Jazz88

Jazz88's Peter Solomon spoke with trombonist Wycliffe Gordon about his musical influences and the diverse array of instruments that he plays, including soprano trumpet and didgeridoo. Gordon is appearing with the MMEA All State Jazz Band at the Dakota on Friday, February 14th.

Terrell X, the improvisational jazz human beatboxer, is preparing to perform selections from his most recent album, Transformation to Terrell X, with a live band on Saturday at Antonello Hall at MacPhail. In addition to being an in-demand performer, X also serves as an instructor in Electronic Music Recording Arts Program at MacPhail. Terrell X, also known as Carnage the Executioner, discussed his...

Jazz88's Peter Solomon speaks with filmmaker John Scheinfeld about his 2023 documentary "What the Hell Happened to Blood Sweat and Tears?" The film tells the story of the pioneering jazz rock band - one of the most popular bands in the world in the late sixties and early seventies - and the disastrous impact of going on tour beind the Iron Curtain for the US State Department. Scheinfeld describes...

Saint Croix Valley Opera Stages Dorothy Doring’s cabaret night. Dorothy’s show is called Glory of Love, and it takes place during Valentine’s Day weekend Saturday, February 15, at the Phipps Center for the Arts in Hudson, WI, at 7pm. The performance is staged by the Saint Croix Valley Opera Company. Phil Nusbaum talked about the show with the singer, Dorothy Doring, and about Cabaret night with Je...

The Twin Cities Flamenco Collective performs at Crooner’s in Fridley, Saturday February 15 from 7:30 till 9pm. Phil Nusbaum talked with guitarist Ross Fellrath and dancer Sachiko Jah Gee about flamenco, and the group’s guest for this performance, José Moreno.

Brent Fuqua celebrates the release of both his singer songwriter material and bluegrass songs Thursday March 13 at 7:30 at the Hook and Ladder in Minneapolis. That evening, the Mother Banjo band, Steam Machine and the Lake Monsters will add to the festivities. When Brent talked to Phil Nusbaum about his songs, Brent first addressed one written for his wife, No Nonsense Girl .

Katia Cardenas is a professional singer in the Twin Cities as well as being the program director for Walker West without Walls. Cardenas is also at the helm of the Women in Jazz Initiative for Walker West. This Saturday there is as a "Youth Women in Jazz Workshop" at South High School. Katia was nice enough to connect with MN Jazz Tracks host Sam Keenan to talk about this initiative in general and...

Pavel Jany leads the Global Jazz Collegium into Berlin in Minneapolis, for the group’s first ever appearance at the club. It will be this Friday night, February 7 from 7:30 till 10pm. In a conversation with Phil Nusbaum, Pavel talked about the evolution of the jazz approaches taken by the group.

The Skruffians is a group of experienced Twin Cities players that combine Jamaican reggae and ska with jazz chops. It’s always a playful combination of the familiar with testing the musical boundaries. Drummer Rick Nair and trumpeter Todd Baer recently sat down with Phil Nusbaum to talk about the Skruffians.

Pop Wagner’s groups entertain for brunch every second Saturday of the month at Icehouse from 11am till 2pm. This Saturday, January 8, Pop performs with the Hampden Rounders. Pop talked to Phil Nusbaum about the show, and first about the individual Rounders.

Jazz88's Peter Solomon spoke with guitarist and composer Scott Burton. Burton now lives in Eau Claire, Wisconsin but formerly lived in Richmond, Virginia (where Peter and Scott crossed paths on occasion). An artist inspired by collaboration and pushing musical boundaries, Burton brings a newly formed trio called "Mantis" to Berlin on Monday, February 10th. Attached photo of Mantis members Sean Car...

The players in Room3 are keeping busy. After building up a reputation in the past handful of years for electrifying live shows the band has finally released some recorded material and they're preparing for a performance on Friday, January 31 at First Ave as part of the Best New Bands concert. Keyboardist Eli Awada and bassist Beck Madson stopped by our studios to chat about their new single, Moque...

Jazz88's Peter Solomon visited an adult jazz combo in their first rehearsal directed by bassist/educator Chris Bates at Jazz Central. The combo is one of eleven groups that got started in January through North Star Jazz Workshops.

The River City Jazz Orchestra sports 17 pieces. The number of pieces gives the group the ability to play in many moods, revisit old songs in surprising new ways, and provide space for creative soloing. Roger Grup is co-lead trumpeter for the band, and he talked with Phil Nusbaum about keeping the approach fresh.

The Star of the North Jazz Orchestra performs its monthly show at the Beast Barbecue in Minneapolis, Tuesday January 28. Phil Nusbaum talked with founding member Patrick Gonsalves and singer Jen Burleigh – Bentz, first about the mission of Star of the North.

After years of sessions and casual collaborations, trumpet player Omar Abdul-Karim and pianist Kavyesh Kaviraj have forged a collaborative project. The quartet, which also features Ted Olsen on bass and Kevin Washington on drums, will perform on Tuesday, January 28 at the Dakota. Sean McPherson from the Afternoon Cruise caught up with the duo to get a sense of how this collaboration came about and...

On January 14, Sean McPherson from Jazz88 headed down to Whitey's Old Town Saloon in Northeast Minneapolis to check out a weekly Tuesday jam session helmed by bassist Graydon Peterson. Check out audio of the jam session, details about how to get involved and interviews with key players from the night.

Burning Blue Rain is composed of guitarist / vocalist Louis Tessman Stanoch and keyboardist / vocalist Oliver Osland. The two plus rhythm section celebrates its new EP, “Blue Frame” Wednesday January 29 at Seventh Street Entry in Minneapolis. Showtime is 8pm. Louis and Oliver started their musical careers as young kids.

The Star Tribune has launched a new podcast called "Ghost of a Chance" that tells the story of a black couple named Harry and Clementine Robinson who lived in South Minneapolis in the early twentieth century. The house that they occupied now belongs to Eric Roper, who happens to be the editor of the paper's regular history feature, "Curious Minnesota." Roper purchased the home in March of 2020 and...

7PM on Sunday January 26, Kendra Glenn, Ginger Commodore and Monique Blakey create a special tribute show to influential and inspiring singer, Anita Baker. Kendra Glenn talked to Phil Nusbaum about the show, which at the time of the interview, was in rehearsal. First, Kendra addressed the special qualities of the voice of Anita Baker.

Percussionist Bill Summers described music as a "religious undertaking" when he connected with Jazz88's Sean McPherson to discuss the recent Headhunters record and their upcoming performance at the Dakota. Summers was joined by their drummer Mike Clark and the conversation covered iconic moments from Headhunters history, the group's current lineup and their concern for musicians who are suffering...

Jazz88's Peter Solomon spoke with G. Philip Shoultz, III about the 44th annual Martin Luther King Jr. Tribute Concert taking place Sunday, January 19th at Ted Mann Concert Hall.

The celebrated vocalist Bruce Henry is back in town to perform a concert on Saturday at the Dakota titled "Everyone Under the Sun: A Celebration of Unity and Love." Henry connected with Sean McPherson to discuss how he and the band will use Martin Luther King Jr. as a point of departure to build community with the audience.

Jennifer Grimm the singer and Joe Cruz the guitarist are a couple of experienced Twin Cities musicians. The two team up every Thursday at Ingredients in White Bear, 5:30 till 8pm. How do they do it? Well it’s a mix of planning, and adapting to whatever is going on at the time, as Jennifer explained to Phil Nusbaum

Pop Wagner’s groups entertain for brunch every second Saturday of the month at Icehouse from 11am till 2pm. This Saturday, March 11, Pop performs with the Hampdon Rounders. Pop talked to Phil Nusbaum about the show, and first about the individual Rounders.