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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20 Pieces

Joan Griffith, Twin Cities musician and educator, has conversations with prominent Minnesota jazz musicians.

  • From: KBEM
  • Updated: May 25, 2016
Caption: Joan Griffith, Credit: Ann Marsen
20 Pieces

Joan Griffith, Twin Cities guitar player and educator, interviews Minnesota jazz artists.

  • From: KBEM
  • Updated: May 27, 2016
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13 Pieces

Minneapolis Public School teachers talk with Kevin O'Connor about their accomplishments.

  • From: KBEM
  • Updated: Jul 14, 2011
Caption: Leigh Kamman, Credit: Andrea Canter
57 Pieces

During his 60-plus years in jazz broadcasting, Leigh Kamman conducted hundreds of interviews with jazz artists, including many from the Minnesota scene. These are being preserved and edited by the Leigh Kamman Legacy Project and presented as The Jazz Image: Minnesota Edition, a continuation of the The Jazz Image: Special Edition series. These projects are part of the process of preserving and sharing the massive archive of historical recordings he left when he passed away in October 2014.

  • From: KBEM
  • Updated: Jun 29, 2020
Caption: Leigh Kamman, Credit: Andrea Canter
14 Pieces

Minnesota jazz broadcasting legend Leigh Kamman conducted hundreds of interviews with jazz artists, including some of jazz's illustrious figures. Now, these treasures have been lovingly preserved and edited into a new series of broadcasts, The Jazz Image: Special Edition. These recordings preserve priceless conversation Leigh Kamman had with such luminaries as Duke Ellington, Sarah Vaughan and Stan Kenton. In his ninth decade, Kamman adds fresh commentary to round out these 5 minute broadcasts, 13 in all in this series.

  • From: KBEM
  • Updated: Jan 14, 2014
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800 Pieces

5 to 8-minute, highly produced heads-ups highlighting great musical activities in the Twin Cities broadly conceived. The pieces feature the musicians, their music, club owners, fans, in short all of those responsible for creating musical experiences.

  • From: KBEM
  • Updated: Dec 10, 2019
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0 Pieces

Viva City, Festival of the Arts, was initiated thirteen years ago as a way to showcase arts education in Minneapolis Public Schools (MPS). In this pod cast, we feature the musical portion of Viva City from the Ted Mann Concert Hall at the University of Minneapolis.

  • From: KBEM
  • Updated: May 29, 2011
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31 Pieces

Minneapolis High School Students comment on Minnesota Arts, Culture and History

  • From: KBEM
  • Updated: Aug 24, 2011

Latest Pieces

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Guitarist Zacc Harris and Joan Griffith discuss some of the inspirations behind one of Zacc's original compositions, "The Garden."

  • Added: May 27, 2016
  • Length: 05:00
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Jazz composer Carei Thomas reflects on his original composition, "Baby Baby, Home Buddy," along with Joan Griffith.

  • Added: May 27, 2016
  • Length: 05:00
Caption: Bobb Fantauzzo with ensemble
A Weaving of Traditions is a tribute to jazz musicians with Native American roots. Bobb Fantauzzo, Native flute player, performed this concert in ...

Bought by Northern Community Radio - KAXE & KBXE, Minnesota, WNMU-FM, and WNMU-FM


  • Added: May 23, 2016
  • Length: 59:00
  • Purchases: 3
Caption: Jazz 88 logo, Credit: Tim Nyberg (Octane Creative)
When you listen to a big band recording, you have the pleasure of engaging with a large number of talented musicians. But even if it is a small big...

  • Added: May 20, 2016
  • Length: 08:10
Caption: Rosemount Jazz Blast 2016 poster, Credit: John Zschunke
Summer is here and that means Minnesotans Go Outside to events like Jazz Blast. Held in Rosemount, Jazz Blast presents a varied group of jazz artis...

  • Added: May 20, 2016
  • Length: 04:59
Caption: Post-Atomic Trio, Credit: Post-Atomic Trio
The name “Post-Atomic Trio comes from the groups fondness for using the word “post.” You know, like “post-modern.” Well that would fit them, too. I...

  • Added: May 17, 2016
  • Length: 07:18
Caption: The Post-Atomic Trio, Credit: The Post-Atomic Trio
Jazz fans and artists value originality. And originality is the very thing that the Post-Atomic Trio hangs its collective hat on. The group’s drumm...

  • Added: May 16, 2016
  • Length: 05:00
Caption: Gerry Swanberg, Credit: Jan Swanberg
Next Sunday there’s a free festival where everybody can enjoy performances by six of our area’s finest big bands. It’s the 25th annual Festival of ...

  • Added: May 15, 2016
  • Length: 05:00
Caption: Charmin Michelle, Credit: JuliAnne Jonker
The key to a long-running big band dance is consistency and attention to details. That’s always been true of the Jerry O’Hagen Orchestra. Vocalist ...

  • Added: May 14, 2016
  • Length: 05:00
Caption: Jennifer Grimm, Credit: Nathan Nelson
Jennifer Grimm playing with players who know her, because the greater the experience, the more fun they have. And the more fun they have challengin...

  • Added: May 09, 2016
  • Length: 07:16