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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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)
425 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
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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
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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
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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

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In this episode of "Classic Jazz MN," Butch Thompson looks at some extraordinary events of the early 1960s. The main focus is a pair of concerts at...

Bought by KFAI Minneapolis, KMUW, KPIP-LP, WDSE, WDSE and more


  • Added: Nov 23, 2011
  • Length: 58:00
  • Purchases: 7
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In 1952, jazz cornetist Doc Evans returned to the Twin Cities after a five-year stay in Chicago — the only time he ever lived outside of Minnesota....

Bought by KFAI Minneapolis, WDSE, WDSE, KSRQ, and WTIP


  • Added: Nov 23, 2011
  • Length: 58:00
  • Purchases: 5
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Jazz cornetist Paul "Doc" Evans, born in Spring Valley, Minnesota in 1907, heard his first real jazz recordings (on 78 rpm discs) shortly after enr...

Bought by KFAI Minneapolis, WDSE, KSRQ, and WTIP


  • Added: Nov 23, 2011
  • Length: 58:00
  • Purchases: 4
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After going through foster care, this Minneapolis High School kids wonders about the good accomplished by foster care.

  • Added: Aug 24, 2011
  • Length: 01:00
Caption: Darshon Moore, Credit: Philip Nusbaum
Darshon Moore speaks from experience of having parents representing differing cultural backgrounds

  • Added: Aug 24, 2011
  • Length: 01:00
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Evan McHenry, a student at Susan B Anthony middle School in Minneapolis seriously compares pancakes and waffles. He prefers waffles because they ar...

  • Added: May 14, 2011
  • Length: 01:00
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Tenzin Wongmo, a student at Susan B Anthony middle School in Minneapolis thinks that there is too much talking behind peoples' backs. She proposes ...

Bought by PRX Remix


  • Added: May 14, 2011
  • Length: 01:00
  • Purchases: 1
Caption: Danee Voss, Credit: Philip Nusbaum
Danee Voss, a student at Susan B Anthony middle School in Minneapolis talked to her mother about the function of music at different ages. The resul...

  • Added: May 14, 2011
  • Length: 01:00
Caption: Avinash Patel, Credit: Phil Nusbaum
Many young students are not able to get the sleep they need each night. Avinash Patel, a student at Susan B Anthony middle School in Minneapolis ha...

  • Added: May 14, 2011
  • Length: 01:00
From: KBEM
Series: What's Real
Caption: Sara Byrn, Credit: Philip Nusbaum
Sarah Byrn, student at Susan B Anthony Middle School in Minneapolis wonders how the expression "shut up" became known as impolite. She says there's...

  • Added: May 10, 2011
  • Length: 01:00