Jazz88

Carolyne Naomi brings her Afro R and B to the Inver Glen library in Grove Heights, this Tuesday, May 17 at 6:30 PM. Carolyne was born in Nigeria and sings in English and Yoruba. She writes her songs, which frequently deal with relationships. When Carolyne talked with Phil Nusbaum, Carolyne addressed her song Japa.

Manny Hill talks with North Community High School Principal Mauri Friestleben about Pillsbury United's $1 million fundraising for the North class of 2022. As each graduating senior will receive $10,000 in scholarship funding, Friestleben shares more on the impact this has had on the students of North High.

Kenne Thomas is a Twin Cities drummer with broad experiences and a bent towards arranging. He leads his K-Tet into Jazz Central Studios Saturday night May 14 at 8PM. When Kenne spoke with Phil Nusbaum, the talk turned to the reason for creating set arrangements for Jazz tunes.

Those are Minnesota music icons Gordy Knudtson and Bobby Schnitzer. Back in the day they were frequent collaborators on tours and in studios. The two have a new audio recording, with a You Tube video as well, all under the name Gordo and The Stinger. When the guys talked to Phil Nusbaum, Bobby the guitarist related why they’ve revived their old partnership.

Kendra Glenn plays KJ’s Hideaway in Saint Paul This Friday at 6:30. As a kid in Chicago, Kendra developed the chops to do what she does today: When she gets a song, she molds it and makes it her own. In a recent interview, Kendra told Phil Nusbaum about her process.

Tearra Oso continues her work in a field she calls Bomba-Pop. It’s a marriage of a traditional Puerto Rican form with a pop sensibility. In her new video and CD, Tearra weaves together messages of peace, justice, personal growth and healing, using a voice that comes from her ancestors. In a conversation with Phil Nusbaum, Tearra addressed the purpose of Griot del Rio.

The Genesis Jazz Orchestra is ready for its Big Show welcoming spring, this Sunday. It will be in the Rosemount Community Center at 4PM. Genesis often opens its sets with a tune called Jackson City Jubilee. In a conversation with Phil Nusbaum, trumpeter Steve Olson told why.

Tou SaiK is known for addressing youth. He mixes the wisdom of his late grandmother with hip hop, and is releasing a CD that adds to the videos he has already released. In just a second, we will hear an excerpt of Tou’s grandmother’s poetry, then Tou’s conversation with Phil Nusbaum.

The Good The Bad and The Funky has been around a quarter of a century. Layne Bender of the Good the Bad and the Funky talked about the group recently with Phil Nusbaum. They started by addressing how long the group has been around. But before we hear from Layne, some genuine audio from a club appearance by the Good The Bad and the Funky.

The Roseville Community Band has been around for well over 60 years. The group plays locally and has traveled to other states and foreign countries, too. Dan Kuch directs the Roseville Community Band. I is Dan’s role to find interesting music for the group to play, and keeping things fresh. Dan has also composed the group’s calling card tune, March of the Roses. Dan’s conversation with Phil Nusbau...

Karrin Allyson talks about her upcoming Karrin's Kaleidoscope Performance on April 17 at Dakota. Mixing it up with Bonnie Raitt, Mose Allison, and some delightful originals.

This Monday at the Dakota in Minneapolis, 4 leading local guitarists from varied musical backgrounds share their Beatles interpretations. Postponed from last March, Joel Shapira, Tim Sparks, Dean Magraw and Jeff Perry are finally able to serve up their reimagined Beatles music. When the group got together with Phil Nusbaum, Jeff told where the idea for the show comes from.

When Thomas Bruce is touched by a song, he wants to sing it to others. He shares some great ones via recordings and live performances. One of Thomas’ early influences was Billy Strayhorn’s “Lush Life.” He told Phil Nusbaum of his inspiration to sing the song.

Beasley’s Big Band is Back at its pre-pandemic spot, the Wabasha Street Caves in Saint Paul. Beasley’s Big Band plays every third Thursday at the caves, and that includes this coming Thursday, April 14. Beasley’s Big Band manager Jim Hoar had a conversation with Phil Nusbaum, and first they talked about the stylistic footprint of the band.

Peter Vircks does many kinds of playing on the saxophone. When he talked with Phil Nusbaum, the two touched on some of Peter’s varied approaches. The Peter Vircks Quintet performs at KJs Hideaway in Saint Paul, Friday April 9 from 9;30 till 11:30 PM. Peter’s group plays a lot of original music, but Peter also likes to play romantic songs, like Burt Bacharach’s Close to You, which Peter recorded wi...

Lila Ammons performs Saturday night April first and second at the Umbraa in Minneapolis. Twin Cities music fans know Lila Ammons for her renditions of blues and historic jazz, but the pandemic has caused Lila to think about a new emphasis. She talked to Phil Nusbaum about it.

The English pop group the Beatles cast a shadow that covers generations of music. Next Tuesday at the Dakota in Minneapolis, 4 leading local guitarists from varied musical backgrounds share their Beatles interpretations. They guitarists are Joel Shapira, Tim Sparks, Dean Magraw and Jeff Perry. When the group got together with Phil Nusbaum, Jeff told where the idea for the show comes from.

This Sunday night March 29, Jennifer Grimm sings Judy Garland, 7PM at the Chanhassen Dinner Theater. Jennifer told Phil Nusbaum that she has always identified with Garland because of their similar biographies.

Maddie Thies was born in Minnesota but spent many years in Seoul, South Korea. She’s been back for a long time, but one outcome of her travels is feeling that she is out of place wherever she lives. When she talked to Phil Nusbaum, Maddie first told why she thought her situation would be good to write songs about.

Maddie Thies was born in Minnesota but spent many years in Seoul, South Korea. She’s been back for a long time, but one outcome of her travels is feeling that she is out of place wherever she lives. When she talked to Phil Nusbaum, Maddie first told why she thought her situation would be good to write songs about.

The American Roots Revue grew from a project done by Larry Long and J.D. Steele under the auspices of the Southern Poverty Law Center to honor the diversity of American music. They brought in the likes of Robert Robinson and Tania Hughes Kendrick and her son Cameron. The Revue is staged Friday April 8 at the Dakota in Minneapolis, at 7 and 9:30. Larry Long talks about the show. But first, Robert R...

Patty Peterson interviews Dennis Spears about the upcoming "Legends:Beyond The Rainbow" concert. Legends @ the Capri presents Beyond Legends Rainbow, a beautiful evening of music offering audiences a moment to pause and pay tribute to the musical stylings and lives well-lived by Jeanne Arland Peterson, Irv Williams, Debbie Duncan and Yolande Bruce. General admission tickets are $25 or $20 each for...

A new documentary about the life of Oscar Peterson has been released, under the direction of Barry Avrich. Barry joins Jazz88's Patty Peterson as they talk about the life of Oscar Peterson and the great performances with in this new documentary: Black & White

After the honor-roll student-athlete was gunned down Feb. 9, passing away the next day, interested parties have come together to establish academic and athletic scholarships in memory of Deshaun Hill Jr. The gifts will benefit members of the Minneapolis North High Class of 2024, of which he was a part.

The Cedar Cultural Center in Minneapolis and the Jerome Foundation partner each year to present the Cedar Commission, two nights of performances featuring cutting edge work by multiple artists. This year’s performances are held Friday and Saturday February 18 and 19. Phil Nusbaum talked to one of the event’s organizers, Robert Lehmann about the performances.