KBEM

StationAccount image
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

Series image
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
Series image
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
Series image
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
Caption: PRX default Series image
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: Captain Gravitone CD Cover Art, Credit: Al Fack
Every once in a while you learn of a group that really is different than all others. Such is the case with Captain Gravitone and the String Theory ...

  • Added: Jul 07, 2017
  • Length: 07:21
Caption: Captain Gravitone CD cover art, Credit: Al Fack
Every once in a while you learn of a group that really is different than all others. Such is the case with Captain Gravitone and the String Theory ...

  • Added: Jul 07, 2017
  • Length: 05:00
Caption: The Elders, Credit: Andrea Canter
Patty Peterson hosts this two hour broadcast honoring the pioneers of Minnesota jazz.

  • Added: Jul 06, 2017
  • Length: 01:57:10
Caption: Paul Barry and the Ace Tones with Lila Ammons, Credit: Kent Flemmer
Paul Barry (“Berry”) is a veteran blues band leader. Among the things that he has picked up over the years is that many people like the blues. But,...

  • Added: Jun 30, 2017
  • Length: 07:46
Caption: Paul Berry and the Ace Tones with Lila Ammons, Credit: Kent Flemmer
Lila Ammons sung at a lot of great places big and small, in both the US and Europe. You might say it comes natural to her. Lila is part of an accom...

Bought by WAMC Northeast Public Radio


  • Added: Jun 29, 2017
  • Length: 08:04
  • Purchases: 1
Caption: Paul Barry and the Ace Tones with Lila Ammons, Credit: Kent Flemmer
Paul Barry and the Aces with featured vocalist Lila Ammons bring their blues to Famous Dave’s at Calhoun Square in Minneapolis, Friday July 7 from...

  • Added: Jun 29, 2017
  • Length: 05:00
Caption: Joe Kopel, Credit: Joe Kopel
Joe Kopel. If there is anybody with songwriting in his DNA, it is Joe. As a kid he would write his own lyrics to existing songs. By high school, he...

  • Added: Jun 22, 2017
  • Length: 06:25
Caption: Artwork by Warren Thomas Fenzi, Credit: Warren Thomas Fenzi
Warren Thomas Fenzi. He’s a young songwriter writes from his own experiences. Warren plays with other members of a collective, and the members back...

  • Added: Jun 22, 2017
  • Length: 08:08
Caption: Artwork by Warrent Thomas Fenzi, Credit: Warren Thomas Fenzi
Friday night June 30, the Aster presents sets by two up and coming Twin Cities songwriters and bandleaders, Joe Kopel and Warren Thomas Fenzi. Phil...

  • Added: Jun 22, 2017
  • Length: 05:00
Caption: KBEM logo, Credit: Tim Nyberg (Octane Creative)
AJ Srubas is a young country musician from Minneapolis. But “Country” does not quite tell the story of AJ’s expertise, as different types of countr...

  • Added: Jun 16, 2017
  • Length: 07:40