Jazz88

AchieveMpls is holding mock interviews for students. College & Career Center manager Tiffany Enriquez talks about how you can help prepare students for their future careers.

Stephen Rueff pays tribute to pianist Peter Schimke who passed away earlier this week.

The new principal at North Community High School, where our KBEM studios are located, stopped by the Morning Show to talk about the school.

Singer Lucia Newell sings Carnaval! A Night in Brazil, Tuesday night at Crooners Supper Club with Clea Galhano on recorder, Joan Griffith on guitar and Gordy Johnson on the bass.

Pert near Sandstone has not only minted its own brand of string band music, but has become a mover and shaker, too. Its yearly Winter String Band Gathering comes to the Cedar Cultural Center in Minneapolis Friday and Saturday February 28 and 29, with doors opening at 7 and performances beginning at 8. On Friday night, Cascade Crescendo is also on the bill, and the Jon Stickley Trio on the 29. Just...

Cedar Commissions Presents Outstanding New Work this Friday and Saturday at the Cedar in Minneapolis

Saturday night Feb 22, starting at 7PM Jazz at the Black Dog in St Paul is curated by Chris Bates. Chris’ new piano trio with pianist Joe Strachan performs along with Alpha Consumer. When Chris got together with Phil Nusbaum, he first addressed the direction of his new trio, and then the curatorial focus for the Black Dog shows he curates.

Three Bands representing South American Styles play Saturday Night at 8 PM at the Cedar Cultural Center in Minneapolis. Groups are Alma Andina, Los de Arriba and the Chico Chavez Orchestra. The event is called Sudaka. In a conversation with Phil Nusbaum, Vladimir Garrido of Alma Andina explains.

Rachel Kurtz has been singing her whole life and gets everything behind her performances. Catch Rachel and 5-piece band at the Icehouse next Wednesday, February 12 at 9PM. When Rachel talked with Phil Nusbaum, she talked about her life and her songs.

The Minneapolis Battle of the Jug Bands has gotten so big now that it straddles the Twin Cities in two venues. Saturday afternoon February 8 at the Minnesota Music Café in St Paul and Sunday afternoon February 9 at the Cabooze in Minneapolis. Phil Nusbaum talked to one of the organizers of the event, Kris Garwick. Kris also plays in a band that competes, the Fat Chance Jug Band.

He goes by Detroit Don King because Detroit is where he comes from. You can catch Don’s blues band at the Dubliner in St Paul, Saturday Feb 1 at 8pm. A few decades ago in his Detroit home, Don combined playing the blues with an auto parts business, but the business had trouble with crime. So Don and his wife decided to move elsewhere.

Kashimana writes from life. Her songs are about love, about letting your light shine and about the current scene. Catch Kashimana at Jazz Central Studios in Minneapolis, Thursday January 30 at 8PM. When Kashimana talked to Phil Nusbaum, he asked where her songwriting comes from.

Jesse Whitney creates music on an electronic device known as a synthesizer. His next show is at the Kit Kat Club in Minneapolis. In a conversation with Phil Nusbaum, Jesse told of his music creation and style, and also about the modular synthesizer.

The Delphia Cello Quartet performs Sunday night at the Aster in Minneapolis from 8 till 10. The quartet is managed by Julia Floberg who also is one of the cellists. As we open this report, the Delphia Cello Quartet is playing a J.S. Bach piece for a dance form known as a sarabond.

Ginger Commodore’s musical salute to Dr. Martin Luther King takes place at the Dakota in Minneapolis, Monday night January 20 at 7PM. It’ll be a party-like atmosphere at the Dakota, featuring a lot of music of the era of Dr King, much of which he really enjoyed. Ginger told Phil Nusbaum about it.

Fattenin’ Frogs references old country and old blues in its performances. And they perform Sunday January 19 at the Como Park Conservatory at 4:30 PM. Whether the songs are old or original, originality is key for Fattenin’ Frogs. Amanda White and Chris Holm of the band say that song arrangements evolve from the time they start working with them.

Three Great Groups that Combine Traditional Styles in New ways play at the Cedar Cultural Center in Minneapolis on Thurs January 16. They are Orange Mighty Trio, the OK Factor and Sprig of That. But why this interest in pushing the boundaries? Nick Gaudette of the Orange Mighty trio addressed just that in an interview with Phil Nusbaum.

Vocalists Arne Fogel and Jennifer Eckes talk about their upcoming show at the Hastings Art Center, "Fred Astaire At the Movies"

Ian Van Ornum and Dani Aubert are Fellow Pynins. The duet performs Sunday January 12 at the Aster in Minneapolis, 8-10PM. Ian and Dani sing stories. When they got together with Phil Nusbaum, the talk turned to Dani’s recent songwriting influences.

King Wilkie’s Dream plays new acoustic country music and strives for originality. You can hear the group at the Hook and Ladder, Sunday March 12 from 7 to 9 PM. 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.

The Barley Jacks with Brian Wicklund. It’s a string band influenced by bluegrass, Appalachian tradition, rock and blues. Catch the group’s act at the Parkway Theater in Minneapolis, Saturday Jan 4 at 7:30PM. When Phil Nusbaum caught up with Brian Wicklund they talked a bit about Barley Jacks up-north philosophy.

Vocalist Elaine Dame is coming back to Minneapolis to do an Ellington/Strayhorn show at Crooners Supper Club in the Dunsmore Room on Saturday, Jan. 4.

Tenor saxophonist Jerry Bergonzi is playing two shows at Crooners on Monday, Jan. 6th.

At its show at the Dakota in Minneapolis, Thursday January 2 at 7PM, the Southside Aces Big Five pays tribute to Louis Armstrong. Armstrong is one of the most important creative forces in the history of Jazz. In a conversation with Phil Nusbaum, Southside Aces clarinetist Tony Balluf talked about the tune Working Man Blues as a great example of early Louis Armstrong.

Pianist Jon Weber talks about his shows coming up at Crooners Supper Club next week including solo shows and duo shows.