Jazz88

The American Roots Revue, staged November 12 at the Dakota in Minneapolis, comes from an idea of Larry Long. The show brings together Robert Robinson, Tonia Hughes Kendrick, Claudia Schmidt Larry Long and others to celebrate of the artists’ songs and musical cultures. Michael Bland, who has worked with Prince and many other musical luminaries leads the band. When Phil Nusbaum got together with Lar...

What's happening in the month of November at Minneapolis Public Schools? Interim Superintendent Rochelle Cox shares all with Jazz88's Manny Hill, including the launch of a unique observatory at Hall STEM Academy, what the district has planned for Election Day, National American Indian Involvement Week and much more!

The guitarist Marc Ribot was nice enough to catch up with the Afternoon Cruise in advance of his upcoming show at the Cedar. Ribot discussed his love of solo performance, his short lived tenure in Brother Jack McDuff's band and his close associations with the No-Wave scene in New York City.

Award-winning music icon Vijay Iyer was nice enough to join Sean McPherson from the Afternoon Cruise in anticipation of his Thursday show at The Dakota. In this interview Iyer discusses his new record, Uneasy, his love of the piano trio format and his approach to teaching.

For almost twenty-five years, Ticket to Brasil has been putting fresh spins on Brazilian music. The 6-piece plays at Crooners this Friday at 4PM, and the Bossa Nova trio this Sunday at the Metronome in St Paul at 4PM. Till now, when Ticket to Brasil has performed original music, they have been the work of leader Pavel Jany. But Pavel tells Phil Nusbaum that the singer, Natania Kamin, has become a...

Minneapolis-based vibes player Dave Hagedorn plays with Miguel Espinoza of Colorado at the Parkway Theater this Tuesday evening. The group plays flamenco fusion. This is the latest musical adventure for Hagedorn. When he spoke with Phil Nusbaum recently, Dave first talked about his local group with drummer Phil Hey and bassist Chris Bates.

Can a diverse teaching workforce improve student achievement in diverse schools? Metropolitan State University hopes to train a new generation of educators with their Urban Teacher program. Metro State's Victor Cole spoke with Miss Margaret on The Morning Show Wednesday, October 26th.

Luke Leblanc’s ’s new CD, Fugue State reflects Luke’s concern about the polarization seen everywhere today. The formal CD release is at the Icehouse in Minneapolis, Friday October 28. At 8PM, Ellis Cleve opens the show, and then it Luke holds forth. According to Luke the trouble today is more than political, but reaches into personal conversations, as he told Phil Nusbaum.

Scottie Miller’s latest musical project is a book of Scottie’s poetry and a CD of some of the poems set to music. The music ranges from blues and jazz to string quartets. Some call the combination of performed poems with music, beat poetry. The book and CD are titled Carnival Cocoon, and Scottie’s release event is Wednesday October 26 at the Dakota in Minneapolis. In a conversation with Phil Nusba...

In anticipation of his Saturday show at Jazz Central, saxophonist Dennis Mitcheltree hopped on a ZOOM with Sean from the Afternoon Cruise to talk about new album, Golden Rule.

Kevin Washington views himself as an artist in the tradition of Pharaoh Sanders and john and Alice Coltrane, of spirituality and healing. Kevin leads Ra Spirit into the live and online Walker West Community Music Series 7PM, Friday Oct 21. When Kevin talked to Phil Nusbaum about Ra Spirit, the talk turned to Journey to the Light, a Kevin Washington original composed in sections.

Jazz88's Manny Hill talks with Minneapolis Public Schools Board of Education Chair Kim Ellison about the latest in the search for a permanent Superintendent for the district, and how the Minneapolis community will be involved.

Gypsy Mania, also known as Hot Club Mania shares the bill with the Red Hot Django Peppers 7:30 PM, Sunday October 23 at the Cedar Cultural Center in Minneapolis. Guitarist Glen Helgeson of Gypsy Mania talked to Phil Nusbaum about the show. Glen said that the two bands take different approaches to Hot Club music with The Red Hot Django Peppers representing a more traditional approach.

Simple Gifts featuring Billy McLaughlin presents Harvest at the Parkway Theater in Minneapolis, Sunday October 16 at 7PM. The show re-imagines songs of Neil Young, sung by Carin Vagle, Karen Paurus and Amy Courts, with a Celtic twist added by Laura MacKenzie, all under Bill McLaughlin’s direction. Phil Nusbaum sat down with members of the production, and when he did, Billy first addressed how this...

Brian Wicklund grew up playing bluegrass, but is best known for the Barley Jacks, a group that combines bluegrass with other idioms. Brian’s daughter, Clara plays with Blue Hazard, which also combines bluegrass with other forms, but in a way very different than the Barley Jacks. The Barley Jacks share the stage with Blue Hazard at the Hook and Ladder in Minneapolis, 7PM next Saturday October 15. I...

What's happening at Minneapolis Public Schools in the month of October? Plenty! Manny Hill talks with MPS Interim Superintendent Rochelle Cox about Latino Heritage Month, and Indigenous People's Day and how the district will be celebrating and honoring both. Also, what's the latest on Parent/Teacher Conferences, and the search for a Permanent Superintendent?

Manny Hill talks with Sara Eugene, Coordinator of Culinary and Wellness at Minneapolis Public Schools, about why it's important for all families of MPS students to apply for Education Benefits, even if they don't believe they qualify. Sara explains what Ed Benefits are, and some important dates coming up.

The First Annual Solidarity Harvest features local artists who met at the crossroads that became known as George Floyd Square. They congregated out of wanting to do something to respond to Floyd’s Murder. Violinist Raycurt Johnson was a catalyst getting music going. Then the Brass Solidarity Band, kept on playing, and other performers emerged. Raycurt Johnson told Phil Nusbaum about it.

Minneapolis sax man Steve Clarke has been a major musical figure for decades. His long time band is the Working Stiffs. Keys to his success are his family background, and loving providing what audiences want. When Phil Nusbaum spoke with Steve, Phil saw the title “Joan’s Jump,” and asked Steve about Joan.

The celebrated vocalist Kendra Morris, who is out on the road at the moment with labelmates Monophonics, hopped on a ZOOM to chat with Christian Fritz in advance of her upcoming show at the Fine Line.

Kelly Finnigan, the leader of Monophonics, connected via ZOOM with Christian Fritz in advance of the Monophonics show coming on October 3 at the Fine Line in Minneapolis.

The 2022 Twin Cities Iranian Culture Festival takes place this Friday through Sunday at Squirrel Haus in Minneapolis. It presents music and other aspects of Iranian culture. Jeremy Iggers is executive director of the Twin Cities Iranian Culture Collective, and he told Phil Nusbaum about the breadth of music at this weekend’s festival.

It’s both a bio about a pop music icon and a rock and roll concert. Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story runs all October at the History Theatre, Thursdays through Saturdays at 7:30 and Sundays at 2. Phil Nusbaum had a chance to talk to Nicholas Freeman, who plays Buddy Holly, and Gary Rue who serves as the show’s music director. First, Nicholas speaks as a singer of the appeal to him of Buddy Holly’s mus...

The musical icon Jellybean Johnson swung through Jazz88 to talk blues, museums and the greatness of the Twin Cities music scene.

The Minnesota-based music icon Nachito Herrera hopped on the phone with Jazz88's Sean McPherson to discuss his upcoming performance at The Ordway. He'll be playing with a 7-piece band featuring the cream of the crop from the Cuban music scene. Enjoy the conversation about what concert-goers can expect from the show.