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
62 Pieces

Minneapolis High School Students, with the help of a team of educators and poets, were encouraged to write poetry. The poems created by the students are in some cases hard-hitting, and in others, cute.

  • From: KBEM
  • Updated: Jan 13, 2014
Caption: Susan Spongberg, Credit: Frank T. Heffelfinger III
9 Pieces

Minnesota Creates is curious about how creativity occurs, so Susan Spongberg asked an assortment of Minnesota artists how do you choreography a dance? Where do your novel’s characters come from? How do you decide what to paint?

  • From: KBEM
  • Updated: Jan 14, 2014
Caption: Minnesota Jazz Legends: The Elders, Credit: Jim Davis
7 Pieces

Minnesota has many wonderful jazz musicians, still playing well into their 80's. Minnesota Jazz Legends: The Elders, features live and in studio performances and interviews, talking about their careers in the Twin Cities from early on to present.

  • From: KBEM
  • Updated: Nov 11, 2021
Caption: Jazz 88 FM, Credit: http://www.jazz88fm.com
15 Pieces

Minnesota Music Moment is a weekly feature of KBEM FM 88.5, each week highlighting a different Minnesota musician.

  • From: KBEM
  • Updated: Feb 25, 2011
Caption: KBEM logo, Credit: Tim Nyberg (Octane Creative)
424 Pieces

Each item in the series tells how a musicians is inspired, how s/he works, their goals and intents for their work; in general, how each gets motivation and follows through with a creative project.

  • From: KBEM
  • Updated: Oct 09, 2015
Caption: Arne Fogel, Credit: John Whiting
65 Pieces

Minnesota Voices-Certain Standards Minnesota Vocalists perform new renditions of the Great American Songbook. Arne Fogel-Host

  • From: KBEM
  • Updated: Oct 31, 2012
Series image
2 Pieces

In a world and time of differences, music has the power to bring us together, to unite us through a shared experience. Music knows no boundaries. It transcends that which keeps us apart. Join Jazz88 for an evening of discovery with Music Without Borders.

  • From: KBEM
  • Updated: Sep 04, 2019
Caption: Bobb Fantauzzo performing with Lyz Jaakola, Credit: Andrea Canter
18 Pieces

Native flute player Bobb Fantauzzo illuminates the contributions made by jazz musicians with Native American heritage.

  • From: KBEM
  • Updated: Apr 19, 2016
Series image
4 Pieces

Butch Thompson's Piano Bench Show looks at the piano stylings of the early performers of jazz.

  • From: KBEM
  • Updated: Jul 14, 2011
Caption: PRX default Series image
0 Pieces

Perspectives relating to Minnesota culture, history and the arts contributed by Minneapolis high school students.

  • From: KBEM
  • Updated: Apr 04, 2010

Latest Pieces

Caption: la Familia Torres-Pena, Credit: Phil Nusbaum
The group, la Familia Torres-Pena has been prominent in Twin Cities Mexican music for decades. The couple's two children figure in this group. In t...

Bought by KSRQ


  • Added: Sep 22, 2013
  • Length: 05:00
  • Purchases: 1
Caption: Gary Schulte, Credit: promotional photo
Piece centers on a swing dance hosted by the Park Grove Library in Cottage Grove, MN. We hear from Gary Schulte, the swing violinist leading the tr...

  • Added: Sep 18, 2013
  • Length: 05:00
Piece image
Join Ester Swanson on Jazz at MPS with music from Minneapolis Southwest High School.

Bought by KSRQ


  • Added: Sep 16, 2013
  • Length: 57:35
  • Purchases: 1
Caption: SteamHeat, Credit: Brad Tutch
SteamHeat has a show on Sept 20, 2013. Band members tell of how much fun it is to play big band music.

Bought by KSRQ


  • Added: Sep 13, 2013
  • Length: 04:59
  • Purchases: 1
Caption: Lady J Griot, Credit: KFAI publicity shot
The Selby Avenue Jazz Fest: a local institution with great local acts and a national one, community activities, and a location for teaching about A...

Bought by KSRQ


  • Added: Sep 08, 2013
  • Length: 04:59
  • Purchases: 1
Piece image
Join Ester Swanson on Jazz at MPS with music from Minneapolis Southwest High School.

Bought by KSRQ


  • Added: Sep 05, 2013
  • Length: 58:20
  • Purchases: 1
Caption: The Middle Spunk Creek Boys, Credit: Ron Colby
The Middle Spunk Creek Boys bluegrass group has been around since 1968, The group created the Laughing Waters Bluegrass Festival in Minneapolis' Mi...

  • Added: Aug 17, 2013
  • Length: 05:00
Caption: Hounds of Finn, Credit: Crystal Liepa Photography
The Hounds of Finn plays this weekend at one of its established hot spots, Charlie’s irish Pub in Stillwater, 7:30-11:30 on Friday and Saturday. It...

  • Added: Aug 17, 2013
  • Length: 05:00
Caption: Michael Hauser, Credit: LaCross Journal
Michael Hauser is a long-term Twin Cities flamenco guitarist. He is called to play by flamenco dance groups and he also plays for general audiences...

  • Added: Aug 15, 2013
  • Length: 05:00
Caption: Irv Williams at the Dakota, Credit: http://www.dakotacooks.com/artist/irv-williams/
Irv Williams is 94 years old on Aug 17, On August 16, Irv plays his weekly gig at the Dakota in Minneapolis. Irv is a Twin Cities musical instituti...

Bought by KVSC


  • Added: Aug 08, 2013
  • Length: 05:00
  • Purchases: 1