The Morning Show

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..

Jazz88's Peter Solomon spoke with Victor Cole, Director of Recruitment, Retention and Induction in the School of Urban Education at Metro State University, about a Graduate Programs Preview Day coming up April 13th.

Jazz88's Peter Solomon spoke with Brazilian guitar virtuoso Diego Figueiredo about his musical development and his recent album "My World," which featured guest appearances by clarinetist/saxophonist Ken Peplowski and trumpeter Nicholas Payton. Figueiredo is appearing at Crooners on Friday 3/29.

Jazz88's Peter Solomon spoke with pianist Miki Yamanaka on "Shades of Rainbow," her new collaboration with tenor saxophonist Mark Turner. She discusses the influence of pianist Cedar Walton on her playing, the making of the new album, and the status of women in the contemporary Jazz scene.

Jazz88's Peter Solomon caught up with singer Cyrille Aimee ahead of her performance at the Dakota on Tuesday, March 19th. She talked about her childhood in France, her introduction to jazz, her decision to move to New Orleans, the house she designed and built in Costa Rica during the pandemic, and her new album of originals "A Fleur de Peau" which is being released this month.

Singer-Composer Jennifer Grimm and her husband and musical partner, Joe Cruz, visited with Jazz88's Peter Solomon on the Morning Show. Jennifer performed two originals - "Half a Man" and "I Miss Minneapolis/St. Paul" and did a short version of "Our Love Is Here to Stay." She talked about her unusual musical background (she grew up singing in a family variety show act) and about her approach to wri...

Tenor saxophonist JD Allen speaks with Jazz88's Peter Solomon about his recent recording THIS, which features Allen playing with Gwilym Jones on drums and electronic soundscapes created by Alex Bonney. Allen will be appearing in the Twin Cities March 15th at Jazz Central and March 16th at Icehouse,

Peter Solomon spoke with Dayna Martinez, Executive Director of the Twin Cities Jazz Festival, about the headliners that will be featured at the Twin Cities Jazz Festival in June.

Peter Solomon spoke with Cathy McLeer, State Director for AARP Minnesota about the Twin Cities Winter Jazz Fest.

Jazz88's Peter Solomon spoke with singer Jamecia Bennett about her concert Friday, February 23rd at the Ordway, which she says will celebrate the the evolution of music from African roots to jazz, blues, and soul. Bennett is a resident artist at the Ordway.

Jazz88's Peter Solomon speaks with trumpeter Scotty Barnhart, the leader of the Basie Orchestra for the past twenty years. Barnhart discusses his early exposure to music at Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta, how he came to play the trumpet, how he felt the first time he heard the Basie Orchestra, the background behind his Grammy-winning album "Basie Swings the Blues," and what to expect from the...

Jazz88's Peter Solomon spoke with Brittany Tweed, Director of Financial Aid at Metro State University about what's happened recently with FAFSA, some opportunities for financial aid, and details on an open house event at Metro State Monday, February 26th. Metro State University is an underwriter of Jazz88.

Jazz88's Peter Solomon spoke with Loren Schoenberg, senior scholar at the National Jazz Museum in Harlem, about a new documentary airing this week on PBS about pioneering trombonist, electric guitarist, composer, and arranger, Eddie Durham.

Aubrey Logan is the daughter of a band director and a choir teacher and grew up singing in musical theatre. Picking up a horn in high school, she became a quadruple threat as a vocalist, trombonist, composer, and arranger. She spoke with Jazz88's Peter Solomon about her career, her recent recording "Standards," her work with Postmodern Jukebox, and her appearance Saturday, February 3rd at the Nort...

Jazz88's Peter Solomon spoke with Trumpeter Steve Kenny, who curates the jazz at K.J.'s Hideaway. He brings his quintet to the St. Paul venue Saturday, February 3rd to celebrate the music of John Coltrane. This will be the 100th performance in the ongoing jazz series that Kenny has curated over the past two years.

Jazz88's Peter Solomon spoke with award-winning mystery novelist Michael Connelly about how jazz played an essential role in establishing the character of Harry Bosch, the hard-edged loner cop with a penchant for bucking authority and a deep-seated love of jazz. Connelly himself became a jazz fan as he was doing the research for his books. (Image by Mark Coggins, San Francisco)

Jazz88's Peter Solomon spoke with drummers Abinnet Berhanu and Kevin Washington about an upcoming show at Icehouse, Friday evening, January 19th. Berhanu will be showcasing music that draws on his Ethiopian heritage and his band Ahndenet will feature the singer Genet Abate. Washington will perform with RA Spirit. Photo of Abinnet Berhanu by Beza Tuga.