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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800 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: Louise Woehrle
Documentary film maker Louise Woehrle has produced and directed films on such diverse subjects as civil war in West Africa, the effects of post-tra...

Bought by KSRQ


  • Added: Apr 21, 2014
  • Length: 03:30
  • Purchases: 1
Caption: Leigh Kamman, Credit: Andrea Canter
As a young high school student, Leigh interviewed Duke Ellington for his school newspaper. Later, as a professional broadcaster, Leigh asks the Duk...

Bought by WDSE and KSRQ


  • Added: Apr 21, 2014
  • Length: 05:12
  • Purchases: 2
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Tim Martin directs this band from Washburn High School in Minneapolis. Featuring Alma on bass, Michael on piano, Sam on flute, Clay on trumpet, and...

  • Added: Apr 21, 2014
  • Length: 57:34
Caption: Matt Sciple
Director, actor and playwright Matt Sciple has been a regular on Minnesota stages since arriving in the Twin Cities from Louisiana in 1990. In 2007...

Bought by KSRQ


  • Added: Apr 18, 2014
  • Length: 03:30
  • Purchases: 1
Caption: Leigh Kamman, Credit: Andrea Canter
Leigh catches up with Lionel Hampton at the Apollo Theater, and asks him about some of the younger players in his band, including a young horn play...

Bought by KSRQ


  • Added: Apr 18, 2014
  • Length: 04:57
  • Purchases: 1
Caption: The Eddies, Credit: The Eddies
The Eddies sings songs of work, love and death, including old sea shanties and reworked modern songs. The group brings its 5-part vocal harmonies t...

Bought by KSRQ


  • Added: Apr 10, 2014
  • Length: 05:00
  • Purchases: 1
Caption: Robert Everest with some of his instruments, Credit: Phil Nusbaum
Robert Everest plays it all. The accent is on Latin when he plays his regular show at Maria's, Sundays 11:30 AM to 1:30 PM at 1113 Franklin Avenue ...

Bought by KSRQ


  • Added: Apr 09, 2014
  • Length: 05:00
  • Purchases: 1
Caption: Ticket to Brasil collage, Credit: Jane Jany
Ticket to Brasil plays classic and contemporary Brasilian music. The May 18 show at Landmark Center, held between 1 and 3 in the afternoon is part...

Bought by KSRQ


  • Added: Apr 09, 2014
  • Length: 05:00
  • Purchases: 1
Caption: Toni Lindgren (l) and Reina del Cid (r), Credit: Philip Nusbaum
Reina del Cit, a Twin Cities 4-piece group plays Sat April 12 at the 331 Club in Minneapolis, and every Monday at 10 at the Amsterdam in Saint Paul

Bought by KSRQ


  • Added: Apr 05, 2014
  • Length: 05:00
  • Purchases: 1
Caption: Dakota Combo, 2014, Credit: Kelle Green
The Dakota Combo is a group of hand-picked high school musicians who play serious jazz. Under the direction of Adam Linz, the show is at the Capri ...

Bought by KSRQ


  • Added: Mar 25, 2014
  • Length: 05:00
  • Purchases: 1