Jazz88

Mary Halvorson is widely regarded as the most exciting guitarist of her generation. She continues to cement that reputation with her new Nonesuch release "Cloudward". On this record Halvorson endeavored to not "overwrite", leaving space for the instrumentalists to find their way on their terms. Halvorson discussed her approach, her philosophy and the way that she navigated exploring music as a car...

Tenor saxophonist JD Allen speaks with Jazz88's Peter Solomon about his recent recording THIS, which features Allen playing with Gwilym Jones on drums and electronic soundscapes created by Alex Bonney. Allen will be appearing in the Twin Cities March 15th at Jazz Central and March 16th at Icehouse,

The Twin Cities Flamenco Collective continues at Icehouse in Minneapolis, Sunday March 17. It features its cast of local players as well as a singer from the southwest US. Phil Nusbaum talked with Sachiko La Chayí and Ross Fellrath about flamenco and the collective. For one thing, Ross said, it’s largely improvisational.

Minnesota based guitarist Cody Steinmann has been steadily releasing music with his trio which features Chris Bates on bass, Abbinet Berhanu on the drums. But for his next act Steinmann is bringing in some extra support. East Coast based tenor player JD Allen is coming through town for a number of engagements including a performance and recording session with Steinmann. Steinmann visited Jazz88 to...

The Dregs occupy a singular musical niche: Band members backgrounds are varied, but together, the group sings and plays twisted versions of songs, to the delight of audiences in Minnesota and elsewhere. The Dregs take the stage at the Metronome in Saint Paul, Saint Patrick’s Weekend, Saturday and Sunday March 16 and 17. When Tim and Molly of the Dregs got together with Phil Nusbaum, first they tal...

MPS Voices Executive Producer Manny Hill is joined by the Superintendent of Minneapolis Public Schools Dr. Lisa Sayles Adams to address the news of the budget gap MPS is facing, the district's plan for National Nutrition Month, and to highlight the MPS Shines winners for the month of March!

Celebrated drummer JT Bates is getting back into the fold as a curator and booker. In addition to taking on more booking responsibilities at Icehouse in general, Bates is curating Mondays at Icehouse for the month of March. Listen to find out what Bates has planned for the long running curated Monday series at Icehouse.

Red Thread’s songs could be considered what happens when you combine traditional songs, new compositions and modern technology. The new CD is called Immigrantke. When Sarah Larsson of Red Thread talked to Phil Nusbaum about the new project, she addressed why all the songs of separation.

Tina Schlieske has been a fixture in the Twin Cities music scene since the 1990s but this is the first time she's had a project so centered in jazz. On her new album "The Good Life" Schlieske performed classic numbers with some of the finest musicians in the Twin Cities jazz scene. Tina stopped in to chat with Sean McPherson about the new album and about the release show at Icehouse.

In the summer of 2020 deVon Russell Gray, Nathan Hanson and Davu Seru recorded the album "We Sick" in a church in Saint Paul that was available due to the COVID pandemic. The tumult of the summer of 2020 showed up in all sorts of ways on the spontaneously composed recordings. Since the 2022 release of the album, enthusiasm for the work of Gray, Hanson and Seru has increased and they are preparing...

According to LA Buckner, he is putting "all his eggs into his own basket". After years of splitting his time as a sideman and as a leader he is focusing on taking LA Buckner and BiG HOMiE up to the next level. To that end, Buckner is making his debut as a leader at Crooners this Friday. Listen to find out what the plan is for the show on Friday.

Peter Solomon spoke with Dayna Martinez, Executive Director of the Twin Cities Jazz Festival, about the headliners that will be featured at the Twin Cities Jazz Festival in June.

GiftedHandz is a Minneapolis group of young people who have come up playing multiples styles in church settings. The group performs Friday night March 1 at 8pm at Jazz Central Studios in Minneapolis. When Joe Mason, a GiftedHandz founding member, sat down with Phil Nusbaum, Joe discussed GiftedHandz’ musical blend.

MacPhail Center for music has a program called the Spotlight Program, which encourages its teachers to create musical programs. That’s what stimulated the creation of “It Takes Two”, an evening of Broadway musical-style songs with piano accompaniment to be performed at Crooner’s Supper Club in Fridley next Thursday. MacPhail pianist Timothy De Prey tells of the group process that created “It Takes...

The Group is Traiveon and Candi, featuring Jackson Hurst and Mayyadda. The group’s music has a pop sound, but the songs deal with some serious personal stuff, while they reference Valentine’s Day and Black History Month. Catch All Sweet Things: A Celebration of Black Love 7pm Sunday February 18, at the Dakota in Minneapolis. In an interview with Phil Nusbaum, Traiveon first talked about the need t...

Power Up! Is the name of the Women’s Day Music Fest Friday night March 8 at the Hook and Ladder in Minneapolis. Billed as a celebration of women and gender, Power Up was curated by Corrine Caoette of the Hook and Ladder. In this preview, we listen to Corrine, as well as Vanessa McKinney and Ayanna Muata, members of participating bands. First, Corrine addresses the philosophies guiding the creation...

Adi Yeshaya is an in-demand arranger and composer whose has done work for Whitney Houston, Prince, Lena Horne and more. In the Twin Cities Yeshaya might be best known for his longtime collaboration with Debbie Duncan. After Duncan's passing in 2020 Adi started to revisit the charts he had worked up during their decades of collaboration. With these arrangements and some new ones in hand, Yeshaya an...

Starting his professional career in the late 70s and staying vital and relevant up to today, Kenny Garrett truly bridges generations as a jazz icon. Frequently recognized as the greatest alto player of his generation, Garrett is also a generational talent as a composer. Check out the conversation between Kenny Garrett and Sean McPherson as they discuss his upcoming shows at the Dakota on February...

How is Minneapolis Public Schools celebrating Black History Month? MPS Voices Executive Producer Manny Hill chats with MPS Engagement Specialist Tiki Blackamore about a couple events that have happened already, and what else is coming up, including an upcoming production for MPS Voices.

Peter Solomon spoke with Cathy McLeer, State Director for AARP Minnesota about the Twin Cities Winter Jazz Fest.

The Ancia Saxophone Quartet showcases its new CD in upcoming performances. This Wednesday, February 22, the show is at 12 noon, at Landmark Center in Saint Paul, and sponsored by the Shubert Club. Next Friday, the performance is at Westminster Hall in Minneapolis at 12 noon. Joan Hutton of the Ancia Saxophone Quartet talked with Phil Nusbaum about the group, and about one of Ancia’s chief concerns...

Jazz88's Peter Solomon spoke with singer Jamecia Bennett about her concert Friday, February 23rd at the Ordway, which she says will celebrate the the evolution of music from African roots to jazz, blues, and soul. Bennett is a resident artist at the Ordway.

Jazz88's Peter Solomon speaks with trumpeter Scotty Barnhart, the leader of the Basie Orchestra for the past twenty years. Barnhart discusses his early exposure to music at Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta, how he came to play the trumpet, how he felt the first time he heard the Basie Orchestra, the background behind his Grammy-winning album "Basie Swings the Blues," and what to expect from the...

Though performing his own originals and doing tributes is still on the menu for Bruce A. Henry, in recent years he has gravitated towards shows where he explores facets of the African-American experience through music. Though educational, these performances are also engaging and electrifying. The key to maintaining that balance is Henry's personal investment in learning history from all corners of...

Sam Keenan of MN Jazz Tracks interviewed Tim Sparks before his January show at the Dakota. He talks about his new album, "Lost and Found" and the state of being a musician in this new digital age. Sparks' new album comes out the life of a touring musician. Currently touring with a group of guitarists this album comes from getting ready for this tour.  Ben Abrahamson plays on this new album and as...