Jazz88

Minnesota State Climatologist Luigi Romolo talks about the still-severe drought conditions plaguing the state and the hopeful, wet forecast over the next week.

Kenne Thomas leads his band into Jazz Central in Minneapolis Saturday evening August 28 from 8 till 10 PM. Kenne is from Chicago, lived and played jazz in Japan and then took up residence in the Twin Cities. Kenne’s groups kinit together many stylistic ingredients, and the group is called Lifeforce. Why? That’s what Phil Nusbaum asked when he talked to Kenne.

David Martin and Serdar G comprise the MJGD - Minneapolis Jazz Guitar Duo. The duo plays a lot of great standards. You might expect that of a jazz group, but for this one, playing standards is a welcome change from the players’ normal. David and Serdar talked to Phil Nusbaum about their duet.

Scottie Miller has a new thing, piano poetry. It’s what happens when he delivers his poetry to his improvisation-based piano playing. Scottie’s piano poetry debuts Saturday August 21 at Crooners in Minneapolis at 8:30, and Friday night August 27 at 7at the Lakeshore Players Theater in White Bear. In a conversation with Phil Nusbaum, Scottie addressed the intersection of writing songs and poetry.

Scottie Miller has a new thing, piano poetry. It’s what happens when he delivers his poetry to his improvisation-based piano playing. Scottie’s piano poetry debuts Saturday August 21 at Crooners in Minneapolis at 8:30, and Friday night August 27 at 7at the Lakeshore Players Theater in White Bear. In a conversation with Phil Nusbaum, Scottie addressed the intersection of writing songs and poetry.

The training for musicians focuses on learning their craft. But a big part of the work turns out to be selling your act. Jeri Goldstein specializes in helping musicians position themselves in the marketplace. In a conversation with Phil Nusbaum, Jeri first talked about developing her specialty.

The Foxgloves is a 6-piece all woman Twin Cities Bluegrass / Americana group performing every second Wednesday at Sociable Cider Werks in Northeast Minneapolis. 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.

The Red Hot Django Peppers plays the music of Django Reinhardt. The group performs at the Ice House in Minneapolis next Sunday from 11 AM till 2 PM The leader is Ryan Picone. In a conversation with Phil Nusbaum, Ryan talked about how Django, probably in the 1920s, first got interested in jazz.

Tjänrnblom plays traditional music from Swedish and Finnish tradition, and the group’s tunes . The group plays Thursday August 5 at the American Swedish Institute in Minneapolis. In a conversation with Phil Nusbaum, Cheryl Paschke and Joe Alfano of the group told how much of the group’s repertoire comes from people known to the band, or to evets the band experienced.

Enso Daiko has been serving up Taiko drumming in the Twin Cities for many years. You can see the group next Sunday 6 to 8 PM in Roseville’s Central Park. Jeff Ellsworth has been a member of Enso Daiko for many years, and in a conversation with Phil Nusbaum, Jeff tells a bit about the heritage of Taiko drumming.

With her voice injury and Covid in the rearview mirror, Katia Cardenas is back singing jazz. Catch Katia at 8PM this Friday night at the Granada in Minneapolis. Katia told Phil Nusbaum that hers is a mix of picking up where she left up, and new ideas caused by reflection.

Charmin Michelle and Dennis Spears have been friends for so long that it’s kind of a surprise that they’ve never shared a stage. But that changes this Sunday at 6 PM at Crooner’s in Minneapolis. When Charmin and Dennis got together with Phil Nusbaum, the talk turned to some of their old Minneapolis hangouts, like the long departed Times Bar.

Maud Hixson performs Songs of the 1920s this Saturday July 24 at Crooner’s in Minneapolis. Then on Sunday August 1, Maud is right back at Crooner’s with a 6-piece group, French 75. Maud has been very successful presenting shows about specific eras. When Maud talked to Phil Nusbaum, he asked where that idea comes from.

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 he also written the group’s calling card tune, March of the Roses. Dan’s conversation with Phil Nusbaum opened with Dan playing hi...

Pat Donohue, Tim Sparks and Phil Heywood are Minnesota-based guitarists who play the strings using individual fingers, in other words, without holding a pick. The three have been acclaimed far and wide for their finger-style playing, but the three have never shared a stage. That changes Friday July 16 in the Main Room at Crooners. Pat Donohue was the driving force behind the show.

The Plant Based Poets Show stages organic self-expression through live music, dance, art & food. It’ll be outdoors at the Hook and Ladder in Minneapolis at 7PM on July 10. Terrell Woods, also known as Carnage the Executioner is the force behind the 3 band show featuring Saltee, Ill Chemistry, The Orange Goodness and dance by Jodi Sieger’s Rhythm and Shoes. Terrell told Phil Nusbaum about the philo...

Ted Unseth is known to many for leading the Classic Jazz group, the Americana Classic Jazz Orchestra. But Ted has had quite a musical journey. He moved from Chicago to Albert Lea, Minnesota as a young kid. As the son of a Lutheran minister, classical music was on in the house. But Ted had an unexpected response to early piano lessons, as he told Phil Nusbaum.

Kendra Glenn started singing as a young kid in Chicago. She has blossomed into a busy upper midwest soulful singer who also writes some of her songs. Kendra sings Friday and Saturday July 2 and 3 at the Umbra in Minneapolis. When she spoke with Phil Nusbaum, Kendra first addressed her early interest in singing.

Sprig of That shares the bill with Anthony Ihrig at the Ice House in Minneapolis, Wednesday June 30 at 7:30. Sprig of that consists of violinist Isabel Dammann, tabla player Krissy Bergmark and guitarist Ilan Blanck. Theirs is a mixture of formal and folk traditions. But what do you call the music of Sprig of That? That is what Phil Nusbaum asked Ilan Blanck.

Many Forces Had to Come Together to Create a Twin Cities Jazz Fest This Year, but it is happening Friday through Sunday June 25-27. Learn about it at Crooners Lounge MN dot com. Andrew leads his little big band at the fest, and also works behind the scenes at Crooner’s. In a conversation with Phil Nusbaum, Andrew first addressed Crooner’s new Belvedere Room.

The Levi Schwartzberg Quartet brings a Bebop sensibility to its online show streamed from Jazz Central Studios in Minneapolis, this Saturday at 8PM. In a conversation with Phil Nusbaum, Levi had his vibes available and demonstrated a few ways of improvising that the Levi Schwartzberg Quartet employs.

King Wilkie’s Dream plays new acoustic country music and strives for originality. In a conversation with Phil Nusbaum, fiddler Robbi Podrug and mandolinist Shane Zack told Phil Nusbaum that much of the originality comes from the songwriting of guitarist John Niemann.

Kashimana writes from life. Her songs are about love, about letting your light shine and about the current scene. When Kashimana talked to Phil Nusbaum, he asked where her songwriting comes from.

I Am Woman Hear Me Roar shines lights on great women artists of the past 50 years or so, 7PM this Friday night at the Belvedere at Crooners in Minneapolis. Lori Dokken is the great motivator of this event which includes Patty Peterson, Judy Vinar, and Rachel Holder. In a conversation with Phil Nusbaum, Lori told why she wanted to put together I Am Woman Hear Me Roar.

When Thomas Bruce is touched by a song, he wants to sing it to others. He’s sharing some great ones at Crooner’s Dunsmore Room Friday evening June 11 at 5:30. One of Thomas’ early influences was Billy Strayhorn’s “Lush Life.” Thomas told Phil Nusbaum of his inspiration to sing the song.