: The Skruffians, Credit: Dick Parker
The Skruffians is a group of experienced Twin Cities players that combine Jamaican reggae and ska with jazz chops. Creating musical surprises is th...

  • Added: Jan 24, 2018
  • Length: 08:00
Caption: Delphia Quartet, Credit: Kate WIlson
Most music listeners are unaware of cello quartets such as the Delphia Cello Quartet. But to a cellist, its’ the most normal thing in the world. Th...

  • Added: Jan 18, 2018
  • Length: 08:00
Caption: Delphia Cello Quartet, Credit: Kate WIlson
Most music listeners are unaware of cello quartets such as the Delphia Cello Quartet. But to a cellist, its’ the most normal thing in the world. Th...

  • Added: Jan 18, 2018
  • Length: 08:00
Caption: Jazz 88 logo, Credit: Tim Nyberg (Octane Creative)
With its strong emphasis on improvisation, the Silverback Trio of Minneapolis does “outside” well. But it also plays with a strong group feeling. P...

  • Added: Jan 17, 2018
  • Length: 08:00
Caption: Jazz 88 logo, Credit: Tim Nyberg (Octane Creative)
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: Jan 17, 2018
  • Length: 08:00
Caption: Doug Otto and Hurricane Harold, Credit: Jake Jacobson
Doug Otto and Hurricane Harold Doug Otto have a duet featuring voice with harmonica and guitar. They play the blues and Otto’s original songs that ...

  • Added: Jan 12, 2018
  • Length: 08:00
Caption: Doug Otto and Hurricane Harold, Credit: Jake Jacobson
Doug Otto and Hurricane Harold have a duet featuring voice with harmonica and guitar. They play traditional blues and and Otto’s original songs tha...

  • Added: Jan 12, 2018
  • Length: 08:00