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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779 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

Caption: Jazz 88, Credit: Tim Nyberg (Octane Creative)
Powderhorn Park always does it with flair, and this 4th of July, it hosts musician Greg Herriges and troupes of puppeteers and dancers. Phil Nusbau...

Bought by KSRQ


  • Added: Jun 28, 2015
  • Length: 05:00
  • Purchases: 1
Caption: Butch Thompson and Sarah LaRose Holland, Credit: Patrick O'Laughlin
A collaboration of music, dance and photography, this radio program was recorded live at The Lab Theater in Minneapolis.

  • Added: Jun 22, 2015
  • Length: 59:03
Caption: Local Shaped Note Singers hold Copies of Shenandoah Harmony, Credit: Nathan Berry
Singing shaped notes is a long American tradition of singing, mostly based on Christian scriptures. As a folk tradition, it evolves with reference ...

Bought by KSRQ and KFAI Minneapolis


  • Added: Jun 21, 2015
  • Length: 05:00
  • Purchases: 2
Caption: Ray Barnard, Credit: Phil Nusbaum
Ray Barnard writes and performs songs based on old-school soul. Over the years he has developed a unique songwriting voice, and he tells Phil Nusba...

Bought by KSRQ


  • Added: Jun 13, 2015
  • Length: 05:00
  • Purchases: 1
Caption: Roseville Big Band in Acapulco, 1989 , Credit: Glen Newton
The Roseville Big Band has been playing for dances in airplane hangars for a really long time. The next one will be in Fleming Field's Hangar #3 in...

Bought by KSRQ


  • Added: May 30, 2015
  • Length: 05:00
  • Purchases: 1
Caption: Daithi Sproule
Irish music is great, seemingly everywhere, including Our Town. This Friday through Sunday, the Center for irish Music presents Minnesota irish Fai...

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  • Added: May 27, 2015
  • Length: 05:00
  • Purchases: 1
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Minneapolis South High School sings Jazz classics for an hour.

  • Added: May 26, 2015
  • Length: 58:31
Caption: Brian Miller and Randy Gosa, Credit: Darin Black
In the old days of the northern Minnesota and Wisconsin lumber camps, many of the shanty boys had emigrated from Ireland. Of course, they brought t...

Bought by KSRQ


  • Added: May 22, 2015
  • Length: 05:00
  • Purchases: 1
Caption: Pop Wagner, Credit: Dale Hanson
Pop Wagner has been part of the folk scene in Minneapolis since he arrived in town over 40 years ago. And his shows are still fresh and varied, lik...

Bought by KSRQ


  • Added: May 15, 2015
  • Length: 05:00
  • Purchases: 1
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Yonci Jameson sits down and hosts a special DJ set.

  • Added: May 14, 2015
  • Length: 57:29