Jazz88

Some changes are coming to Minneapolis Public Schools in the next couple of months. There will be new leadership with a permanent Superintendent set to take over soon for the current interim Superintendent Rochelle Cox, who MPS Voices Executive Producer Manny Hill recently caught up with. Manny and Rochelle talk about a few topics, as the winter break is coming up, but first they discussed the new...

Stacey Kent is a critically acclaimed jazz singer beloved the world over. She has sold more than two million recordings and her music has been downloaded a half a billion times. Her latest recording, “Summer Me, Winter Me” was recently issued on Naïve records. Jazz88’s Peter Solomon caught up with Kent via Zoom to discuss the new recording. (Photo by Judy Maxwell. )

Joshua Redman recently released his Blue Note Records debut, "Where Are We". The album is much more lyrics heavy than Redman's previous outings and features Redman's maiden voyage as a lyric writer. The album is built around a collaboration between Redman and vocalist Gabrielle Cavassa as well as a top notch band featuring Aaron Parks, Joe Sanders and Brian Blade. Joshua Redman is scheduled for tw...

Dayna Martinez, the Executive Director of the Twin Cities Jazz Festival, stopped by during the Morning Show to announce the artists that will be featured in Winter Jazz Fest coming up on February 24, 2024.

We are stuffed to the gills in Minnesota with great jazz artists. We wanted to highlight some of the best songs released in 2023. This list is by no means comprehensive and we encourage you to listen our stream dedicated to Minnesota music, Minnesota Jazz Tracks. And don't miss out on the great local show of the same name on our FM airwaves on Monday nights from 7-9.

We are stuffed to the gills in Minnesota with great jazz artists. We wanted to highlight some of the best songs released in 2023. This list is by no means comprehensive and we encourage you to listen our stream dedicated to Minnesota music, Minnesota Jazz Tracks. And don't miss out on the great local show of the same name on our FM airwaves on Monday nights from 7-9.

Enrollment Season has gotten underway again at Minneapolis Public Schools. It started November 15, and MPS Voices Executive PRoducer Manny Hill talked with MPS Director of Enrollment Managment Martha Swanson about important dates for families to remember, and also the upcoming School Finder Fair happening on January 13!

José James is a product of South Minneapolis and even though he lives elsewhere he is still strongly connected with the Twin Cities. In fact, James fell in love with jazz as a young teenager thanks to an announcer on Jazz88 outlining the role of Billy Strayhorn in the composition "Take The A Train". In his adulthood James has become an internationally revered jazz artist. He's dropping a new album...

Oleta Adams joined Patty Peterson in the Playroom to talk about her upcoming concert at Dakota in Mpls. She talks about her band and the importance of the song "Get Here".

Craig Dion and Jason Craft alongside fellow musicians and vocalists will be gracing the stage of the Capri Theater in Minneapolis this Sunday for a concert celebrating the music of Stevie Wonder. They visited the Afternoon Cruise to discuss the concert, Wonder's vast musical output and the unique unpolished joy that Stevie Wonder brings to his work behind the drum kit.

Vocalist Deb Brown joins Patty Peterson on Sunday Morning Jazz to talk about her Holiday concert & CD release on Dec. 2 at Crooners.

Ginger Commodore, Judi Vinar and Connie Evingson are all headliners in their own right but they have elected to get together as a triple threat for the first time to usher in the holidays with their Crooner's concert on November 30 "Holiday Sugar, Spice and Everything Nice". The trio connected with Sean McPherson from the Afternoon Cruise to discuss their plans for the concert and their storied ca...

Jazz 88's Peter Solomon spoke with Erinn Liebhard, director of the St. Paul based dance troupe Rhythmically Speaking about their upcoming show "Chill," running Dec. 1 -3 at Amsterdam Bar & Hall in St. Paul, and featuring original choreography to a live jazz performance of Vince Guaraldi's score for A Charlie Brown Christmas. (Image by Jillian Bell).

Maurice Jacox is a living legend. He's lived his life on stages around the world and nowadays the Twin Cities is blessed to see him all over town. On November 28 Maurice will be leading his group "We Still R" through a concert at the Dakota. In the conversation with Jazz88's Sean McPherson Jacox discusses how he ended up playing with We Still R, his love of the Cuban people and more.

Maurice Jacox is a living legend. He's lived his life on stages around the world and nowadays the Twin Cities is blessed to see him all over town. On November 28 Maurice will be leading his group "We Still R" through a concert at the Dakota. In the conversation with Jazz88's Sean McPherson Jacox discusses how he ended up playing with We Still R, his love of the Cuban people and more.

Drummer, bandleader and writer Brandon Commodore is no stranger to stages all across the world in his work with Stokley, The New Power Generation and more. But for Brandon's own musical development, no stage looms as large as the Dakota. This Monday he and his group NRG will grace the stage and Commodore has a lot to be excited about.

Jose James (Sr.) talks to Patty Peterson about playing the music of Grover Washington Jr's Winelight Album at Crooners on Nov 17

Jazz88’s Peter Solomon spoke with trumpeter and composer Russ Johnson, who has described his own music as "too in for the out crowd and too out for the in crowd." He is performing Saturday November 18th at Jazz Central with drummer Abinnet Berhanu, Bryan Nichols, piano and Ted Olsen, bass. Johnson has performed with iconic musicians like Joe Lovano, Lee Konitz, Steve Swallow, and Bill Frisell. He...

Franklin STEAM Middle School's Michael "Mr. B" Bratsch has been building an incredible learning experience for the students at Franklin, and is excited to present a new project coming to MPS Voices called The R&B: Read & Believe Podcast. Mr. B talks with MPS Voices Executive Producer Manny Hill about how the idea for the podcast came about, the hard work the Franklin students have put in, and what...

Jazz88’s Peter Solomon speaks with Dr. Maya Sullivan about her work as Dean of Students at Metro State University and about Graduate Programs Preview Day, taking place November 14th from 5 – 7 PM.

Jazz88's Peter Solomon caught up with Mary Ann Sullivan whose band Mary Ann and the Money Makers will be featured in a Jazzclectic Concert Sunday at Mall of America.

Harold López-Nussa is already out on the road and is ready to visit the Cedar Cultural Center on Wednesday November 15 for his debut performance at that venue. López-Nussa's new release is his first for Blue Note and it's garnering lots of acclaim for good reason; it's a reflection on his experiences, both joyous and melancholy, of leaving Cuba and moving with his family to France. Harold took som...

Jazz88’s Peter Solomon spoke with David Radames Toro, Stage Director for Minnesota Opera’s production of Cruzar La Cara De La Luna, a mariachi opera showing at the Ordway through November 12th. (Attached photo by Dan Norman)

Jazz88’s Peter Solomon spoke with Sgt. Rick Denneson of the West Hennepin County Police Department about Crash Responder Safety Week, November 13 – 17. Sgt. Denneson says that the week was not just created to raise awareness about the safety of crash responders, but to encourage the driving public to consider their own safety in potentially hazardous driving situations. (Attached image from Oregon...

Nabaté Isles connected with Jazz88 in advance of his show this Sunday at Crooners. The show is titled "Jazz's Influence on Hip-Hop". Isles was quick to point out how his upbringing in NYC in the golden era of hip-hop involved his artistry and his understanding of music in general. Nabaté also shared the information on the distinguished group of players and guests that he'll have with him on Sunday...