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)
424 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: Beasley's Big Band, Credit: Patrick O'Laughlin
Beasley’s Big Band got started over twenty years ago. The group plays for weddings, civic occasions, and in clubs. One great way to see the band is...

  • Added: Dec 13, 2017
  • Length: 08:00
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: Ciprian Porumbusco, Credit: Stefan Iwaskewycz
The Romanian Colinde (co-LEEN-day) project is coming at 5pm Saturday Dec 16 to St Mary’s Greek Orthodox Church. It features singers from the Minnea...

  • 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: 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: Pat Donohue, Credit: Phil Nusbaum
Pat Donohue’s Prairie All-Stars became a household name during its tenure as the house band for the Prairie Home Companion radio show. They’ve kept...

  • 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: 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 in Saint Paul, si...

  • 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 (...

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  • Added: Nov 24, 2017
  • Length: 08:00
  • Purchases: 2