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

Caption: Acme Big Band
1 Piece

This progam features Minnesota Big Bands, including the Nova Big Band, the Acme Big Band and the University of Minnesota. Twenty-five Big Bands in Minnesota have recorded CDs. Interviews with local Big Band personalities are presented occasionally.

  • From: KBEM
  • Updated: Mar 23, 2010
Caption: PRX default Series image
3 Pieces

Minneapolis high school students script and read 60-second pieces based on research into important figures in African American history.

  • From: KBEM
  • Updated: Feb 11, 2010
Caption: PRX default Series image
4 Pieces

"Classic Jazz MN" is a series exploring Minnesota's classic jazz roots. The series includes shows on Doc Evans, Doc Evans at the Walker Art Center, Preservation Hall Era and the Emporium of Jazz. Written and produced by Butch Thompson. Co-produced by Todd Melby.

  • From: KBEM
  • Updated: Nov 23, 2011
Caption: Jazz At MPS with Josh Jones and the Dynamics
24 Pieces

Jazz music from students in the Minneapolis Public Schools.

  • From: KBEM
  • Updated: Jul 24, 2013
Caption: South High School Jazz Band-director/Scott Carter with guest Irvin Mayfield
6 Pieces

Jazz at South High features music from past and present South High Jazz Ensembles and brand new recordings by the South High Jazz Combo. Each week's show will feature never before heard performances of the South High Jazz Combo that are recorded at South High.

  • From: KBEM
  • Updated: Jan 03, 2013
Caption: KBEM Jazz 88 FM, Credit: http://www.jazz88fm.com
4 Pieces

The Twin Cities Jazz Society annually presents a series of concerts by local artists. Jazz 88 chose six of these concerts to record for broadcast.

  • From: KBEM
  • Updated: Apr 12, 2010
Caption: Butch at the Steinway, Credit: Ross Ayoka
4 Pieces

Butch Thompson hosts this program that features original jazz recordings and the occasional live performance.

  • From: KBEM
  • Updated: Apr 24, 2011
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12 Pieces

Long-form interviews and performances by Minnesota musicians

  • From: KBEM
  • Updated: Nov 14, 2018
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12 Pieces

Junctions & Sidetracks, the story behind the creation of Empire Builder a musical about a time traveling train. Conversations about family, history, race and forgiveness. Music by George Mauer. Libretto by Ann Bertram. Funded by the Minnesota Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund.

  • From: KBEM
  • Updated: Mar 28, 2019
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31 Pieces

From humble beginnings in 1970, KBEM-FM has become the most powerful and longest-lasting radio station owned by a Minnesota school district, and one of the nation’s leading broadcast voices for jazz. Explore the people, places and events that have shaped KBEM’s first 50 years in this audio series.

  • From: KBEM
  • Updated: May 02, 2022

Latest Pieces

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We have a new special on Jazz88 called Live From Studio 1, featuring long-form interviews and performances by Minnesota musicians. Our first broadc...

  • Added: Nov 14, 2018
  • Length: 01:15:14
Caption: Jazz 88 logo, Credit: Tim Nyberg (Octane Creative)
Kathi and Dean Lavalle have been associated with many bands of the years. They have found that the little big band format, with 10 pieces, provides...

  • Added: Nov 13, 2018
  • Length: 08:00
Caption: Jazz 88 logo, Credit: Tim Nyberg (Octane Creative)
The Lavalle Jazz Cats is a little big band, 10 pieces, that plays this Wednesday, November 21 at the Applewood in Maple Grove at 7pm, and then Satu...

  • Added: Nov 13, 2018
  • Length: 08:00
Caption: Michelle Kinney, Credit: Kevin Odegaard
Michelle Kinney leads her group What We Have Here into jazz Central Studios in Minneapolis, Friday November 16 at 8:30. Michelle plays the cello an...

  • Added: Nov 09, 2018
  • Length: 08:00
Caption: Larry McDonough and Joel Shapira, Credit: Andrea Canter and Emily Jane Davis
Pianist Larry McDonough and guitarist Joel Shapira specialize in interpreting the piano and guitar duet from decades back, Bill Evans and Jim Hall....

  • Added: Nov 08, 2018
  • Length: 08:00
Caption: Larry McDonough and Joel Shapira, Credit: Andrea Canter and Emily Jane Davis
Pianist Larry McDonough and guitarist Joel Shapira are specialize in interpreting the piano and guitar duet from decades back, Bill Evans and Jim H...

  • Added: Nov 08, 2018
  • Length: 08:00
Caption: American Roots Review poster, Credit: Raquel Mendez
Larry Long has an extensive career using songs to promote his vision of a better world. On Nov 10, Larry and a group of other musical luminaries fr...

  • Added: Oct 30, 2018
  • Length: 08:00
Caption: David Harland, Credit: Joanna Gail
David Harland performs and composes finger-style guitar music. David’s style today is the result of a gradual evolution. He talked about it with Ph...

  • Added: Oct 29, 2018
  • Length: 08:00
Caption: David Harland, Credit: Joanna Gail
David Harland performs and composes finger-style guitar music. His next show is at the Aster Café in Minneapolis, Thursday November 8 from 8 till 1...

  • Added: Oct 29, 2018
  • Length: 08:00
Caption: Nathan Hanson, Credit: Benny Moreno
Nathan Hanson is a saxophonist with international credits who is based in Saint Paul, MN. , in 2006, not long after returning to Minnesota after 8 ...

  • Added: Oct 25, 2018
  • Length: 12:40