KBEM

StationAccount image
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

Series image
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
Series image
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
Series image
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
Caption: PRX default Series image
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: Sarah M. Greer, Credit: Brena Greer
A decade ago, Sarah M Greer had just about enough with her job. So she quit, and enrolled in music school to study vocal performance. Now she is a ...

  • Added: Jul 23, 2018
  • Length: 08:00
Caption: Ted Olsen, Credit: Steve Kenny
Ted Olsen plays the bass and composes. But his convincing quality is the great breadth of his influences. He’s performing with his quartet at Vieux...

  • Added: Jul 22, 2018
  • Length: 08:00
Caption: Ted Olsen, Credit: Steve Kenny
Ted Olsen plays the bass and composes. But his convincing quality is the breadth of his influences. When Ted spoke with Phil Nusbaum, they talked a...

  • Added: Jul 22, 2018
  • Length: 08:00
Caption: Wee Willie Walker, Credit: Doug Knutson
Wee Willie Walker is one of Minnesota’s great blues treasures. Willie plays a 7:30pm show at Crooner’s in Minneapolis This Friday night Nov 30. In ...

Bought by KFAI Minneapolis


  • Added: Jul 19, 2018
  • Length: 08:00
  • Purchases: 1
Caption: Paul Barry and the Ace Tones with Lila Ammons, Credit: Kent Flemmer
Paul Barry, Twin Cities Blues Harp Player Combines blues band influences from Chicago and West Coast in live shows by the Ace Tones. In a conversat...

  • Added: Jul 19, 2018
  • Length: 08:00
Caption: Paul Berry and the Ace Tones with Lila Ammons, Credit: Kent Flemmer
Paul Barry, Twin Cities Blues Harp Player Combines blues band influences from Chicago and West Coast in his live shows with the Ace Tones. Check ou...

  • Added: Jul 19, 2018
  • Length: 08:00
Caption: No Man's String Band, Credit: Honu Foto
In an old bluegrass band there was a leader with sidemen. But today there are many other arrangements, and the name No Man’s String Band reflects t...

  • Added: Jul 13, 2018
  • Length: 08:00
Caption: No Man's String Band, Credit: Honu Foto
In an old bluegrass band there was a leader with sidemen. But today there are many other arrangements, and the name No Man’s String Band reflects t...

  • Added: Jul 13, 2018
  • Length: 08:00
Caption: Bobb Fantauzzo, Credit: Don Olson
Music Without Boundaries is a live recording of a concert performed on April 26, 2018 at Urban Arts Academy in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Performing ...

  • Added: Jul 12, 2018
  • Length: 58:05
Caption: Billy McLaughlin, Credit: Ryan Taylor
Billy McLaughlin has helped blaze the trail for a guitar style known as tap guitar. But when Billy talked to Phil Nusbaum, we learned that to Billy...

  • Added: Jul 12, 2018
  • Length: 08:00