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

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A Minneapolis High School student reflects on a beautiful, sunn Minnesota day.

Bought by KSRQ


  • Added: Feb 18, 2014
  • Length: :59
  • Purchases: 1
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A young Somali student reflects about gloomy rainy weather

Bought by KSRQ


  • Added: Feb 18, 2014
  • Length: 01:15
  • Purchases: 1
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Compelling poem regarding where an Islamic student comes from. To this student, Islam, not a country, is the main thing.

Bought by KSRQ


  • Added: Feb 18, 2014
  • Length: 03:26
  • Purchases: 1
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A young Somali high school student expresses how she intends to feel about her future family

Bought by KSRQ


  • Added: Feb 18, 2014
  • Length: 02:36
  • Purchases: 1
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Ikraan gives her opinion of the Somali leader’s speech to USA Somali

  • Added: Feb 18, 2014
  • Length: 02:07
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Two Heritage HS girls recite their poem in praise of traditional Islamic values regarding women.

Bought by KSRQ and WAMC Northeast Public Radio


  • Added: Feb 18, 2014
  • Length: 03:18
  • Purchases: 2
Caption: Rick Anderson, Credit: Phil Nusbaum
Tells about Minnesota Bluegrass and samples three of the 30+ bands performing at the Winter Bluegrass Weekend, Seb 28-March 2, Crowne Plaza Minneap...

  • Added: Feb 18, 2014
  • Length: 05:00
Caption: Leigh Kamman, Credit: Andrea Canter
Join Leigh for a delightful 5 minute conversation with jazz bassist, cellist and composer Oscar Pettiford..."a man from an imposing musical family...

Bought by KSRQ


  • Added: Feb 13, 2014
  • Length: 05:00
  • Purchases: 1
Caption: Zacc Harris, Credit: Phil Nusbaum
Zacc talks about the importance of regular, local performances to developing a group's music and to the community.

Bought by KSRQ


  • Added: Feb 13, 2014
  • Length: 05:00
  • Purchases: 1
Caption: Nachito Herrera at the piano, Credit: Phil Nusbaum
Saint Paul, MN-based International artist Nachito Herrera tackles the solo piano repertoire of Cuban piano player and composer Ernesto Lecuona. The...

Bought by KSRQ


  • Added: Feb 07, 2014
  • Length: 05:00
  • Purchases: 1