Jazz88

Singer-songwriters Shahidi and Alicia Thao perform outside the Cedar Cultural Center 5PM this coming Wednesday, August 9. Shahidi and Alicia have won prestigious Cedar Commissions awards. When the two sat down with Phil Nusbaum to talk about their songs. Shahidi first talked about his song Gotta Let It Breathe.

Adam Meckler isn't just a trumpet player. He's a writer, an arranger, a curator, an educator and more. He swung down from the Upper Peninsula to get his Twin Cities based orchestra back together for a show at Crooners on Friday. In the conversation Meckler and McPherson discuss Meckler's approach to big band writing, his love of reusing material and his dedication to sharing the tricks of trade wi...

Jason Fabus is a Minnesota educated jazz musician making his way out in Los Angeles. He's swinging back through town to visit friends and play a couple shows. He'll be at Crooners on Friday night with Graydon Peterson (bass) and Phil Hey (drums) supporting. Fabus is a bit of an odd bird in the jazz world, as he works both as a saxophonist and as a vocalist. In the conversation Jason shared a bit a...

The Twin Cities based cellist Greg Byers stopped by the Afternoon Cruise to chat about his new album, "Dear Zbigniew". Greg discussed how visiting Poland in 2018 for the Seifert International Jazz Violin Competition changed his life and where he believes the world of bowed jazz players is heading.

Billy Stritch connected with Jazz88 in advance of his Crooners show, "A Musical Night Out with Billy Stritch". Sean from the Afternoon Cruise chatted with Billy about what he's learned from working with greats like Liza Minnelli, Linda Eder and others. Billy Stritch also shared a memory of playing with the late great Tony Bennett in Stritch's hometown of Sugar Land, Texas.

As a grant-supported Cedar Commissions artist, Kashimana created a set of songs about becoming a mother. The songs are now on CD, called Phantom Cries. Kashimana performs these songs at a release event at the Cedar Cultural Center, Friday July 28 at 8PM. When Kashimana talked to Phil Nusbaum, she first addressed the creative freedom grant support afforded her.

Bruce Henry dates his music career back to the first time he got paid to make music in a nightclub, going back almost exactly fifty years. He'll be celebrating his breathtaking career at the Dakota on Saturday night. Check out the conversation between Bruce Henry and Sean McPherson

Brian Ziemniak of the BZ3 Organ Trio rolled through the Afternoon Cruise to talk about their upcoming show at Crooners and he brought along Julius Collins, one of the special guests that will be on the show at Crooners. Check out the full conversation here. This podcast was edited by Ben Ere'imul.

The vibraphonist Cecilia Smith connected with Jazz88 to discuss her latest album, "The Mary Lou Williams Resurgence Project Vol. 1". Smith has been on a campaign since the late '90s to shine a light on Mary Lou Williams legacy and her writing. Listen for insight on how Cecilia Smith goes about amplifying and advancing Mary Lou Williams' legacy.

Minneapolis Community Education is presenting it's annual Summer production, titled Bring It On The Musical, showing at Southwest High School through July 22. Jazz 88 summer interns RJ, Lorelei, and Cristian talk with actor Ari Sanford and Student Engagement Coordinator JoEllyn Jolstad about the cast, and how the show was put together.

Mack Avenue Recording artist and Minneapolis resident Steve Cole is getting ready for a headlining show at the Ames Center in Burnsville on Friday August 18. Steve was kind enough to visit the Afternoon Cruise and talk about his career, his connection to the Twin Cities and his path to becoming one of the big names in contemporary jazz.

Leslie Vincent visited the Jazz88 studios in anticipation of the release of her new album "About Last Night". In the conversation she talked about her love of jazz and her connection with the band that played on her new recording.

Like all Bossa Nova groups, Ticket to Brasil builds on the musical legacy of Antonio Carlos Jobim. But until now, the group has never celebrated Jobim’s great contributions. That ends this Sunday July 23 at Crooners Supper Club in Fridley, as Ticket to Brasil pays tribute to Jobim with a 6 PM performance focused on jobim. When Ticket to Brasil leader Pavel Jany talked to Phil Nusbaum, Pavel reflec...

Laila Biali is getting ready for a show at Crooner's on Saturday July 22. She was nice enough to connect with Sean from the Afternoon Cruise to talk about her new record, "Your Requests" as well as her collaborations with Sting, Kurt Elling and her embrace of her own musical strengths.

Eli Hoehn is the force driving the Minnesota Original Music Festival, which takes place in Saint Peter Wednesday July 19 through Sunday July 23. The event presents concerts of many kinds of original Minnesota music and also helps musicians connect. When Eli talked to Phil Nusbaum, Eli first addressed the main goal of the Minnesota Original Music Festival.

Shaun LaBelle Joins Patty Peterson in "The Playroom" to talk about his upcoming concert at the Capri Theater in Mpls, Minn July 13, and his new hit single "Feel The Breeze" with Patrice Rushen.

Omar Abdulkarim and Anthony Coleman II visited the Afternoon Cruise to discuss their July 16 show at the Dakota. As two of the most exciting trumpet players working in the Twin Cities they had a lot to say about what they're bringing to the stage. They also talked about the support and encouragement they both received from Roy Hargrove while studying, living and playing in New York City.

Leslie Vincent’s New CD is filled with unexpected new songs and reimagined old songs. The project is called About Last Night and Leslie will be singing her renditions at Crooner’s Supper Club in Fridley, Saturday July 22 at 7:30. When Leslie talked with Phil Nusbaum, she first addressed her original, Psychedelics With You.

Béla Fleck connected with Sean from Jazz88 in advance of a two-night four show run at the Dakota on Thursday and Friday of this week (July 13 and 14). Fleck is touring in support of his 2021 release, My Bluegrass Heart. Fleck and McPherson discussed the unique challenges of playing bluegrass, and the new perspective Fleck has on the genre after a ten year absence from playing it outside of his own...

Scottie Miller’s latest musical project is a book of Scottie’s poetry and a CD of some of the poems set to musical accompaniments. The music ranges from blues and jazz to string quartets. Some call the combination of performed poems with music, beat poetry. In a conversation with Phil Nusbaum, Scottie talked about his poetry personality.

On her way to rehearsal Ginger Commodore visited the Afternoon Cruise to talk about her upcoming show honoring the legacy of Tina Turner. The show happens on Sunday night at the Dakota.

Celebrated musician and composer Martin Dosh swung through the Afternoon Cruise to discuss some upcoming shows including a Courtyard appearance at Icehouse on Thursday, July 6.

Lila Ammons. Hers is a prominent jazz family. Her grandfather, Albert, was a noted boogie woogie piano player, and her uncle was sax man Gene Ammons. But it hasn’t been jazz all the way with Lila, whose parents listened to a lot of symphonic music and opera.

To Sarah Porwell-Lee, it isn’t only that she plays new music on the clarinet. When she talked with Phil Nusbaum, she revealed that she gets excited working with the composers of the music she plays.

Taylor Carik, one of the organizers of Taste of Minnesota, visited the Afternoon Cruise to discuss the event including answers on how to enjoy the festival, how to get to the festival and what he plans on eating once he gets there!