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

Series image
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
Series image
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
Series image
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
Caption: PRX default Series image
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: 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
Caption: Sherry Minnick, Credit: Elizabeth Lofgren
Sherry Minnick has sung many styles of music in her life. In the last few decades she has focused on great traditional songs, many of them very old...

Bought by KSRQ


  • Added: Mar 02, 2015
  • Length: 05:00
  • Purchases: 1
Caption: The Caprice Saxophone Quartet, Credit: Alison Bents
The Caprice Saxophone Quartet is an accomplished group playing a varied and challenging group of pieces in a Studio Z Saint Paul concert on March 7...

Bought by KSRQ


  • Added: Feb 28, 2015
  • Length: 05:00
  • Purchases: 1
Caption: Dean Sorenson in his UMN Office, Credit: Philip Nusbaum
The University of Minnesota Jazz Festival is a great event in scholastic jazz. It’s where high school kids make college choices, and where the whol...

  • Added: Feb 19, 2015
  • Length: 05:00
Caption: Twin Cities Jewish Chorale, Credit: Peter Eckert
The Twin Cities Jewish Chorale was formed six years ago to provide opportunities to sing types of Jewish music other than that which is sung in syn...

Bought by KSRQ


  • Added: Feb 15, 2015
  • Length: 04:56
  • Purchases: 1
Caption: Choro Borealis, Credit:  Antonella Borgatti
When was the last time there was a local group specializing in Brazilian choros? Maybe never. But Choro Borealis has been playing for a few years,...

Bought by KSRQ


  • Added: Feb 06, 2015
  • Length: 05:00
  • Purchases: 1
Caption: Pig's Eye Jass Band at the Minnesota State Fair, Credit: Nancy Hite
The Pig’s Eye Jass Band out of the Twin Cities has been around seemingly forever. Many people come to the Minneapolis Eagles Club to dance the firs...

Bought by KSRQ


  • Added: Jan 28, 2015
  • Length: 05:00
  • Purchases: 1
Caption: The High 48s, Credit: Daniel Corrigan
On January 31, the Minnesota Bluegrass and Old Time Music Association celebrates its 40th anniversary by creating an event to remember, Twelve in T...

Bought by KSRQ


  • Added: Jan 21, 2015
  • Length: 05:00
  • Purchases: 1
Caption: Leigh Kamman, Credit: Photo courtesy of Minnesota Public Radio
Many of the jazz artists touched by Jazz radio host Leigh Kamman combine to celebrate Leigh’s life on January 25, 2015. The event will take place a...

Bought by KSRQ


  • Added: Jan 16, 2015
  • Length: 05:00
  • Purchases: 1