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: Duke Ellington
Duke Ellington (whose maternal grandmother was Cherokee) is regarded by many as the most influential composer in the history of jazz. And, as head ...

Bought by WTJU, WDSE, WTJU, and WTJU


  • Added: Apr 27, 2016
  • Length: 05:00
  • Purchases: 4
Caption: Miles Davis, Credit: All About Jazz
Widely considered one of the most influential and consistently innovative musicians of the 20th century, Miles Davis (of Cherokee ancestry) pointed...

Bought by WTJU, WDSE, and WTJU


  • Added: Apr 26, 2016
  • Length: 05:00
  • Purchases: 3
Caption: Don Cherry, Credit: All About Jazz
Don Cherry, of Choctaw ancestry, was one of the most lyrical and unique voices in jazz. Emphasizing expression and musical communication over speed...

Bought by WTJU, WDSE, and WTJU


  • Added: Apr 26, 2016
  • Length: 05:00
  • Purchases: 3
Caption: Ornette Coleman
Ornette Coleman, whose family ties reach back to the Occaneechee Tribe of North Carolina, was largely self-taught. His music has weathered the test...

Bought by WTJU, WDSE, and WTJU


  • Added: Apr 26, 2016
  • Length: 05:00
  • Purchases: 3
Caption: Dave Brubeck, Credit: Associated Press
Dave Brubeck, whose father was of Medoc descent, was one of the most active and popular jazz musicians in the world. His experiments with odd time ...

Bought by WTJU, WDSE, and WTJU


  • Added: Apr 26, 2016
  • Length: 05:00
  • Purchases: 3
Caption: Mildred Bailey
As the first full-time female big band singer in America, Mildred Bailey helped popularize jazz singing and opened the door for later jazz greats, ...

Bought by WDSE, WTJU, and WTJU


  • Added: Apr 26, 2016
  • Length: 04:44
  • Purchases: 3
Caption: Marcus Wise, Credit: Jan Wise
Marcus Wise is a devoted tabla player. The tabla is a hand drum that provides a signature sound in east Indian music. He talks about his musical pr...

  • Added: Apr 26, 2016
  • Length: 07:37
Caption: Marcus Wise with tabla, Credit: Jan Wise
The local tabla player Marcus Wise looks for opportunities to work with San Francisco sarod player Bruce Hamm. This weekend the two play two concer...

  • Added: Apr 26, 2016
  • Length: 05:00
Caption: Sheila Jordan
Jazz vocalist Sheila Jordan often credited her Native roots as an influence in her singing.

Bought by WTJU, WDSE, and WTJU


  • Added: Apr 19, 2016
  • Length: 05:00
  • Purchases: 3
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Bassist, composer and big band leader Charles Mingus claimed Native American roots, and he incorporated many genres of music into his compositions.

Bought by WTJU, WDSE, and WTJU


  • Added: Apr 19, 2016
  • Length: 05:00
  • Purchases: 3