Jazz88

William Eddins, the accomplished pianist, conductor and the proprietor of Metronome Brewery was nice enough to take some time out of his schedule to talk about his gig this weekend. Mr. Eddins will be conducting both the Minnesota Orchestra and the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra for their performances at Orchestra Hall. In this conversation you'll learn about how William approaches the preparati...

Manny Hill talks with Franklin Middle School teacher and Founder of the Future Boys and Girls Program Michael Bratsch, AKA "Mr. B", about the origins of the program, and their latest project "We Can Do Better".

Daina de Prez calls herself a piano entertainer, and that’s what she does. Sure, she plays with groups, too, but her main focus is singing and playing songs that make her the center of attention in a club. When Daina talked to Phil Nusbaum, she first addressed the expectations clubs and audiences have of her.

The death of Peter Ostroushko on February 24, 2021 left a void in Minnesota. This coming Monday, many of Peter’s friends and musical partners from A Prairie Home Companion, recording sessions and performances celebrate the Peter Ostroushko legacy. Singer Prudence Johnson is also playing a major role in planning the event. Prudence told Phil Nusbaum about what it was like when she asked people if t...

Lucibela, a rising star and vocalist from Cape Verde was nice enough to stop by Jazz88 before her show at the Cedar Cultural Center on Friday September 16.

Julian Lage is out on the road in support of his new Blue Note release "View with A Room". He's swinging through the Dakota in Minneapolis on Saturday, September 17 and he was nice enough to connect with Sean from the Afternoon Cruise and discuss Bill Frisell's contributions to the album, the history of jazz guitar, his relationship with Dave King and much more.

Charlie Maguire has been writing songs he sings in performances for a half century. He specializes in songs about working people and their work. This Saturday night at 8 PM at the Ginkgo Coffee House in St Paul, Charlie will sing a program of some of his finest. When Charlie sat down with Phil Nusbaum, Charlie first addressed how he got started.

Rochelle Cox took over as Interim Superintendent at Minneapolis Public Schools back in July, and spent most of this summer preparing for the 2022-23 school year. With the new year underway this week, there have been noticeable changes, along with some big plans ahead. Manny Hill discusses the busy first week with Superintendent Cox, and also those noticable changes that are on the horizon.

John Scofield is out on the road with his band supporting his new self-titled release. He was nice enough to take some time out of his busy schedule to visit with Sean McPherson from the Afternoon Cruise.

It began when Singer-songwriter Jonatha Brooke started working with cellist Rebecca Arons. Then came an arranger and a host of others, and then a whole new sound. Rebecca, the cellist, talked with Phil Nusbaum about The Cello Songs Project performance next Wednesday at 7:30 PM at the Dakota in Minneapolis. After a snip of Cello songs music, Rebecca addresses the early days of the Cello Songs Proje...

Acclaimed vocalist was nice enough to connect with Jazz88's Sean McPherson in advance of her duo show on Thursday, September 1 at The Dakota. Check out the whole conversation here.

Maryanne Sullivan has teamed up with the Twin Cities Seven to perform some of the highlights of the swing era. Catch the Group at Crooner’s Supper Club Friday Night September 2. But the show will present more than the best-known sing numbers. In a conversation with Phil Nusbaum, Maryann explained how her jazz radio career benefitted her song-picking skills.

The Foxgloves is a 6-piece all woman Twin Cities Bluegrass / Americana group. When Nikki Lemire and Steph Snow of the Foxgloves talked about the group with Phil Nusbaum, Nikki first addressed determining the group’s genre label.

Zacc Harris is celebrating the legacy of Pat Martino on Thursday August 25 at Crooner's. He hopped on the Afternoon Cruise to discuss Martino's influence in the jazz world.

Sophia Shorai has always sung jazz standards. But her songwriting goes way back in her career, too. The songs she writes are not necessarily jazz, and Sophia is featuring her originals more and more during her sets. Catch Sofia Shorai at the Dakota in Minneapolis, Monday August 22 at 7PM. When Sophia talked to Phil Nusbaum, Phil asked Sophia about her songwriting.

As the name implies, The Imminent Standards play standards. But of course they put their own twists on the tunes. Catch the Imminent Standards Saturday night at 8PM at KJ’s Hideaway in Saint Paul. Trombonist JC Sanford is the group’s leader. In a conversation with Phil Nusbaum, JC addressed providing musical variety.

Ben Sidran is rolling through town for a two night stand on Friday August 19 and Saturday August 20 at Crooners. He was nice enough to hop on a ZOOM and chat with Sean McPherson about his new album and his upcoming shows.

The jazz legend and Jazz88 broadcaster Butch Thompson passed away on Sunday 08/14/22. This is the audio of the tribute to Butch Thompson from 8/16/22 during the Afternoon Cruise with Tony Baluff (Southside Aces) and Sean McPherson (Jazz88).

Each year, Jazz 88 presents a graduating senior who participated and excelled in the radio/creative media production course at North High School with the Art Colberg scholarship. This year, two Colberg Scholarships were awarded, and Manny Hill talks with one of them, Kyree Wilson. Kyree shares her experience in radio class, and also where she's headed for college this fall.

Mary Overlie and Geoffrey Taylor have different types of musical backgrounds, but their family connection brings them together. Theirs is a mix of lyric songs and instrumental playing that defies categorization, yet does not seem far out. The duet is called Augmeanted, and it performs this Saturday at 7PM at Studio Z in Saint Paul. When Mary talked to Phil Nusbaum, she talked about how Augmeanted...

Pianist Larry McDonough and guitarist Joel Shapira are known for their complementary duet style. It’s much like that of pianist Bill Evans and guitarist Jim Hall. This Monday at 7PM at the Dakota in Minneapolis, Larry and Joel present a program of Bill Evans and Jim Hall music, and release a new CD entirely of Bill Evans and Jim Hall music. But why re-do Bill Evans and Jim Hall? That’s the questio...

After 24 years of coaching boys high school basketball in Minneapolis, Larry McKenzie has decided it's time to put away the whistle and clipboard. Manny Hill talks with Coach McKenzie about why now was the time to step away and focus on other aspects of life, and also the lasting impact he's had on the Northside community of Minneapolis.

Cathy ‘n Abel have a unique niche. The duet curates popular songs from the last fifty years or so that sound good using voice and guitar. Plus, they keep in mind the reference points of the Latino community. When Cathy ‘n Abel talked to Phil Nusbaum, Cathy put the mission this way.

Rachel Kurtz has been singing her whole life and gets everything behind her performances. When Rachel talked with Phil Nusbaum, she talked about the connections between her life and her songs.

Pavielle is releasing a new documentary that tracks the making of her album, Sovereign. Check out the extended conversation between Pavielle and Jazz88's Sean McPherson.