Jazz88

Humbird features the original songs of Siri Undlin, and releases a CD called Pharmakon at the Parkway in Minneapolis this Saturday night, Sept 7. Showtime is 8PM. Siri talked with Phil Nusbaum about her songwriting style and about Humbird’s singular approach.

JC Sanford leads a trio, called Triocracy as well as a quartet. The groups but on a combined CD release event in Studio Z’s New Works Series, in Lowertown St Paul, Thurs Sept 5 at 8PM. With two saxophones and a trombone, JC considers the trio “chamber jazz”. In a conversation with Phil Nusbaum, JC addressed what he means by “chamber jazz.”

Singer Ginger Commodore on the Morning Show talking about the "Hot Buttered Classic Soul" show at Crooners Supper Club where she'll perform with Yolande Bruce and Jesse Larson.

The Minnesota Mandolin Orchestra has been entertaining audiences for decades. The next chance to listen to the massed mandolins will be at Como Lake Pavilion Monday August 26 at 7PM. In a conversation with Phil Nusbaum, Director Lon Hendricks talked about two parts of his philosophy: Keep the music varied and lively. To those ends, the Minnesota Mandolin Orchestra enjoys playing marches.

Pianist Ben Sidran will play two shows at Crooners Supper Club this week. He called into the Morning Show to talk about the gigs, giving away his archives and playing in a trio setting.

Trumpeter Omar Abdulkarim and saxophonist Walter Chancellor are two of the performers for A Mini Jazz Fest at The New Cantina Mexican Restaurant at the Mall of America in Bloomington this weekend.

Singer Bruce Henry performs songs of Al Jarreau this weekend at Crooners Supper Club.

Pianist and good friend of the Morning Show Nachito Herrera came in to talk about his performance next week at the Dakota with several other Cuban musicians.

The Artistic Director and Founder of VocalEssence, Philip Brunelle, came to the Morning Show to discuss the choir's upcoming trip to Mexico City, Mexico.

Rocker mostly but also a crooner, Tina Schlieske will sing two shows at the Dakota on Thursday, Aug. 22, 2019. She talked to the Morning Show about switching genres and coming back home.

Lynn O’brien brings her band and her original songs to the Lake Harriet Bandshell in Minneapolis, Saturday night August 24 at 7:30. Lynn is a songwriter who gets inspiration from what is going on around her. During a conversation with Phil Nusbaum, Lynn told of her approach.

Emma and Jacob Taggart are a brother and sister piano duet from Blaine. They play concerts, they tour and they’ve been featured on TV and radio. And you can catch Taggart Squared at Crooner’s in Fridley, Monday August 19 at 7:30PM. But the thing is, Emma is 17 and Jacob is 12. When do they find time for all this? Emma and Jacob told Phil Nusbaum about their act.

Singer Jearlyn Steele stopped by Jazz88's Morning Show to talk about her new series of shows at Crooners Supper Club.

Peter Schilling from the Heights Theater talks about the upcoming showing of The Man Who Laughs, the silent film with a character who inspired The Joker from the Batman comics.

Pianist Larry McDonough and his quartet will celebrate the 90th birthday of pianist Bill Evans with a show at the Black Dog in St. Paul Sunday night, Aug. 18 at 7 p.m.

Steve Hobert is one of the most respected band musicians in the Twin Cities. But he has a unique personal side that he shows at some of his performances. When he is alone at his keyboard he challenges himself to play contrasting moods during a single piece. You can hear Steve do it in front of an audience 2 to 3 this Sunday August 18 at Jazz Central studios in Minneapolis, and third monthly Sunday...

John Penny is a local guy who has a multi-faceted career in music. These days he is doing a lot of playing, and John leads his group, Equatis, into the Maplewood Library, 7-8 PM Wednesday August 14. A short time ago, John spoke with Phil Nusbaum about where John gets the Latin-African synthesis so prominent in John’s jazz.

Jesse Held is the so-called "Earl" of Earl Giles, a Minneapolis-based elixir company. He also runs the bar program at places like Parlour Bar, Constantine and Mercado. He joined Jazz88's foodie, Matt Gundrum, on today's Morning Show.

Howard Levy will play harmonica and piano, joined by guitarist Chris Siebold, at Crooners Saturday, Aug. 10, 2019. He talked to the Morning Show.

Space is a Twin Cities Jazz group whose players are young veterans. jack Courtright plays the trombone; Will Schmid on the guitar, the keyboardist is Patrick Adkins, bassist and cellist is Alma Ingebretson and Luke Peterson plays the drums. Patrick and Luke got together with Phil Nusbaum to talk about the band ahead of its CD release event at Jazz Central Studios in Minneapolis, Friday August 9. D...

Tom Cornish, Russ Rayfield and Mark Briere. This acoustic trio has been singing and playing together for decades. The group plays Tuesday nights at the Riverview Café from 7:30-9:30, and always plays a broad swath of styles. Tom Cornish and Russ Rayfield got together with interviewer Phil Nusbaum to talk about this most unusual acoustic group, and they were talking about one of their songs, My Hom...

John Penny is a local guy who has a multi-faceted career in music. These days he is doing a lot of playing, and John leads his group, Equatis, into the Maplewood Library, 7-8 PM Wednesday August 14. A short time ago, John spoke with Phil Nusbaum about where John gets the Latin-African synthesis so prominent in John’s jazz.

The Tropics Steel Drum Band is a duet that shares music that comes originally from Trinidad and Tobago and features the steel pan or drum. Guitarist Jahbee Bennett had been part of the group for decades and Chris Belich plays the steel pan. The duet performs at the Maplewood Library, Wednesday July 31 at 7PM. When Phil asked group members about their backgrounds in Caribbean music, Jahbee was firs...

Lila Ammons lives in Minneapolis and travels the world singing blues and Jazz. Lila happens to be the dranddaughter of jazz pianist Albert Ammons and the niece of saxophone player Gene Ammons. Through her family and her travels, Lila has heard many kinds of jazz, and all those influences come out in Lila’s new CD, Geneology. Lilas’ CD release party is at the Dakota, Sunday August 4 at 7PM. She tal...

Momokusu Iwata performs "Jongara-bushi" a traditional shamisen melody, live at KBEM's Studio 1.