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

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
Caption: jazz88 logo 2022, Credit: Tim Nyberg (Octane Creative)
It’s the 40th year of the Minneapolis Battle of the Jug Bands. It’s held at the Cabooze this Sunday starting at 12:40 PM, with a 4PM Saturday pre-p...

  • Added: Feb 01, 2023
  • Length: 08:00
Caption: Red Hot Django Peppers, Credit: Ryan Picone
The Red Hot Django Peppers has a new CD and is featuring it at all shows. The group plays music called jazz manouche or Hot Club jazz, and pulls mu...

  • Added: Jan 27, 2023
  • Length: 08:00
Caption: Red Hot Django Peppers, Credit: Ryan Picone
The Red Hot Django Peppers has a new CD and is featuring it at all shows, including Monday night at 7 at the Dakota in Minneapolis. The group plays...

  • Added: Jan 27, 2023
  • Length: 08:00
Caption: jazz88 logo 2022, Credit: Tim Nyberg (Octane Creative)
Four Minnesota award-winning Composers present their compositions this Friday at the Icehouse in Minneapolis. The awards are from the McKnight Foun...

  • Added: Jan 26, 2023
  • Length: 08:00