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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780 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: Kenan Serenbetz, Credit: Urian Franco
Catharus sings new songs reflecting religious traditions written by Kenan Serenbetz. Kenan is steeped in shaped-note and medieval singing. It has a...

  • Added: Feb 17, 2023
  • Length: 08:00
Caption: Katia Cardenas, Credit: Rebecca Slater
Katia Cardenas is a well-known Jazz vocalist from Minneapolis – St Paul. Lately, in her new songs written from experience, she’s revealed a more po...

  • Added: Feb 16, 2023
  • Length: 08:00
Caption: Katia Cardenas, Credit: Rebecca Slater
Katia Cardenas Features Her New Songs 9:30 PM this Saturday Night at KJ’s Hideaway in Saint Paul. In a recent conversation with Phil Nusbaum, Katia...

  • Added: Feb 16, 2023
  • Length: 08:00
Caption: John Penny, Credit: Andrea Canter
Guitarist John Penny Is in touch with many jazz styles, and he uses many as sources for his new compositions. Also, when John performs, he offers i...

  • Added: Feb 12, 2023
  • Length: 08:00
Caption: Robert Lehmann by Robert Lehmann, Credit: Robert Lehmann by Robert Lehmann
Cedar Commissions shows are here on Friday and Saturday February 17 and 18. Each performer receives funding from the Jerome Foundation to create ne...

  • Added: Feb 10, 2023
  • Length: 08:00
Caption: jazz88 logo 2022, Credit: Tim Nyberg (Octane Creative)
Cedar Commissions artists are granted funds from the Jerome Foundation to Create New Musical Work and perform the work on the stage of the Cedar Cu...

  • Added: Feb 09, 2023
  • Length: 08:00
Caption: Joan Griffith by Ann Marsden, Credit: Ann Marsden
Noted Twin Cities Guitarist Joan Griffith has Issued a new CD, called Sambanova 2. The project also features pianist Laura Caviani and cellist Greg...

  • Added: Feb 06, 2023
  • Length: 08:00
Caption: Ginger Commodore, Credit: Tom Wallace
Ginger Commodore and Kendra Glenn are Twin Cities singers who hold Anita Baker as an important singing reference point. And Ginger and Kendra prese...

  • Added: Feb 03, 2023
  • Length: 08:00
Caption: BZ3 CD cover art, Credit: Galen Higgens
BZ3, the organ trio led by Brian Ziemniak plays a mix of jazz, soul, R n B and Funk. And BZ3 has a new CD!. Phil Nusbaum caught up with Brian to ta...

  • Added: Feb 02, 2023
  • Length: 08:00
Caption: BZ3 CD Cover A rt, Credit: Galen Higgens
BZ3, the organ trio led by Brian Ziemniak plays a mix of jazz, soul, R n B and Funk. And BZ3, new CD in hands, holds forth at Crooners Supper Club,...

  • Added: Feb 02, 2023
  • Length: 08:00