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: Maryam Yusafsadeh, Credit: Philip Nusbaum
Robayat is a professional Persian band from Minneapolis-Saint Paul led by Maryam Yusafsadeh. The group's presentation includes selections from folk...

Bought by KSRQ


  • Added: Jan 25, 2014
  • Length: 05:00
  • Purchases: 1
Caption: MJ Mueller and Papa John Kolstad, Credit: Phil Nusbaum
The 32nd holding of the event makes its annual return to Minneapolis' west bank. It's an event for music making for musicians and non-musicians, ol...

Bought by KSRQ


  • Added: Jan 25, 2014
  • Length: 05:00
  • Purchases: 1
Caption: Drew Jansen
Drew Jansen is a composer, musician, actor, singer, writer, and voice over talent. Some of his television credits are Let's Bowl, Factory Accident...

Bought by KSRQ


  • Added: Jan 21, 2014
  • Length: 03:30
  • Purchases: 1
Caption: Leigh Kamman, Credit: Andrea Canter
Join Leigh Kamman from the studios of WOV Radio with a remote broadcast at The Palm Cafe in New York (a few doors down from the Apollo Theatre) for...

Bought by KSRQ


  • Added: Jan 21, 2014
  • Length: 05:09
  • Purchases: 1
Caption: Luke Zuppan, Josh Parlanti and Allisa Jacobson of the Mississippi Hot Club, Credit: Phil Nusbaum
The Mississippi Hot Club: They're new recording and performing old gypsy jazz, and writing their own music too!

Bought by KSRQ


  • Added: Jan 20, 2014
  • Length: 05:00
  • Purchases: 1
Caption: Christine Baeumler
Christine Baeumler seeks to raise awareness about ecological issues through studio practice as well as engaging communities in environmental proje...

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  • Added: Jan 14, 2014
  • Length: 03:30
  • Purchases: 1
Caption: Leigh Kamman, Credit: Andrea Canter
Legendary jazz broadcaster Leigh Kamman interviewed many jazz luminaries over the years. On this episode, Leigh talks with Count Basie backstage at...

Bought by WDSE and KSRQ


  • Added: Jan 14, 2014
  • Length: 04:59
  • Purchases: 2
Caption: Harrison Education Center
Daquan, a student at Harrison High School in Minneapolis laments losing a best friend.

Bought by KSRQ


  • Added: Jan 13, 2014
  • Length: 02:01
  • Purchases: 1
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Dayquan, a student at Harrison High School in Minneapolis, writes about moving forward despite having to struggle

Bought by KSRQ


  • Added: Jan 13, 2014
  • Length: 01:39
  • Purchases: 1
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Dayquan, a student at Harrison Hish School in Minneapolis writes of his heartbreaks.

Bought by KSRQ


  • Added: Jan 13, 2014
  • Length: 01:39
  • Purchases: 1