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
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)
421 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: Patty Peterson, Credit: Patrick O'Laughlin
Minnesota has many elder jazz musicians who have great memories and stories about the rich history of the music scene in the Twin Cities. This two ...

  • Added: Jul 11, 2014
  • Length: 01:58:27
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Phil Heywood and Tim Sparks, Twin Cities guitarists with long track records of success, combine talents for a memorable performance at the Aster Ca...

Bought by KSRQ


  • Added: Jul 06, 2014
  • Length: 05:00
  • Purchases: 1
Caption: Becky J and Rahjta Ren, Credit: Jim Larson
When Becky J and Rahjta Ren perform, it's a close collaboration between a great singer and an imaginative keyboardist.

Bought by KSRQ


  • Added: Jul 04, 2014
  • Length: 05:00
  • Purchases: 1
Caption: The Mullet River Boys, Credit: David Zhang
A group with an interesting blend of stylistic ingredients comes to downtown Chaska on July 18.

  • Added: Jul 04, 2014
  • Length: 05:00
Caption: Peter Moore and Jane Froiland, Credit: Patrick O'Laughlin
For those who long for "the grand old days" of radio, Jazz88 KBEM presents the second installment of Jazz Noir, an original radio drama series, com...

  • Added: Jul 01, 2014
  • Length: 01:01:02
Caption: Butch Thompson and Russ Hall, Credit: Marjie O'Laughlin
Butch Thompson and friends perform live at The Cedar Cultural Center. It was a celebration of the well-remembered Hall Brothers Jazz Band, and its ...

  • Added: Jun 27, 2014
  • Length: 58:40
Caption: Steve Heckler in the Jazz Festival office, Credit: Phil Nusbaum
The Twin Cities Jazz Festival is a great showcase for Jazz, including the great variety of local acts.

Bought by KSRQ


  • Added: Jun 26, 2014
  • Length: 05:00
  • Purchases: 1
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Music and conversations from the 20th annual Viva City celebration of fine arts in the Minneapolis Public Schools. Listen to the 800-strong all-cit...

  • Added: Jun 26, 2014
  • Length: 57:55
Caption: PRX default Piece image
Towards the start of the show, we present some bluegrass love songs. These are not those depicting exit points of relationships, but ones that refl...

Bought by KSJD, WNTI.ORG-Internet Radio from Centenary University, WOUB, KEOS, KRZA and more


  • Added: Jun 25, 2014
  • Length: 59:00
  • Purchases: 12
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Sarah Vaughan is a coy subject. Leigh has some fun interviewing her.

Bought by KSRQ


  • Added: Jun 25, 2014
  • Length: 05:04
  • Purchases: 1