Jazz88

Accordo is a chamber music string ensemble composed of present and former members of the St Paul Chamber Orchestra and Minnesota Orchestra. Members of the group are busy with other musical projects. But Accordo helps them fulfill important musical goals. Violinist Steven Copes spoke with Phil Nusbaum.

Jazz88 honors our Minnesota Jazz Legends 2024 Mikkel Romstad, Dr. Henry Blackburn, Brian Grivna and the late Roberta Davis and hosted by Patty Peterson. The live concert and conversation took place April 14th at the Minnesota History Center’s 3M theater. Minnesota Jazz legends 2024 is funded by the Minnesota Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund and Jazz88.

Kevin Gamble leads his trio into Icehouse in Minneapolis for a show next Thursday night, June 27. Kevin’s trio plays many kinds of music, but on this performance preview, we’ll listen to a couple of Kevin’s Jazz fusion originals. When Kevin got together with Phil Nusbaum, Kevin talked about how he got started in music.

Mark Weisberg on the bass, Michael Pilhofer the drummer and Phil Kadidlo on the piano. The trio could be called Weisberg, Pilhofer and Kadidlo. But in a conversation with Phil Nusbaum, Mark Weisberg quipped that it sounded a bit too much like the name of a law firm, so the group is called the WPK trio. It performs at Crooners Supper Club at 6:30 Friday June 28. Then Mark described the special cont...

Choreographer Leslie Parker and musician DeCarlo Jackson have been working together in a larger group toward a Black Dance Improvisation concert coming up on Saturday at Cedar Cultural Center. The event is a part of the Twin Cities Jazz Festival and it represents the culmination of work done with a cast of dancers and many of Leslie Parker's mentors from the Twin Cities dance world. Listen to the...

Patty Peterson talked to saxophonist Claudia Medina as she talked about her life in Peru, her passion for jazz, and her appearances at the Twin Cities Jazz Festival. Not only did she have a concert on the main stage with her band but she was instrumental in leading the Walker West Women In Jazz Retreat and concert.

Trumpet player and composer, Ella Grace, joined Patty Peterson to talk about her upcoming performances at the Twin Cities Jazz Festival 2024. She is a part of the Walker West Women In Jazz Retreat, and will also be leading her own band at Metronome.

Jazz88's Peter Solomon caught up with singer and songwriter Nicole Zuraitis, whose 2023 recording How Love Begins received the Grammy award for best jazz vocal album. Zuraitis plays Thursday evening June 20th at the Dakota in an appearance billed as a pre-Twin Cities Jazz Festival show.

Damian Kulash, the singer and guitarist for Ok Go is getting ready for a show at First Ave on July 11 and he was eager to connect with Jazz88 and discuss how he has connected with jazz throughout his life. During his conversation with Sean McPherson, Kulash discussed the way jazz got him to focus on what is central to the power of music. The conversation focused in particular on New Orleans legend...

The annual Twin Cities Jazz Festival is staged at multiple venues this Friday and Saturday. The event presents some of the biggest names in Jazz, as well as highlight performances by local performers. Dayna Martinez is executive director of the Twin Cities Jazz Festival, and she talked to Phil Nusbaum about a few local artists doing big things, such as Kaviesh Kaviraj.

Monday nights at Icehouse in Minneapolis are curated by Sophia Kickhofel. This Monday, bands led by Sophia and Peter Goggin pay tribute to the great composer Ornette Coleman. The show starts at 8pm at Icehouse. When Sophia told Phil Nusbaum about this Monday’s presentation, she told why she chose Ornette Coleman music as a special point of emphasis.

In anticipation of their Courtyard Concert appearance at MIA on Thursday, June 20 Sean McPherson connected with artists Queen Drea, Pavielle and Tish Jones. In addition to hailing from the same part of Saint Paul (Rondo), Jones, Queen Drea and Pavielle have served as "co-conspirators" for decades at this point. Throughout the conversation the themes of Black liberation and shared history came to t...

Jazz88's Peter Solomon spoke with pianist, vocalist, songwriter and composer Eliane Elias about her new album "Time and Again," coming out later this month on Candid Records. The recording features background vocals by Mark Kibble of Take 6, and guest appearances by legendary performers like Brazilian singer Djavan and jazz artists Mike Mainieri, Peter Erskine, and Bill Frisell. Elias is appearing...

The Grammy winning bassist Ben Williams is in the Twin Cities to play the "Black to Life" event at Schneider Theater on Friday June 14. Before he even got his checked baggage from the carousel he hopped on the phone to talk with Sean McPherson about how he has added producer, vocalist and leader to his already impressive resume and how it all connects to the legacy of Black music and his hometown...

Jazz88's Peter Solomon spoke with Jonathan Taylor Rush, guest conductor with the Minnesota Orchestra, about the second annual Juneteenth program scheduled for Friday, June 14th at 8 PM. He discusses the wide ranging program, which includes compositions by William Grant Still, Margaret Bonds, and more recent works by Omar Thomas, Carlos Simon and hip hop writer/performer Wordsmith. (Attached image...

After studying at UW-Eau Claire and a stint in Chicago, Mike Wolter has firmly planted his flag in the Twin Cities jazz scene. This weekend he is celebrating the release of his band's debut album. The Early Planets release is called The Waits/In Between Music and alongside bassist Cody McKinney and drummer Cory Healey the crew has churned out a full length of Wolter originals. In the interview Wol...

Behind the scenes of the Acme Jazz Company are the thoughtful big band arrangements of artistic director Bob Parsons. Bob has his own arranging style, and he is conversant in many of the other big band arrangers. Plus, as a player himself, Bob also listens to the ideas Acme Jazz company musicians might have. Bob got together with Phil Nusbaum to talk about arranging.

Joe Lovano connected with Sean McPherson from Jazz88 in anticipation of his performance at the Twin Cities Jazz Festival on Saturday June 22. Lovano and McPherson discussed Lovano's long running quartet, his legendary role in the Paul Motian Trio alongside Bill Frisell and Lovano's many great experiences in the Twin Cities including a show with the Woody Herman Orchestra back in the 1970s.

Mango Jam. It’s a Twin Cities band that formed in 1989, and has played in 46 states. And throw in a good deal of recording as well. Because of family obligations, Mango jam doesn’t play nearly as much as it once did. But Mango Jam still packs in people, still plays great and to the band, the music still seems fresh. A couple of guys from the band, Jason Bush and John Herchert got together with Phi...

Since moving to the Twin Cities from the East Coast a handful of years ago, Abinnet Berhanu has become an essential part of the Twin Cities music scene. He's spent time supporting touring artists, playing countless jam sessions around the city and celebrating the music of Ethiopia with his group Andanet. This Saturday he brings an impressive group of players including Omar Abdulkarim and Joe Strac...

Jazz88's Peter Solomon spoke with documentary photographer Walter Griffin and painter and designer Patrice Goodall Abbe about "Jazz 'n' More," an exhibit of photographs and paintings on display at Dow Art Gallery June 6th - June 29th. Dow Art Gallery will host an event celebrating the exhibit featuring the Walker West Jazz Ensemble on June 13th.

Celebrated vibraphonist and visionary Stefon Harris is making his way back to the Twin Cities for a headlining performance on the Jazz88 Mainstage at the Twin Cities Jazz Festival. In anticipation of his set of Friday June 21 Harris was kind enough to connect with Sean McPherson from Jazz88 and discuss his career, his purpose and his background.

Erin Schwab learned how to personalize a song from Bette Midler and this weekend at the Capri Theater in Minneapolis she and an all-star band are exploring Bette Midler's songbook. Schwab also brought along James Scott from the Capri to talk about their Capital Campaign and the upcoming Legends season.

Jennifer Grimm sings many types of songs and her husband, joe Cruz has played many types of guitars in his career. The duet presents original songs, and delights in giving refreshing new spins to older ones. They bring it all to the Umbra in Minneapolis, Friday and Saturday June 7 and 8 from 7 till 10pm. When Joe and Jennifer talked with Phil Nusbaum, Phil asked how, with the differences in their...

The Cedar Avenue Big Band. After 25 years, it’s still a leading Twin Cities Big Band. Why do they do it? They just love playing big band music, and big band fans love what they do. Steve Devich is the leader of the band, and also bass trombonist and arranger. When Steve talked to Phil Nusbaum about the group, he started out telling about some of his training.