The Morning Show

Jazz88's Peter Solomon spoke with trumpeter/conductor Byron Stripling about "Uptown Nights," a program taking place Saturday, August 3rd, that he will perform with the Minnesota Orchestra. The program will feature Stripling in multiple roles - conducting, playing trumpet, and singing - along with vocalist Carmen Bradford and tap dancer Leo Manzari.

Jazz 88's Peter Solomon speaks with vocalist Jane Monheit in advance of her appearance Tuesday, July 30th at the Dakota. Monheit talks about her musical influences, the way she's learned to manage expectations as a female performer, lessons learned from working with legendary producer Joel Dorn, and her forthcoming eponymous release on Clubb 44 records.

Jazz 88's Peter Solomon speaks with vocalist Jane Monheit in advance of her appearance Tuesday, July 30th at the Dakota. Monheit talks about her musical influences, the way she's learned to manage expectations as a female performer, lessons learned from working with legendary producer Joel Dorn, and her forthcoming eponymous release on Clubb 44 records.

Peter Solomon speaks with Steve Clarke about the evolution of his band Steve Clarke and the Working Stiffs. They will playing the final Jazzclectic Concert of the summer on Saturday, July 27th at 2PM.

Jazz88's Peter Solomon spoke with vocalist Jennifer Grimm and 16-year-old saxophonist Grady Cartony about "Next Generation: Jazz," a show focusing on young Jazz artists taking place at Crooners at 5 PM on Sunday, July 21st. Two other showcases at Crooners will feature young artists from the Classical scene and Musical Theater Community.

Jazz88's Peter Solomon caught up with singer and songwriter Nicole Zuraitis, whose 2023 recording How Love Begins received the Grammy award for best jazz vocal album. Zuraitis plays Thursday evening June 20th at the Dakota in an appearance billed as a pre-Twin Cities Jazz Festival show.

Jazz88's Peter Solomon spoke with pianist, vocalist, songwriter and composer Eliane Elias about her new album "Time and Again," coming out later this month on Candid Records. The recording features background vocals by Mark Kibble of Take 6, and guest appearances by legendary performers like Brazilian singer Djavan and jazz artists Mike Mainieri, Peter Erskine, and Bill Frisell. Elias is appearing...

Jazz88's Peter Solomon spoke with Jonathan Taylor Rush, guest conductor with the Minnesota Orchestra, about the second annual Juneteenth program scheduled for Friday, June 14th at 8 PM. He discusses the wide ranging program, which includes compositions by William Grant Still, Margaret Bonds, and more recent works by Omar Thomas, Carlos Simon and hip hop writer/performer Wordsmith. (Attached image...

Jazz88's Peter Solomon spoke with documentary photographer Walter Griffin and painter and designer Patrice Goodall Abbe about "Jazz 'n' More," an exhibit of photographs and paintings on display at Dow Art Gallery June 6th - June 29th. Dow Art Gallery will host an event celebrating the exhibit featuring the Walker West Jazz Ensemble on June 13th.

Jazz88's Peter Solomon spoke with singer Karrin Allyson about her new Origin records release titled "A Kiss for Brazil," which features a guest appearance by legendary Brazilian singer Rosa Passos. She also discusses her upcoming performance June 21st at the Twin Cities Jazz Festival.

Jazz88's Peter Solomon spoke with drummer and guitarist Jellybean Johnson and his partner, Martha Bragg about a fundraising event called "Minneapolis Sound Museum presents Tales from the Northside: Stories of Flyt Tyme," taking place at the Capri Theatre on June 5th.

Jazz88's Peter Solomon spoke with Davina Sowers of Davina and the Vagabonds about the new recording "Shoot for the Moon." They are playing the Ordway on Friday, May 31st as part of the Flint Hills Family Festival.

Jazz88's Peter Solomon spoke with filmmaker Brigitte Berman, whose 1985 documentary film "Artie Shaw: Time Is All You've Got" is being screened at the Heights Theatre on June 10th. After the film won an Oscar, Shaw sued Berman for a portion of the profits. Berman discusses Shaw's amazing musical accomplishments, his struggle to balance commercial success with artistic integrity and the challenges...

Jazz88's Peter Solomon spoke with Tracy Byrd, a language arts teacher at Washburn High School, who received the award for Minnesota Teacher of the Year for 2024.

Jazz88's Peter Solomon spoke with Kansas City- based saxophonist Adam Larson, who will be playing May 17th and May 18th at Jazz Central. Larson will be playing with Twin Cities musicians Abinnet Berhanu, and bassists Chris Bates and Ted Olsen.

Jazz88's Peter Solomon spoke with drummer Robert "Sput" Searight, who co-founded the funk/fusion band Ghost Note with fellow drummer Nate Werth. Sput discusses playing with Werth in Snarky Puppy, the formation of Ghost Note, the influences that inform the music, and their new recording "Mustard "n" Onions." Ghost Note plays two shows at the Dakota on Friday, May 17th.

Jazz88's Peter Solomon caught up with clarinetist Tony Balluff of the Southside Aces. Balluff talked about one of his musical heroes: New Orleans clarinetist Jimmy Noone. He also discussed the formation of the South Side Aces, the group he co-founded twenty years ago with tuba player Erik Jacobson (The Southside Aces will be featured in the next Jazz88 Jazzclectic Concert on Saturday April 18th)....

MPS Voices Associate Educator Jedediah Jones spoke with Laura Louis-Jacques, District Program Facilitator- Secondary Special Education, and Jesse Morgan, Department Head at MPS' Assistive Technology Center, about the Special Education Community Resource Fair taking place Thursday May 9th from 5-7:30 PM at the MPS Center for Adult Learning.

Guitarist and singer John Pizzarelli is from an illustrious jazz family. His father was the legendary guitarist Bucky Pizzarelli and John grew up around jazz legends like Benny Goodman, Zoot Sims, Les Paul and Slam Stewart. Pizzarrelli discusses his recent album "Stage and Screen," his current trio, and his upcoming performances with JazzMn Orchestra and with his trio at the Dakota May 11th and 12...

The Superintendent of Minneapolis Public Schools Dr. Lisa Sayles-Adams joins MPS Voices Executive Producer Manny Hill to give an update on the latest listening sessions in April and what's in store for May's sessions. She also highlights the tenative agreement between MPS and the Minneapolis Federation of Teachers. Also, a new storm water pond has opened at an MPS School, and two elementary school...

Dayna Martinez, Executive Director of the Twin Cities Jazz Festival, visited the Morning Show on International Jazz Day to reveal the complete lineup of artists performing at the Twin Cities Jazz Festival on June 21st and 22nd.

Lynne Arriale has been a leading pianist and educator on the international jazz scene for more than thirty years. In this conversation with Jazz88's Peter Solomon, she discusses her development as a jazz artist, the craft that goes in to creating memorable compositions, and her recent recording "Being Human". Arriale is appearing May 4th and 5th at Metronome Brewery with bassist Chris Bates and dr...

Twin Cities singer Maud Hixson won a Bistro Award recently for "Permanent Moonlight," an album of songs by Richard Rodney Bennett. She spoke with Jazz88's Peter Solomon about her path to becoming a professional jazz singer and about a Doris Day Tribute at Crooners' Dunsmore Room on April 20th.

Peter Solomon speaks with Duluth-based trombonist Thomas Woytko about JAM Duluth, a program of live performances scheduled at Duluth breweries and other locations through the month of April.

Jazz88's Peter Solomon spoke with pianist Aaron Diehl about his recent recording of Mary Lou Williams' "Zodiac Suite," the influence of pianist and composer John Lewis, and his upcoming performance of music by Lewis, Gunther Schuller and others with members of the Chamber Music Society of Minnesota Sunday, April 7th at Sundin Hall on the campus of Hamline University in St. Paul..