Jazz88

Minneapolis Public Schools is enhancing its outreach to Spanish-speaking families with a series of four Newcomer Orientation sessions in late January and throughout February. MPS Voices Executive Producer Manny Hill talks with MPS Outreach Specialist Shakur Ali about these Orientation Sessions, when and where they are, and what families can expect to learn from them.

Jazz88's Peter Solomon spoke with Trumpeter Steve Kenny, who curates the jazz at K.J.'s Hideaway. He brings his quintet to the St. Paul venue Saturday, February 3rd to celebrate the music of John Coltrane. This will be the 100th performance in the ongoing jazz series that Kenny has curated over the past two years.

Dennis Spears is the longtime curator of the Legends Series at the Capri Theater. Spears was nice enough to visit Jazz88 on his "day off" to discuss the show he is putting up at the Capri this weekend. The focus for the concert is the legendary soul sounds of the 1960s and 1970s. In addition to talking about this concert, Dennis Spears also reflected on the staying power of this era of music.

January 31 through February 4 are the dates for Klezmer On Ice, a Twin Cities celebration of Klezmer music and Jewish Culture. The event includes klezmer concerts and music learning opportunities, presentations about Yiddish-based culture, a visual art exhibit, a film screening. One of the organizers is Josh Rosard. When Josh talked to Phil Nusbaum, Josh talked about the inspiration for Klezmer on...

Singer – songwriter Michael Monroe has sought a simple life, and that’s why he lived a long time in the area of Grand Marais, MN. His songs relate to the experience, and he performs many of his original compositions at a show called The #Ms: Minnesota Music Masters, with Billy McLaughlin and John McAndrew, Sunday February 4 at 6:30pm. When Michael sat down with Phil Nusbaum, Michael discussed his...

Mateo’s Rogue Tango has been playing since 2010 or 2011, and it’s leader, Scott Mateo Davies goes back further than that with Twin Cities Tango. The group plays at the Eagles number 34 in Minneapolis, 2nd and fourth Sundays at 6:30pm. Dancers play a big role in Twin Cities tango, and there is a tango organization known as the Tango Society of Minnesota. When Mateo sat down to talk to Phil Nusbaum...

Jazz88's Peter Solomon spoke with award-winning mystery novelist Michael Connelly about how jazz played an essential role in establishing the character of Harry Bosch, the hard-edged loner cop with a penchant for bucking authority and a deep-seated love of jazz. Connelly himself became a jazz fan as he was doing the research for his books. (Image by Mark Coggins, San Francisco)

Other Country Ensemble hosts World Music Mondays at the Eagles in Minneapolis every fourth Monday of every month at 7:30pm. The next one is this Monday, January 22. At these shows, Other Country Ensemble performs, but also showcases other world music groups. When Scott Nieman talked to Phil Nusbaum Scott first told about Other Country Ensemble members.

Jazz88's Peter Solomon spoke with drummers Abinnet Berhanu and Kevin Washington about an upcoming show at Icehouse, Friday evening, January 19th. Berhanu will be showcasing music that draws on his Ethiopian heritage and his band Ahndenet will feature the singer Genet Abate. Washington will perform with RA Spirit. Photo of Abinnet Berhanu by Beza Tuga.

Jazz88 is getting ready to launch their newest show, "The Jazz Impulse". Danny Sigelman will host the new show on Saturdays 7-10pm. This show will be about the "now". The artists stepping on stage that night, the music that's making this great jazz scene go strong. Sigelman joined Sean McPherson to talk about the show and the inaugural episode!

Saint Paul Peterson is a funk ambassador, gifted vocalist, bassist and a curator of the Funk Friday series. He’s been a member of the Family and The Time and he’s been a recognized fixture in the music world on an international level for decades. Saint Paul is bringing his online series, Funk Friday, onto the stage on Friday at the Green Room in Minneapolis. Jazz88 is sponsoring the event and broa...

The First annual STEAM Fest is coming to Franklin STEAM Middle School on January 25. MPSVoices' own DJ DIME talks with Franklin Teacher Michael "Mr. B" Bratsch for more information on the event, and what familes, students and community members can expect!

Rabeca formed to play at a cabaret in 2019. Group members enjoyed the experience and decided to form a group. Though keeping a group together was not easy during the pandemic Rabeca persevered and drew together for inspiration. Phil Nusbaum talked to band members about the new Rabeca CD, Junk. Colleen Dolde said that Rabeca was playing most of the songs during the pandemic.

Jenny Klukken has been bridging the gap between her classical background and her passion for jazz on her primary instrument, the marimba, for years. She's back at it on Thursday night over at Crooners with an all-star band of Chris Olson (g), Chris Bates (b) and non-Chris Dave Schmalenberger (d). Klukken caught up with Sean from Jazz88 to discuss how marimba fits into the world of jazz and how her...

Sousaphonist Erik Jacobson’s romance with New Orleans brass bands started when we was in high school and was exposed to the Dirty Dozen Brass Band record “My Feet Can’t Fail Me Now.” After sharing the album with fellow University of Wisconsin-Madison music student Christopher “Roc” Ohly, he started up Mama Digdown’s Brass Band. They’ve kept it going for thirty years and have toured all over, inclu...

Minneapolis-based pianist and composer spoke with Jazz88's Peter Solomon ahead of his December 30th birthday celebration at KJ's Hideaway in St. Paul. (Photo by Evin Rodriguez-Sosa)

Chris Speed, saxophonist for The Bad Plus, recently connected with Sean McPherson to discuss The Bad Plus's upcoming residency at the Dakota, which starts on December 25 and runs until December 28.

Ben Monder, guitarist for The Bad Plus, recently connected with Peter Solomon to discuss The Bad Plus's upcoming residency at the Dakota, which starts on December 25 and runs until December 28.

Reid Anderson, co-founder and drummer for The Bad Plus, recently connected with Sean McPherson to discuss The Bad Plus's upcoming residency at the Dakota, which starts on December 25 and runs until December 28.

Dave King, co-founder and drummer for The Bad Plus, recently connected with Peter Solomon to discuss The Bad Plus's upcoming residency at the Dakota, which starts on December 25 and runs until December 28.

Joyann Parker is all in for the blues and for weighted blankets. As she travels the road as a celebrated blues musician she has been amassing a fan base across the Midwest and beyond. Check out the conversation to find out Joyann Parker's 2023 album "Roots", her holiday show at KJ's Hideaway and her New Year's Eve shows at Crooners.

Karrin Allyson and Rod Fleeman are never far from the holiday spirit. After sharing many a night on stage in Kansas City Allyson and Fleeman frequently travel together to bring their special brand of holiday cheer further afield. The duo were nice enough to stop by our studios today to serenade us with renditions of "Christmas Bells Are Ringing" and "Some of that Sunshine" plus some conversation.

DeCarlo Jackson is a shining light in the Twin Cities. He is a member of HEYARLO, Hippocampus and is a gifted trumpet player and bassist. After a viewing of the Spike Lee classic Mo' Better Blues, DeCarlo Jackson wanted to combine the thriving jazz scene in the Twin Cities with the thriving comedy scene in the Twin Cities. After connecting with Emma Dalenberg, the duo planted the seeds for RIFFS,...

Toussaint Morrison and Roz Prickel are no strangers to stages of all varieties. But after about a year of contemplation and a handful of weeks of intense work, the duo are ready to stage their debut holiday show. They'll be staging it at Northeast Social on Thursday and Friday December 14 and 15.

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...