Jazz88

The focus is on synthesized music at Jazz Implosion Mondays, August 12, 19 and 26 at Icehouse in Minneapolis. The series is curated by deVon Gray. And each show presents multiple artists. When deVon met with Phil Nusbaum, deVon first addressed the joys of curating.

A call from a storage unit manager lead George Benson down the path to releasing one of the most majestic and compelling albums of his entire career. Listen to George Benson in conversation with Sean McPherson as he reflects on the recording sessions that led up to this new release Dreams Do Come True.

Moore by Four is getting ready for a show this Friday over at Crooners. Members Ginger and Ashley Commodore stopped by to talk about the group's thirty plus year history and what gives them their staying power.

Kenan Serenbetz has always been interested in medieval music, English folk song and sacred harp singing. His new LP builds on those interests, with original songs whose only accompaniments are provided by wildlife occupying the same natural places as Kenan at the time of recording. It is called Field Song. In a conversation with Phil Nusbaum, Kenan talked about some of the impulses behind his new...

Bobby Schnitzer and Dan Neale are combining talents for a blues and country based show at Crooners Supper Club in Fridley this Thursday evening at 6:30. When Dan and Bobby got together with Phil Nusbaum, the conversation turned to repertoire. Dan is singing a song written by country music icon Roger Miller, “Nothing Can Stop My Loving You.” It’s not one of Miller’s best known songs, so Phil asked...

Twin Cities-based guitarist Pavel Jany and his Global Jazz Collegium are back with their latest disc, Labyrinth. Jany and many of the other members of the Collegium also work in the group Ticket to Brasil, but for this group, they follow their interests beyond Brazil and explore many of the international sounds that have become part of the jazz palette. Jany stopped in to connect with Sean McPhers...

Jazz88's Peter Solomon speaks with vocalist Carmen Bradford about her musical career with Count Basie and her participation in the program "Uptown Nights" with trumpeter Byron Stripling and the Minnesota Orchestra on Saturday, August 3rd. Bradford is the daughter of trumpeter Bobby Bradford, a renowned educator and former sideman with Ornette Coleman, and singer Melba Joyce.

Local mainstay and friend of the station Ginger Commodore came to visit Sean McPherson on Friday's Afternoon Cruise to discuss her new 4-show series "And the Melodies Still Linger On". The series launches on Thursday, August 1 at Crooners. Ms. Commodore discussed how she picks songs, accompanists and why she has been so focused on celebrating and expanding the Great American Songbook in the last h...

Jazz88's Peter Solomon spoke with trumpeter/conductor Byron Stripling about "Uptown Nights," a program taking place Saturday, August 3rd, that he will perform with the Minnesota Orchestra. The program will feature Stripling in multiple roles - conducting, playing trumpet, and singing - along with vocalist Carmen Bradford and tap dancer Leo Manzari.

Global Jazz Collegium releases its new CD, 6:30 Saturday night August 4 at the Metrodome in Saint Paul. The CD is called Labyrinth and is centered on fusion jazz, with a mix of older music and originals. Pavel Jany plays the guitar and leads Global jazz Collegium, He talked to Phil Nusbaum about the piece opening the CD.

Jazz 88's Peter Solomon speaks with vocalist Jane Monheit in advance of her appearance Tuesday, July 30th at the Dakota. Monheit talks about her musical influences, the way she's learned to manage expectations as a female performer, lessons learned from working with legendary producer Joel Dorn, and her forthcoming eponymous release on Clubb 44 records.

Jazz 88's Peter Solomon speaks with vocalist Jane Monheit in advance of her appearance Tuesday, July 30th at the Dakota. Monheit talks about her musical influences, the way she's learned to manage expectations as a female performer, lessons learned from working with legendary producer Joel Dorn, and her forthcoming eponymous release on Clubb 44 records.

Joyann Parker isn't one to slow down. Since finding blues and soul music in her mid thirties she has been on a campaign to learn, celebrate and perform Black American music. She's doing just that on Friday night at the Woman's Club in Minneapolis. She and Lori Dokken from the Woman's Club stopped by to chat about the concert with Sean from the Afternoon Cruise.

Nyttu Chongo is a Minnesotan who performs a style called Jazz Bantu. The style combines music learned in Mozambique on African instruments with western classical instruments. Nyttu’s ensemble performs this Friday at the Ordway Theater in Saint Paul at 7:30pm. In a conversation with Phil Nusbaum, Nyttu talked about many facets of his music, including his method of composing.

Peter Solomon speaks with Steve Clarke about the evolution of his band Steve Clarke and the Working Stiffs. They will playing the final Jazzclectic Concert of the summer on Saturday, July 27th at 2PM.

Willow Waters songs reflect personal issues she has worked through. Her new project is called I Rise I Fall, and it also includes some of Willow’s original instrumental music. Audiences can take in Willow’s new music next Thursday, July 25 at the Cedar Cultural Center in Minneapolis. The doors open at 7, with the concert beginning at 7:30. In a conversation with Phil Nusbaum, Willow reflected on t...

Joan Hutton and Sue Orfield celebrate Splash, their second CD of original music, Friday August 3 at Crooners Supper Club in Fridley. Joan and Sue talked to Phil Nusbaum about the project. Joan told Phil of a unique method of jumpstarting the composing process.

Jazz88's Peter Solomon spoke with vocalist Jennifer Grimm and 16-year-old saxophonist Grady Cartony about "Next Generation: Jazz," a show focusing on young Jazz artists taking place at Crooners at 5 PM on Sunday, July 21st. Two other showcases at Crooners will feature young artists from the Classical scene and Musical Theater Community.

Bassist Greg Bryant is one half of the jazz duo Concurrence. On their new album, Indivisible, he and pianist Paul Horton use an entire toolbox of expression to tell the story of the impact of I-40 on Black neighborhoods in Nashville. Bryant, who hails from Nashville, discussed how he and Horton came to tell this story and how the music balances the shameful details of the highway and the optimisti...

When Vicki Victoria Sings, Expressing the Mood of the Song is the Main Thing

Carlisle Evans Peck sings songs that chronical facing the straight world from a Gay orientation. In order to overcome difference and create connections with others, he often mines family stories. Carlisle performs at the Southern Theater this Friday and Saturday evenings, July 12 and 13 at 7pm. When Carlisle talked with Phil Nusbaum, Carlisle told how he learns stories of his family members.

In his interview with Sean McPherson this week Kavyesh Kaviraj said he is running on "two batteries". His debut album as a leader, Fables, is a culmination of at least a year of work for Kaviraj and his team. For his visit to Jazz88, Kavyesh Kaviraj focused on how a half decade of work as a sideman laid the groundwork for his arrival as a leader.

Manny Hill is the Executive Producer of MPS Voices and one of his closest colleagues is Olive Norvell who serves as host and producer on MPS Voices. MPS Voices is a central hub for student and staff audio content for and from Minneapolis Public Schools. Learn more about MPS Voices' triumphant first year in this interview and check out the station at MPSVoices.com.

The Minnesota Original Music Festival Comes to Multiple Locations in Saint Peter Wednesday July 17 through Sunday July 21. The festival has performances and workshops that focus on songwriting and instrumental performance across many music forms. It also has a way of combining individual musicians into bands who have 48 hours to come up with 3-song sets. When Phil Nusbaum talked with the festival’...

Sunday afternoon July 14, the Northfield Jazz Fest takes place. It is a multi-venue event, with much of the action taking plat at Northfield’s Way Park. The fest is funded by the Southeast Minnesota Arts Council to showcase local talent. Phil Nusbaum talked about some of the Northfield band leaders at the fest, and the conversation started with JC talking about his group, the Immanent Standards tr...