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: Andrew Walesch and Big Band, Credit: Ian Walesch
Andrew Walesh is a singer like no other when it comes to the timeless Frank Sinatra repertoire. Sinatra’s songs, arrangements and interpretations ...

  • Added: Mar 15, 2017
  • Length: 05:00
Caption: Kronick Quintet at Golden's Deli, Credit: George Tofoya
The Kronick Quintet: It’s the Variety that Pleases the Fans What’s the key to success if you are playing in clubs? It’s being about to play a wide ...

  • Added: Mar 10, 2017
  • Length: 07:18
Caption: Kronick Quintet at Golden's Deli, Credit: George Tofoya
The Kronick Quintett plays frequently at the Public Kitchen and Bar, which faces the north side of Mears Park in Saint Paul. The group’s next perf...

  • Added: Mar 09, 2017
  • Length: 05:00
Caption: Davu Seru, Credit: Andrea Canter
His main musical means of expression is improvising, but he also composes. As it turns out it’s not as crazy a combination as it might seem. Davu S...

  • Added: Mar 08, 2017
  • Length: 08:09
Caption: Davu Seru, Credit: Andrea Canter
Davu Seru is the current Studio Z composer in Residence. Among his goals is combining west African-based traditions such as drumming and the blues...

  • Added: Mar 06, 2017
  • Length: 05:00
Caption: Jon Pemberton, Credit: Lana Pemberton
When you listen to Jon Pemberton, the feeling that he has much to offer grows and grows. He is best known as a piano player, and you’ll see him as ...

  • Added: Feb 24, 2017
  • Length: 08:20
Caption: Jon Pemberton, Credit: Lana Pemberton
Jon Pemberton loves solo piano shows because it allows him to explore a lot of interesting music. He says, too, that Vieux Carré, where he plays on...

  • Added: Feb 24, 2017
  • Length: 05:00
Caption: Zack Baltich, Credit: Matt Barber
If you want to know about a creative spirit, take the case of Zack Baltich. Zack synthesizes his informal and formal music experiences to create so...

  • Added: Feb 21, 2017
  • Length: 08:20
Caption: The Nightingale Trio, Credit: Margie O’Loughlin
The Nightingale Trio presents Eastern European folksongs. In the process, the group gives American audiences glimpses into the ways of life in East...

  • Added: Feb 19, 2017
  • Length: 07:34
Caption: Twin Cities Latin Jazz Orchestra, Credit: Diego Ramallo
The Twin Cities Latin Jazz orchestra is a 19-piece group playing in the 21st century. The size of the band might seem incongruous in an era of stri...

  • Added: Feb 19, 2017
  • Length: 06:59