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

Series image
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
Series image
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
Caption: PRX default Series image
776 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
Series image
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
Series image
31 Pieces

Minneapolis High School Students comment on Minnesota Arts, Culture and History

  • From: KBEM
  • Updated: Aug 24, 2011

Latest Pieces

Caption: Jennifer Grimm, Credit: Jeffrey Fortson
We talk to Jennifer about her musical background and the fun she has at here weekly Sunday show at Manitou Station in White Bear lake with her brot...

Bought by KSRQ


  • Added: Dec 16, 2013
  • Length: 05:00
  • Purchases: 1

  • Added: Dec 16, 2013
  • Length: 05:00
  • Purchases: 1
Caption: Jazz At MPS with Josh Jones and the Dynamics
Join Robert Hayles on Jazz At MPS with the Pip Jazz Youth All Stars!

Bought by KSRQ


  • Added: Dec 02, 2013
  • Length: 01:03:06
  • Purchases: 1
Caption: Monroe Crissing , Credit: Jamey Guy
We meet Mark and Lisa from Monroe Crossing and talk about the season and some of the group's songs.

Bought by KSRQ


  • Added: Nov 28, 2013
  • Length: 05:00
  • Purchases: 1
Caption: Alma Andina, Credit: Hugh Garrido
Alma Andina (Andes folk music) shares the bill with Malamaya (playing a variety of Cuban forms) at the Cedar Cultural Center, Dec 6, 2013.

  • Added: Nov 27, 2013
  • Length: 05:00
Caption: Jazz At MPS with Josh Jones and the Dynamics
Join Robert Hayles on Jazz at MPS with music from Minneapolis Southwest High School.

Bought by KSRQ


  • Added: Nov 26, 2013
  • Length: 01:00:11
  • Purchases: 1
Caption: Kim and Quillan Roe, Credit: Phil Nusbaum
McKnight Fellowship award winner the Roe Family Singers play for lunch at the Aster Cafe in Minneapolis on Dec 14, and that night, perform at the W...

  • Added: Nov 25, 2013
  • Length: 05:00
Piece image
Blues Team's CD Release Party and Anti-Cancer Charity Event. Piece for Nov 25-29, 2013. Paul Metsa and Willie Walker are releasing a new set of Bl...

Bought by KSRQ


  • Added: Nov 22, 2013
  • Length: 05:00
  • Purchases: 1
Piece image
Join Ester Swanson on Jazz at MPS with music from Minneapolis Southwest High School.

Bought by KSRQ


  • Added: Nov 19, 2013
  • Length: 58:17
  • Purchases: 1
Piece image
It's a swing band with two great Twin Cities singers, Rhonda Laurie and Mary Anne Sullivan. From listening and dancing points of view, it is bond t...

Bought by KSRQ


  • Added: Nov 17, 2013
  • Length: 05:00
  • Purchases: 1