Jazz88

Hank Thunander of Saint Paul is an accordion player’s accordionist. After about 70 of playing, he knows thousands of songs and tunes and plays solo or with a group, seemingly all the time. Hank is at the center of the early New Year’s party at the Rosetown Legion in St Paul, from 11:30 AM till 4 PM on Dec 31. Hank talked to Phil Nusbaum, and Phil first asked how he constructed a playlist for a typ...

Career vocalist Mick Sterling joins former superbowl football player Ben Utecht for an evening of Christmas songs backed by a 19-piece orchestra at the Chanhassen Dinner Theater. The shows are at various times Sunday December 26 through Wednesday December 31. In a conversation with Phil Nusbaum, Ben tells how he’s always been interested in both music and athletics.

Singer Maud Hixson loves giving audiences her spins on great old Christmas songs. But she also enjoys singing songs that should be better known. When she talked with Phil Nusbaum, Maud addressed the great spirit everybody seems to share at this season.

Guitarist Zacc Harris curates Monday nights this December at the Icehouse in Minneapolis. Doors open at 6 with music starting at 8PM. Each show is a double bill. So there will be plenty of space not only for bands Zacc plays in, but for groups with contrasting styles. In a conversation with Phil Nusbaum, Zacc Harris talked about his curatorial style.

Ross Sutter researches and performs traditional Swedish songs and tunes. You can catch Ross with Art Bjorngjeld in a craft market setting, Saturday December 4 at 10 and 11:30 AM at the American Swedish Institute in Minneapolis. In a conversation with Phil Nusbaum, Ross tells of some of the rare songs and tunes he’s come up with.

It must be the holiday season because Cornbread Harris fronts his band at a Blues Party at the Hook and Ladder in Minneapolis. It’ll be next Thursday, December 2. When Phil Nusbaum visited the Twin Cities’ piano playing blues icon, Cornbread was in the mood to talk about how his songs and shows are put together.

Rondo 56 tells how the Rondo neighborhood in Saint Paul was changed when Interstate 94 was built right through it. Rondo 56 includes music by a combination of T Michael Rampbo, Thomassina Petra, Charmin Michelle and Dan Chouinard. Phil Nusbaum went to a rehearsal of the group and talked to Dan and T Michael. Dan explained how interstate construction was set in motion.

En route to a PhD in creative writing, Brian Laidlaw was struck by the work of French Canadian poet Emile Nelligan. Brian translated the work, and then composed music and recorded it on a CD called The Aster. In a conversation with Phil Nusbaum, Brian told how the project got started.

It was a long wait, but Zeitgeist presents its early music festival featuring the work of Frederick Shefsky this Friday and Saturday night at 7:30 at Studio Z in Saint Paul. Zeitgeist percussionist Heather Barringer spoke with Phil Nusbaum about the production, and about the composer, Frederick Shefsky.

A few years ago, guitarist Pavel Jany received a Minnesota State Arts Board grant to create a new CD and play some concerts. But then came the pandemic. The CD is finally here, and Pavel plays with the World Jazz Collegium sextet Thursday, November 18th, 7:00-9:00 PM at the Granada Theater in Minneapolis. Pavel told Phil Nusbaum, that because of the pandemic, the titles of some of the pieces have...

California based Kiefer joins Justus Sanchez at Jazz88 for an in-studio performance and interview. Kiefer, who gained acclaim for optimistic beat-based jazz, released his latest album "When There's Love Around" in 2021. The new album is a departure from his previous works. He has switched out the beats for a full band. He and his band we're touring this fall and after a stop at the Fine Line on Oc...

Kenne Thomas has a new CD called Yesterdays. The CD release event takes place at the Dakota in Minneapolis, Tuesday November 9 at 7PM. Kenne is a drummer. But his major reference point is the saxophone sound he heard as a kid growing up in Chicago, especially as played by Kenne’s father, James Whitehead. Kenne talked to Phil Nusbaum about the project.

Gypsy, one of Our Town’s most popular groups ever, plays its 50 year anniversary show at Crooners, Saturday November 13 at 7PM. But suddenly, Gypsy has a batch of new songs by band member James Walsh. In a conversation with with Phil Nusbaum, James explained that the songs were an outcome of his Covid experience.

Singer Maryam Yusafzadeh came to the US from Iran over 30 years ago. Maryam’s interest in singing about immigrants started around the time of Nine-Eleven. Over time, events made her feel more strongly about it. Her CD is called Migration, and Maryam talked to Phil Nusbaum it.

Dear Lenny: Bernstein’s Life in Songs and Letters pays tribute to the multi-dimensional Leonard Bernstein. The production features some of his vast catalog of musical creations, plus his correspondence with family members and other musical luminaries. The production comes to Crooner’s in Fridley, Saturday at 8 PM and Sunday at 5 PM. We join Phil Nusbaum with the show’s performers.

PK Mayo, aka Paul Mayasich continues his tradition of creating music in multiple styles on his new CD, entitled Simple Search for Truth. In Mayo’s conversation with Phil Nusbaum, Paul talked about some of the CD songs.

The Ben Ehrlich Quartet performs at Jazz Central Studios in Minneapolis Friday night October 22 at 8PM. Ben plays the drums, and other group members are Nelson Devereaux, tenor sax; Will Kjeer, pno; and bassist Charlie Lincoln Ben is in his studio, and he’s teaching today. Before a student arrives, he’s warming up his drum chops.

Jenny Klukken takes the marimba into unexpected musical places. She’s at the Ice House in Minneapolis Wednesday October 20 at 8PM. In a conversation with Phil Nusbaum, Jenny talked about her distinct musical path.

Sax man Steve Clarke has been a major musical figure in our town and beyond for decades. He’ll be leading the Working Stiffs into the Dakota, 7PM Thursday October 14. When Phil Nusbaum spoke with Steve, Phil saw the title “Joan’s Jump,” and asked Steve about Joan.

Minneapolis Public Schools Superintendent Ed Graff talks with Manny Hill about the effects of the ongoing pandemic on MPS and how it has impacted transportation around the district.

Reynold Philipsek’s new EP was created in the midst of social unrest and a pandemic. When Reynold talked with Phil Nusbaum, Reynold filled us in on the details of the music – society connections.

The Barley jacks with Brian Wicklund mixes bluegrass and old-time string band styles with other idioms like no other band. This coming Saturday night at the Parkway Theater in Minneapolis at 8 PM, the Barley Jacks performs songs from its new songs. Brian Wicklund talked with Phil Nusbaum about the Barley Jacks, and first told why he formed the group way back when.

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.

Patty Peterson spoke with Karrin Allyson about her upcoming concerts at Crooners Supper Club on Oct 1, & 2nd. 2021. They talked about the show and Karrin's motivation for writing music.

Patty and the Buttons recently resumed playing their Sunday Swing Brunches at the Aster Care in Minneapolis. It’s on every week from 11 AM to 2 PM. Accordionist Patty Harison leads the group, and he knew that the audience would come back. He knew that from March 2021, when Patty and the Buttons held forth in the cold at the Lake Harriet bandshell.