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
8 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)
436 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: Maud Hixson, Credit: Olivia Wilcox
Judy Garland, the 20th century show-biz icon from Minnesota is one of Maud Hixson’s great inspirations as a singer. Maud has rounded up a group of ...

  • Added: Sep 22, 2016
  • Length: 05:01
Caption: Roseville Big Band Trip to Acapulco 1989, Credit: Glen Newton
When you see a Roseville Big Band show, you get a complete package: Great arrangements, a polished vocal quartet, old songs that everybody loves, a...

  • Added: Sep 21, 2016
  • Length: 07:59
Caption: Roseville Big Band Trip to Acapulco 1989, Credit: Glen Newton
The Roseville Big Band brings its special arrangements to an Edina concert on Oct 2. Band director Glenn Newton tells Phil Nusbaum about it.

  • Added: Sep 21, 2016
  • Length: 05:00
Caption: Patty Peterson, Credit: Jennifer Bong
Patty Peterson is one of the bright lights on the Peterson jazz family tree. Her family inspired her to get involved in music. And what they taught...

  • Added: Sep 15, 2016
  • Length: 09:37
Caption: Patty Peterson, Credit: Jennifer Bong
Is the Jazz scene some kind of men’s club? No, and especially not in this day and age. So why not get some of the women long-time luminaries of the...

  • Added: Sep 14, 2016
  • Length: 05:00
Caption: Pat Donohue, Credit: Phil Nusbaum
Starting with their association on the Prairie Home Companion radio show, former members of Guy’s old Shoe Band have continued playing as Pat Donoh...

  • Added: Sep 08, 2016
  • Length: 05:00
Caption: Zeitgeist New Music Ensemble, Credit: Andrea Canter
Zeitgeist New Music Ensemble is a long-running St Paul group that tours the state with its sometimes serious, sometimes funny offerings. Next weeke...

  • Added: Aug 31, 2016
  • Length: 05:00
Caption: Alan Jesperson, Credit: Craig Evans
To many, the Laughing Waters Bluegrass Festival at Minnehaha Falls in Minneapolis serves as the exclamation point at the end of a Twin Cities summe...

  • Added: Aug 17, 2016
  • Length: 05:00
Caption: Swamp Kings, Credit: Sarah Harkness
The first thing you need to know about the Swamp Kings is that being geographically challenged has not proved an impediment. The group has been pum...

  • Added: Aug 13, 2016
  • Length: 07:56
Caption: The Swamp Kings, Credit: Nancy Harkness
People from all over are attracted to Louisiana Culture. As far as Louisiana music, the Swamp Kings have been mainstays in Minnesota for over a Dec...

  • Added: Aug 13, 2016
  • Length: 05:00