Jazz88

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.

Three Celebrated Twin Cities music groups perform at Celtic Junction on Sunday September 15. The three ore Danny Diamond and Brian Miller, the Wild Colonial Bhoys and the Mick Sterling and Cate Fierro Acoustic Quartet. The concert kicks off the new membership program at Celtic Junction. Phil Nusbaum sat down with some of the principals, including Brian Miller who spoke about the direction for his...

Jazz88's Peter Solomon spoke with Minneapolis-based singer/songwriter Dylan Hicks about 'Modern Flora,' the latest jazz-inspired project featuring his nonet Small Screens. Hicks and his ensemble will play a concert to celebrate the release of the new EP Sunday, September 8th at the Parkway Theater.

Percussionist Peter Kogan’ musical biography includes work with the Minnesota Orchestra, backing blues legends such as Lightnin’ Hopkins and teaching at the University of MN School of Music. All those experiences and others have played into the Jazz groups that he has led. Peter leads his quintet into Jazz Central Studios, Friday September 6 at 8pm. When Peter talked about his music with Phil Nusb...

It’s the local Twin Cities Bluegrass Festival that seems to mark Summer’s end. The 25th annual Laughing Waters Bluegrass Festival will be held 1 to 7 pm at Minnehaha Falls in Minneapolis, as ever on Labor Day. The free event presents 6 bluegrass bands in a relaxed atmosphere. Matt Johnson, co-producer of the event spoke with Phil Nusbaum about the Laughing Waters festival, and first addressed how...

Jazz88's Peter Solomon spoke with pianist Ethan Iverson, who played piano with the Bad Plus for seventeen years. Iverson discusses his recent Blue Note release 'Technically Acceptable,' as well as his passion for crime fiction and his controversial New York Times essay critiquing George Gershwin's 'Rhapsody in Blue.' Iverson performs with bassist Anthony Cox and drummer Kevin Washington at Crooner...

Like so many jazz performers, Davina discovered jazz music early on in her life through her father and has loved and studied the music ever since. Davina connected with Sean via phone in advance of her upcoming show at the Dakota to discuss some of her favorite songs including Fats Waller's rendition of "I'm Going To Write Myself a Letter".

Author and journalist Andrea Swensson visited the Afternoon Cruise alongside Youa Vang, the Vice-President of the Ramsey County Historical Society. Swensson will be doing a reading and signing of her new book "Deeper Blues: The Life, Songs and Salvation of Cornbread Harris" on September 12 at Springboard for The Arts for Ramsey County Historical Society's History Revealed Series. The book's subjec...

John Penny creates dense musical textures using virtual instruments. These crafted arrangements accompany John’s singing and guitar playing on original and other compelling music. It’s John’s latest project, and comes after years of writing movie scores and soundtracks for TV commercials, and playing World jazz on the guitar. John performs Wednesday August 28 at 7:30 at the Lake Harriet Bandshell...

The group known as the New Primitives has been playing its brand of American Reggae for over twenty years. It’s new CD is called Primitive Road, and among its many engagements will be two days at the Minnesota State Fair. The New Primitives play multiple times at the International Bazaar Stage on Thursday and Friday August 22 and 23. Phil Nusbaum talked to New Primitives percussionist Stanley Kipp...

The celebrated reed player and composer Alan Braufman, recently released a new album titled Infinite Love, Infinite Tears. In conjunction with the release he connected with Jazz88's Christian Fritz to revisit his fascinating career from his blossoming as a player in the early 1970s, his stints with the Psychedelic Furs, Carla Bley and others, and his recent increase in activity as a leader. photo...

Jazz88's Peter Solomon speaks with singer and songwriter Lizz Wright about 'Shadow,' an album that was released in April. The recording celebrates the memory and lessons learned from her late grandmother. She discusses that and her collaborations with Angelique Kidjo, Brandee Younger, and Meshell Ndegeocello. Wright performs at the Dakota Friday night, August 16th.

A Flamenco performance includes music and dance and comes from Spain, but today is practiced globally. The Twin Cities Flamenco Collective will be at Icehouse in Minneapolis, Sunday August 18. Doors open at 4, and the show starts at 5. Guitarist Ross Fellrath and dancer Sachiko jah GEE sat down with Phil Nusbaum for some inside Flamenco conversation. Phil asked Ross about the Seviana form, a type...

Jazz88's Peter Solomon spoke with two members of the band HeyArlo: drummer Richard Haneman and bassist Megan Mahoney. The band will play as part of the Hopkins Center for the Arts Sunset Series at Downtown Park Thursday evening, August 15th in Hopkins.