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: Ginger Commodore, Credit: Tom Wallace
Ginger Commodore loves singing, and loves the songs of Stevie Wonder. It'll be two evenings filled with superlatives Feb 12-13, 2016 when she leads...

  • Added: Feb 02, 2016
  • Length: 05:00
Caption: Ginger Commodore, Credit: Tom Wallace
Ginger Commodore, a member of the famed jazz vocal group Moore By Four and experienced band leader, talks to interviewer Phil Nusbaum about the joy...

  • Added: Feb 02, 2016
  • Length: 08:25
Caption: the Sawtooth Bros, Credit: Scott Ward
The guys in the Sawtooth Brothers are twenty-somethings, but they’ve been at their music for over a decade. If you listen, you can tell the group’s...

  • Added: Jan 27, 2016
  • Length: 06:11
Caption: The Sawtooth Bros, Credit: Scott Ward
The Sawtooth Brothers started out as a teenaged bluegrass band playing traditional songs and tunes. But as the years rolled by, band members develo...

  • Added: Jan 27, 2016
  • Length: 05:00
Caption: Century Jazz Ensemble, Credit: Don Jackson
The Century jazz Ensemble is a group of community members who just can’t enough of big band playing, and as a result the whole community benefits. ...

  • Added: Jan 20, 2016
  • Length: 07:34
Caption: Century Jazz Ensemble, Credit: Don Jackson
The Century Jazz Ensemble is excited to play its biggest bash of the year this weekend. They’ll be playing the highlights from its repertoire, and ...

  • Added: Jan 20, 2016
  • Length: 05:00
Caption: Tim Sparks, Credit: Ali Hasbach
Tim Sparks is something of a legend in the Twin Cities music scene. It dates back to his days with Rio Nido, where his bandmates could count on Tim...

  • Added: Jan 18, 2016
  • Length: 07:26
Caption: Ann Iijiima, Credit: Tim Vick
Jedfest is a fund-raiser for the Minnesota Bluegrass and Old Time Music Festival. On January 23, members of the public pay $10 at the door, and the...

  • Added: Jan 16, 2016
  • Length: 05:00
Caption: The High 48s, Credit: Greg Johnson
The High 48s. The group definitely plays towards the tastes of its audience. But when you talk to the guys in the group, you can tell they love wha...

  • Added: Jan 08, 2016
  • Length: 07:40
Caption: The High 48s, Credit: Photo: Greg Johnson
Fresh from a busy Christmas season, the Minneapolis-based High 48s heats up January and February at the Aster Café in Minneapolis. It’s Aster brunc...

  • Added: Jan 08, 2016
  • Length: 05:00