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: 651Jazz, Credit: Dave Miller
651Jazz. It’s a group of Rosemount, MN-area people who started playing jazz in high school, but saw no reason to quit at graduation. They sought ea...

  • Added: Jul 10, 2016
  • Length: 06:53
Caption: Debbie Duncan, Credit: Nathan Youngerberg
When Debbie Duncan sings and lets her imagination run on a song melody, you are in the presence of someone who is a master of her craft. Debbie’s i...

  • Added: Jul 10, 2016
  • Length: 07:58
Caption: Judi Vinar w/Wolverines Quartet, Credit: Paul Nixdorf.
Judi Vinar, the former Judy Donaghy has been at the forefront of Minnesota music for Decades. She wears many musical hats. She sat down with interv...

  • Added: Jul 09, 2016
  • Length: 09:46
Caption: Wolverines quartet with Judi Vinar, Credit: Paul Nixdorf.
Judi has stood in the forefront of Midwest vocalists for decades. She’s teamed up with the Wolverines Swing Band for 20-plus years, and they’ve bee...

  • Added: Jul 09, 2016
  • Length: 05:00
Caption: Debbie Duncan, Credit: Nathan Youngerberg
Debbie Duncan is a vocalist who needs little introduction in the Twin Cities. With over 30 years locally, Debbie is one of the defining figures in ...

  • Added: Jul 03, 2016
  • Length: 05:00
Piece image
The Feel Good Revolution is a night of healing through comedy, jazz, spoken word, and hip hop. The Feel Good Revolution was back one final time b...

  • Added: Jun 30, 2016
  • Length: 02:06:12
Caption: Edmunt Catlin on the drums with the group Hoaxer, Credit: Lee Tran
Edmund Catlin is a young Twin Cities drummer who, while still in college, plays in a variety of jazz bands. To Edmund, playing jazz requires a comb...

  • Added: Jun 29, 2016
  • Length: 06:53
Caption: Charlie Lincoln, Credit: Andrea Canter
How do you become a jazz musician? The key just may be persistence. You can take lessons and school courses, but if you really want to play jazz…we...

  • Added: Jun 29, 2016
  • Length: 05:21
Caption: Hoaxer, Credit: Lee Tran
What do student jazz players do? They work had during the school year, and when summer comes, they work even harder playing in bands with their fri...

  • Added: Jun 27, 2016
  • Length: 05:00
Caption: The Bend in the River Big Band, Credit: Paul Rippe
The Bend in the Big River Big Band is named for 2 Mississippi River bends. One is in Saint Peter, where the group was formed. And the other bend is...

  • Added: Jun 24, 2016
  • Length: 08:44