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
Series image
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: Collin Roycroft by Andrea Canter, Credit: Andrea Canter
The Collin Roycroft Quartet gives unique spins to great Jazz created over recent decades. In a conversation with Phil Nusbaum, Collin addressed th...

  • Added: Apr 05, 2023
  • Length: 08:00
Caption: Collin Roycroft by Andrea Canter, Credit: Andrea Canter
The Collin Roycroft Quartet plays the Emerging Talent series at jazz Central Studios in Minneapolis next Thursday at 8PM. At the show, Collin and t...

  • Added: Apr 05, 2023
  • Length: 08:00
Caption: jazz88 logo 2022, Credit: Tim Nyberg (Octane Creative)
Dakota Dave hull is known for his finger-style guitar playing. But on his new CD, Better Late Than Never, Dave explores the guitar – banjo, an inst...

  • Added: Apr 04, 2023
  • Length: 08:00
Caption: Barbaro , Credit: Wolfskull Creative
Barbaro plays the bluegrass instruments, but group members have backgrounds in other areas. The result is a constantly evolving mix of musical elem...

  • Added: Apr 01, 2023
  • Length: 08:00
Caption: jazz88 logo 2022, Credit: Tim Nyberg (Octane Creative)
Thomasina Petrus sings in tribute of Jazz icon Billie Holiday. But Thomasina’s kind of tribute is to sing great songs as Billie might have sung the...

  • Added: Mar 29, 2023
  • Length: 08:00
Caption: jazz88 logo 2022, Credit: Tim Nyberg (Octane Creative)
Thomasina Petrus sings in tribute of Jazz icon Billie Holiday. But Thomasina’s kind of tribute is to sing great songs as Billie might have sung the...

  • Added: Mar 29, 2023
  • Length: 08:00
Caption: Joe Cruz, Credit: Emily Jane Davis
Grimm and Cruz, that’s Jennifer Grimm and Joe Cruz play and sing great songs. They perform with with Joe’s guitar and Jennifer’s percussion, and th...

  • Added: Mar 29, 2023
  • Length: 08:01
Caption: Jennifer Grimm, Credit: Nathan Nelson
Grimm and Cruz, that’s Jennifer Grimm and Joe Cruz play and sing great songs. They perform with with Joe’s guitar and Jennifer’s percussion, and th...

  • Added: Mar 29, 2023
  • Length: 08:01
Caption: Rick Carlson and Gary Schjulte, Credit: photo by Andrea Canter, poster by Maud Hixson
We’re at a rehearsal of violinist Gary Schulte and pianist Rick Carlson of the Hemingway project. Along with bassist Graydon Peterson, the group pl...

  • Added: Mar 24, 2023
  • Length: 08:00
Caption: Rick Carlson, Credit: Andrea Canter
We’re at a rehearsal of violinist Gary Schulte and pianist Rick Carlson of the Hemingway project. Along with bassist Graydon Peterson, the group pl...

  • Added: Mar 24, 2023
  • Length: 08:00