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: Bill and Kate Isles, Credit: Jeff Isles
In the piece, Bill talks about songwriting, and about working with his young bandmates, Sarah & Derek Birkeland.

Bought by KSRQ


  • Added: Dec 24, 2014
  • Length: 05:00
  • Purchases: 1
Caption: Patrick Harison at Home, Credit: Phil Nusbaum
Mixing it up musically is the specialty of Patty and the Buttons. And it works. At the group’s weekly Swing Brunch held 11-2 at the Aster Café in M...

Bought by Northern Community Radio - KAXE & KBXE, Minnesota and KSRQ


  • Added: Dec 17, 2014
  • Length: 05:00
  • Purchases: 2
Caption: Twin Cities Jazz Sampler CD, Credit: Tim Nyberg
This Saturday night, the jazz community will be toasting itself, as the Twin Cities Jazz Sampler CD has it’s release party. The CD contains work by...

Bought by KSRQ


  • Added: Dec 11, 2014
  • Length: 05:00
  • Purchases: 1
Caption: Dee Langley, Credit: Shelley Campbell
Dee Langley, well-known Twin Cities Accordionist has created her first vocal piece, “Good Yule.” It receives its world premiere during the Minneapo...

Bought by KSRQ


  • Added: Dec 04, 2014
  • Length: 05:00
  • Purchases: 1
Caption: Norbert Augustine and Jahbee Bennet, Credit: Philip Nusbaum
The Tropics Steeldrum band gets Minnesotans moving Saturday Dec 6, 2014. It’ll be at the Northtown Library in Blaine from 2-3pm. The band wants eve...

  • Added: Nov 27, 2014
  • Length: 05:00
Caption: Emerson Hunton at the drums, Credit: Andrea Canter
Twin Cities Weekend is a five minute feature that keeps listeners up to date on what's happening the following weekend. Artist interviews and music...

  • Added: Nov 20, 2014
  • Length: 05:00
Caption: Earl Jarosh, Credit: Jeremie
Twin Cities Weekend is a five minute feature that keeps listeners up to date on what's happening the following weekend. Artist interviews and music...

  • Added: Nov 13, 2014
  • Length: 05:00
Caption: Michael Hauser at home, Credit: Phil Nusbaum
Twin Cities Weekend is a five minute feature that keeps listeners up to date on what's happening the following weekend. Artist interviews and music...

Bought by KSRQ


  • Added: Nov 06, 2014
  • Length: 05:00
  • Purchases: 1
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Rita Mustaphi has lead Kathak Dance Theater for decades. Maryam Yusafzadeh has led the Persian-based musical group, Robayat for a similar duration,...

Bought by KSRQ


  • Added: Oct 29, 2014
  • Length: 05:00
  • Purchases: 1
Caption: Leigh Kamman, Credit: Andrea Canter
Birdland booked many great big bands, where they made their mark. Leigh Kamman called Stan Kenton at Birdland for an interview.

Bought by KSRQ


  • Added: Oct 22, 2014
  • Length: 04:59
  • Purchases: 1