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: Students playing
Join Yonci Jameson as Minneapolis Roosevelt High School Jazz Combos 1 and 2 perform live from Studio 1 at KBEM.

  • Added: May 14, 2015
  • Length: 57:48
Caption: JaAnn Funk and Jeff Brueske, Credit: Laurenb Photography
JoAnn Funk and Jeff Brueske. Jazz for voice, piano and bass. They’ve been holding forth Friday and Saturday nights at the St Paul hotel lobby for 7...

Bought by KSRQ


  • Added: May 09, 2015
  • Length: 05:00
  • Purchases: 1
Caption: Ancia Saxophone Quartet, Credit: Daniel Soderstrom
The Ancia Saxophone Quartet specializes in contemporary American Saxophone quartet music. It’s a field that bridges formal music and jazz. The ense...

Bought by KSRQ


  • Added: May 03, 2015
  • Length: 05:00
  • Purchases: 1
Caption: Reynaldo Moreno CD cover, Credit: ason Wozny
Reynaldo Moreno. He’s a young local guy to whom the Motown sound speaks. And so, he recreates some of the great Motown songs of a generation ago, a...

  • Added: Apr 23, 2015
  • Length: 05:00
Caption: Jon Wood Plays DJ at KBEM-FM, Credit: Philip Nusbaum
Jon Wood stumbled into recording his first 2 CDs, both available at his CD release party on April 25 at the Black Dog Café in St Paul. He happened ...

Bought by KSRQ


  • Added: Apr 08, 2015
  • Length: 05:00
  • Purchases: 1
Caption: Patty Peterson, Credit: Jennifer Bong
The Peterson Family of the Twin Cities is a Jazz family from ‘way back. They gain musical inspiration from each other and they are happiest when wo...

Bought by KSRQ


  • Added: Apr 07, 2015
  • Length: 05:00
  • Purchases: 1
Caption: Charanga Tropical, Credit: Walter Horishnyk
Doug Little leads Minnesota’s great Charanga Band, Charanga Tropical. Charanga is a substyle of salsa, one that adds three violins to the mix. The ...

Bought by KSRQ


  • Added: Apr 04, 2015
  • Length: 05:00
  • Purchases: 1
Caption: Chris Becknell at home, Credit: Phil Nusbaum
A representative of House of Mercy Recordings heard Chris Becknell play a few of his interpretations of hymns and gospel songs and wanted more. So ...

Bought by KSRQ


  • Added: Mar 25, 2015
  • Length: 05:00
  • Purchases: 1
Caption: Orkesta Bez ime, Credit: Stefan Iwaskewycz
Orkestar Bez Ime, Bulgarian for orchestra with out a name, or OBI for short, has been performing in our town and more widely for well over a decade...

Bought by KSRQ


  • Added: Mar 22, 2015
  • Length: 05:00
  • Purchases: 1
Piece image
Twin Cities guitarist Zacc harris and vibes player Dave Hagedorn met over their admiration for a 1962 year old LP: Bags Meets Wes by vibraphonist M...

  • Added: Mar 08, 2015
  • Length: 05:00