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
8 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)
436 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: Jeremy Walker, Credit: Andrea Canter Achilles
Jeremy Walker has found a home at Vieux Carré in downtown Saint Paul. He plays there frequently on Friday evenings, and it’s a mix of original musi...

  • Added: Oct 09, 2015
  • Length: 05:00
Caption: Brian Miller and Randy Gosa, Credit: Natalie Champa-Jennings
Lumber occupies a big part of the history of Minnesota and the entire Great lakes region. In the lumber industry a hundred and more years ago, many...

  • Added: Sep 25, 2015
  • Length: 05:00
Caption: Sarah Porwoll-Lee, Credit: Ellie Peterson
Sarah Porwoll-Lee plays the clarinet. Her concert Saturday night October 3 features not only her and two bandmates, but premieres of newly commissi...

  • Added: Sep 24, 2015
  • Length: 05:00
Caption: Todd Harper, Credit: Carl Allen
A few years ago, Todd Harper quit his teaching job to devote full time to the piano. He got himself a steady playing gig which attracted a followin...

Bought by KSRQ


  • Added: Sep 18, 2015
  • Length: 05:00
  • Purchases: 1
Caption: Pat Donohue with guitar, Credit: Phil Nusbaum
Pat Donohue is back in town. The former Prairie Home Companion musician is a master of varied American roots styles, and brings his songs and tunes...

  • Added: Sep 11, 2015
  • Length: 05:00
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