Jazz88

Traiveon and Candi and Bakkwooddrift command the stage at Icehouse this Thursday. The doors open 6:30 with the show at 7:30. The two bands include many old friends who support each other. Jimmy Hodges of Bakkwooddrift and Traiveon of Traveon and Candi talked to Phil Nusbaum about the show. First, Jimmy told the story of how he met Charmaine, singer with Bakkwooddrift.

Noel Coward was an acclaimed playwright, composer, singer, and actor. To celebrate his 125th birthday, vocalists Erin Schwab and Maud Hixson, along with arranger and pianist Rick Carlson reprise the Guthrie Theater production “Coward’s Women.” The performance is at Crooners, Saturday night October 12 at 6:30pm. The production tells the Noel Coward story through the significant women in his life, a...

The Southside Aces performs New Orleans Jazz, old and new. This Monday night at 7, the Aces are at the Dakota in Minneapolis, with a show called a Night in New Orleans. Tony Balluff leads the Southside Aces. When Tony met with Phil Nusbaum, the talk turned to the great appeal of New Orleans jazz to Tony and the other Southside Aces

The internationally acclaimed vocalist Samarth Nagarkar is bringing his Khayal Ensemble to MacPhail for a performance on Saturday October 12. In advance of the concert Mr. Nagarkar and Michael Cain, the Director of Electronic Music Recording Arts at MacPhail connected with Jazz88 via ZOOM to discuss the concert, the improvisational traditions of North Hindustani music and the connections to jazz a...

Joel Shapira is always out there playing. He's out playing in town four or five times a week. But behind the scenes Shapira is always working on his own material. Joel came through the Jazz88 studios to discuss his new record "Sleepless Montage" and the release party coming up on Thursday, October 3 at Berlin in Minneapolis.

Jazz88's Peter Solomon spoke with Dale Alexander, a pianist and drummer based in LA but originally from St. Paul, to get his thoughts on Bud Powell. The father of modern jazz piano was born September 27, 1924 and would be 100 years old.

Violinist Ernest Bisong from Walker-West visited Jazz88 to talk about the new season of the Rondo Community Music Series. The series launches this Saturday (9/28) and rolls through to May with concerts from Kavyesh Kaviraj, Kevin Washington and RA Spirit, Katia Cardenas, Trio Zenia and more. Bisong shared his philosophy for recruiting the right artists, keeping the series accessible and involving...

Fats Waller is one of the most influential musicians in the history of jazz, and also one of the most loved by the public. His music was at the same time intellectually deep and danceable. The Tony Bailuff Big 3 digs deeply into the Waller catalog on its performances. Tony talked to Phil Nusbaum about the Big 3, and about Fats Waller himself.

Fats Waller is one of the most influential musicians in the history of jazz, and also one of the most loved by the public. His music was at the same time intellectually deep and danceable. The Tony Bailuff Big 3 digs deeply into the Waller catalog on its performances. Tony talked to Phil Nusbaum about the Big 3, and about Fats Waller himself.

Wayne Anthony is set for his second production of Frank Sinatra music for Champagne Ivy, taking place at the Four Seasons Hotel in Minneapolis. There are shows at 4:30 and 8 Saturday October 12. To Wayne, singing Sinatra is more than voicing great songs. Sinatra music was woven into his upbringing, as he told Phil Nusbaum

Twin Cities Jazz Guitarist Joel Shapira celebrates his new Quartet CD, titled Sleepless Montage, at the Club, Berlin, in Minneapolis, next Thursday at 7PM. The CD has 9 pieces, all composed by Shapira. About the title selection, Sleepless Montage, Joel told Phil Nusbaum, that the title refers to his compositional process.

Drummer and bandleader L.A. Buckner lovingly describes fellow drummer/bandleader Brandon Commodore as the "big homie". These two great drummers and bandleaders have years of history and the love will come through loud and clear on Saturday at Crooners when they share a bill. In their visit with Jazz88 Commodore pointed out that not only is it great to see two drummer/bandleaders sharing a bill but...

Jazz88's Peter Solomon speaks with NEA Jazz Master and Grammy-Award Winning trombonist and composer Delfeayo Marsalis about what inspired his recent recording 'Crescent City Jewels.' Marsalis will be featured in two sets with the JazzMn Orchestra Sunday afternoon at the Dakota. (Attached photo by Eric Waters and Girard Mouton).

Voz En Punto, the wildly talented acapella group out of Mexico City visited Jazz88 on Monday September 16. It was a beautiful coincidence that the group was visiting on Mexican Independence Day. Voz En Punto is visiting the Twin Cities in partnership with VocalEssence. The group talked about their thirty plus year history and performed two songs: Tilingolingo and La Negra.

Riktika Ganguly, the Twin Cities composer and anthropologist, debuts a new folk opera this Friday and Saturday at Luminary Arts Center in Minneapolis. Titled The Mushroom That Swallowed the Moon Whole, the production explores both mobility and rootedness and features Indian music. In a conversation with Phil Nusbaum, Ritika explained the inspiration for the new folk opera.

Pat Donohue’s Prairie All-Stars became a household name as the house band for the Prairie Home Companion radio show. Over the years, the group members have learned to anticipate each other’s musical moves, which helps them cruise through lots of interesting and compelling songs. When Pat got together with Phil Nusbaum, they talked about the group’s repertoire which includes both original and very...

Trombonist Dave Graf has been a fixture in the Twin Cities jazz scene for decades but he spends most of his time behind the scenes. That changes on Sunday when he steps out on the Crooners Main Stage leading a band that includes Jennifer Grimm (voice), Phil Hey (drums), Doug Haining (sax), Mary Louise Knutson (piano) and Matt Peterson (bass). Graf took the time to connect with Jazz88 to discuss hi...

Vocalist extraordinaire Samara Joy is coming to the Ordway on Saturday September 14. During a break in her schedule Samara Joy connected with Sean McPherson to discuss her technique for picking songs, her quick rise to become one of the biggest names in the world of jazz and her love of ensemble singing.

Celebrated vocalist Ashley DuBose took some time out of her day to chat about her songs, her love of jazz and her upcoming performance at the Selby Ave JazzFest on Saturday, September 14 in Saint Paul.

Jazz88's Peter Solomon speaks with Brent Von Rensberg, co-founder of Zip Zap Circus of Cape Town, South Africa. They have put together a show for their new touring arm called 'Moya' which they are staging at the Children's Theatre in Minneapolis from September 12th through October 20th.

There are no names bigger in jazz than Louis Armstrong and Miles Davis. And for aspiring trumpet players it is essential learning to understand the careers and influences of these two icons. For Solomon Parham and Omar Abdulkarim the invitation to pay tribute to these icons at the Capri Theater in North Minneapolis gave them the opportunity to revisit two of the heroes they grew up studying. The d...

Pianist and vocalist, Oleta Adams of "Get Here" fame talks with Jazz88's Patty Peterson about her farewell tour. She will be in Concert at the Dakota Sept 15th in Mpls. Oleta feels that this "good bye to friends" concert will be one of reminiscing and gratitude.

Jazz88's Peter Solomon spoke with Bertrand Weber, Director of Culinary and Wellness Services at MPS. Weber gives a tour of Central Kitchen, where food is prepared and distributed to Minneapolis Public Schools. He talks about the changes that he initiated with the school system's culinary and wellness department when he came on board in 2012, and how he has reduced the amount of processed foods tha...

September 14 is the day of Saint Paul’s annual Selby Avenue Jazz Fest. The event has always featured great local talent representing many forms of Jazz, and with a great vibe as well. Phil Nusbaum talked to 2 event organizers, Mychael Wright and David Bonko about selecting talent. Jamecia Bennett is a local singer who has taken off in popularity, so Phil first asked Mychal if that selection was a...

The Marcin Wasilewski piano trio has been going for thirty years and their chemistry shines on and off stage. Tonight they're preparing for two shows at Berlin in the North Loop of Minneapolis. Sean McPherson connected with Marcin Wasilewski, Slawomir Kurkiewicz and Michal Miskiewicz to find out about their staying power, the Polish jazz scene and their love of Prince.