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)
426 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: Westwind Swing Band, Credit: Amy LeBeau
The West Wind Swing Band performs at the Centennial Lakes Pavilion Monday night Aug 27 from 7 till 8 PM. The group specializes in Artie Shaw arrang...

  • Added: Aug 22, 2018
  • Length: 08:00
Caption: Detroit Don King, Credit: Ron Householder
A few decades ago in his Detroit home, Don combined playing the blues with an auto parts business, but the business had trouble with crime. So Don ...

Bought by WOUB


  • Added: Aug 12, 2018
  • Length: 08:00
  • Purchases: 1
Caption: Detroit Don King, Credit: Ron Householder
He goes by Detroit Don King because that’s where he comes from. You can catch Don’s blues band at the Black Dog in St Paul, Friday Aug 24 at 7pm. A...

  • Added: Aug 12, 2018
  • Length: 08:00
Caption: Debbie Duncan, Credit: Nathan Yungerberg
Friday night, Debbie Duncan sings at Vieux Carre from 9 till midnight. Then on Sunday Aug 19, she does a completely different show at Crooners with...

  • Added: Aug 10, 2018
  • Length: 08:00
Caption: Jazz 88 logo, Credit: Tim Nyberg (Octane Creative)
Cory Healy is a local composer and drummer with a Great Melodic Sense whose jazz Mission is to Integrate Wide Influences into the style of his band...

  • Added: Aug 09, 2018
  • Length: 08:00
Caption: Jazz 88 logo, Credit: Tim Nyberg (Octane Creative)
Cory Healy is a local composer and drummer with a great melodic sense whose jazz Mission is to Integrate Wide Influences into Jazz. Catch Cory’s Be...

  • Added: Aug 09, 2018
  • Length: 08:00
Caption: Cassandra Cole, Credit: Drew Jonell
The Raw showcase takes place in 60 cities across the globe, each showcasing local artists including visual art, performance art and music. The down...

  • Added: Aug 08, 2018
  • Length: 08:00
Caption: Greg Herriges, Credit: Rebecca Goodwyn
Stella Roma was formed to create new music based on what are considered to be traditional sources. The group performs at Café 318 in Excelsior on S...

  • Added: Aug 03, 2018
  • Length: 08:00
Caption: Minnesota Mandolin Orchestra, Credit: Steve Rouch
The Minnesota Mandolin Orchestra builds on the legacy of the early mandolin orchestras from 100 years ago. The group plays some of that old music, ...

  • Added: Jul 31, 2018
  • Length: 08:00
Caption: Minnesota Mandolin Orchestra, Credit: Steve Rouch
The Minnesota Mandolin Orchestra builds on the legacy of the mandolin orchestras of 100 years ago. Listen to the group at at Como Lakeside Pavilion...

  • Added: Jul 31, 2018
  • Length: 08:00