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

Caption: Acme Big Band
1 Piece

This progam features Minnesota Big Bands, including the Nova Big Band, the Acme Big Band and the University of Minnesota. Twenty-five Big Bands in Minnesota have recorded CDs. Interviews with local Big Band personalities are presented occasionally.

  • From: KBEM
  • Updated: Mar 23, 2010
Caption: PRX default Series image
3 Pieces

Minneapolis high school students script and read 60-second pieces based on research into important figures in African American history.

  • From: KBEM
  • Updated: Feb 11, 2010
Caption: PRX default Series image
4 Pieces

"Classic Jazz MN" is a series exploring Minnesota's classic jazz roots. The series includes shows on Doc Evans, Doc Evans at the Walker Art Center, Preservation Hall Era and the Emporium of Jazz. Written and produced by Butch Thompson. Co-produced by Todd Melby.

  • From: KBEM
  • Updated: Nov 23, 2011
Caption: Jazz At MPS with Josh Jones and the Dynamics
24 Pieces

Jazz music from students in the Minneapolis Public Schools.

  • From: KBEM
  • Updated: Jul 24, 2013
Caption: South High School Jazz Band-director/Scott Carter with guest Irvin Mayfield
6 Pieces

Jazz at South High features music from past and present South High Jazz Ensembles and brand new recordings by the South High Jazz Combo. Each week's show will feature never before heard performances of the South High Jazz Combo that are recorded at South High.

  • From: KBEM
  • Updated: Jan 03, 2013
Caption: KBEM Jazz 88 FM, Credit: http://www.jazz88fm.com
4 Pieces

The Twin Cities Jazz Society annually presents a series of concerts by local artists. Jazz 88 chose six of these concerts to record for broadcast.

  • From: KBEM
  • Updated: Apr 12, 2010
Caption: Butch at the Steinway, Credit: Ross Ayoka
4 Pieces

Butch Thompson hosts this program that features original jazz recordings and the occasional live performance.

  • From: KBEM
  • Updated: Apr 24, 2011
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12 Pieces

Long-form interviews and performances by Minnesota musicians

  • From: KBEM
  • Updated: Nov 14, 2018
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12 Pieces

Junctions & Sidetracks, the story behind the creation of Empire Builder a musical about a time traveling train. Conversations about family, history, race and forgiveness. Music by George Mauer. Libretto by Ann Bertram. Funded by the Minnesota Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund.

  • From: KBEM
  • Updated: Mar 28, 2019
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31 Pieces

From humble beginnings in 1970, KBEM-FM has become the most powerful and longest-lasting radio station owned by a Minnesota school district, and one of the nation’s leading broadcast voices for jazz. Explore the people, places and events that have shaped KBEM’s first 50 years in this audio series.

  • From: KBEM
  • Updated: May 02, 2022

Latest Pieces

Caption: Captain Gravitone CD Cover, Credit: Al Fack
The group’s leader plays the banjo but this is no bluegrass band. It’s part acoustic group, part theatrical troupe and 100% fun. And it’s available...

  • Added: Dec 08, 2015
  • Length: 05:00
Caption: The Capri Big Band, Credit: Brianna Johnson
Big Band music has persisted over the generations. Why? It might be because big band music is a big part of formal learning for horn players in hig...

  • Added: Nov 28, 2015
  • Length: 06:09
Caption: Capri Big Band, Credit: Brianna Johnson
The Big Band is part of the American cultural heritage. The Capri Big Band of Minneapolis is rehearsing hard right now for two Shows in December. T...

  • Added: Nov 28, 2015
  • Length: 05:00
Caption: Rio Nido, Credit: Dennis Widstrand and Matt Spector
A generation, a young trio known as Rio Nido was delighting audiences through its renditions of old vocal jazz. But in music, so it seems, all good...

  • Added: Nov 24, 2015
  • Length: 05:00
Caption: Gao Hong w/pipa, Credit: Photo Provided by World Music Professionals
Gao Hong came from China to America in 1994. Already established as a world-class player of the Chinese pipa, she has gotten interested in the west...

  • Added: Nov 23, 2015
  • Length: 06:40
Caption: Charmin Michele and Sam Militich, Credit: JuliAnne Jonker (Charmin) and John Connelly (Sam)
Sam Miltich, Grand Rapids guitar icon is coming to South Saint Paul the Saturday right after Thanksgiving. And he’ll be fronting a 5- piece band th...

  • Added: Nov 20, 2015
  • Length: 05:00
Caption: Curtis and Loretta , Credit: Jennifer Bong
They sing many types of traditional songs, they play many instruments, they write songs and their repertoire is a mile wide. But to folksinging due...

  • Added: Nov 11, 2015
  • Length: 08:25
Caption: Curtis and Loretta, Credit: Jennifer Bong
It’s the most inspirational CD to come along in a long time. Curtis and Loretta talked to many Minnesotans and created songs out of their accounts ...

  • Added: Nov 11, 2015
  • Length: 05:00
Caption: KBEM logo, Credit: Tim Nyberg (Octane Creative)
Zeitgeist is a New Music group in Minneapolis-Saint Paul that does it all: In performing New Music, it stands at the intersection of the audience, ...

  • Added: Nov 06, 2015
  • Length: 10:33
Caption: PRX default Piece image
The New music community draws adventurous particpants from many music styles. Over the course of three November days, the Zeitgeist Music Cabaret p...

  • Added: Nov 05, 2015
  • Length: 05:00