Minnesota Music Profiles

Series produced by KBEM

Caption: KBEM logo, Credit: Tim Nyberg (Octane Creative)
Image by: Tim Nyberg (Octane Creative) 
KBEM logo 

Each item in the series tells how a musicians is inspired, how s/he works, their goals and intents for their work; in general, how each gets motivation and follows through with a creative project.

Each Minnesota Music Profile focuses on a musician or group. Listeners learn some of the behind-the-scenes stuff related to the creative process. Programs in the series are under 10 minutes in length. They can be run anytime because they are not time sensitive. These pieces are especially appropriate when subjects perform in the areas served by given radio stations.


423 Pieces

Order by: Newest First | Oldest First
Caption: The Dregs, Credit: Amore Photography
The Dregs occupy a singular musical niche: Band members backgrounds are varied, but together, the group sings and plays twisted versions of songs, ...

  • Added: Mar 08, 2024
  • Length: 08:01
Caption: Sarah Larsson by Drew Arrieta, Credit: Drew Arrieta
Red Thread’s songs could be considered what happens when you combine traditional songs, new compositions and modern technology. The new CD is calle...

  • Added: Feb 23, 2024
  • Length: 08:00
Caption: GiftedHandz, Credit: Cynthia Abalo
GiftedHandz is a Minneapolis group of young people who have come up playing multiples styles in church settings. When Joe Mason, a GiftedHandz foun...

  • Added: Feb 20, 2024
  • Length: 08:00
Caption: Timothy De Prey, Credit: Paul Nixdorf
MacPhail Center for music has a program called the Spotlight Program, which encourages its teachers to create musical programs. That’s what stimula...

  • Added: Feb 17, 2024
  • Length: 08:00
Caption: Ancia Saxophone Quartet, Credit: Leslie Shank
The Ancia Saxophone Quartet showcases its new CD. Joan Hutton of the Anchia Saxophone Quartet talked with Phil Nusbaum abut the group, and about on...

  • Added: Feb 16, 2024
  • Length: 08:00
Caption: Ancia Saxophone Quartet, Credit: Leslie Shank
The Ancia Saxophone Quartet showcases its new CD in upcoming performances. This Thursday, February 22, the show is at 12 noon, at Landmark Center i...

  • Added: Feb 16, 2024
  • Length: 08:00
Caption: Kathleen Johnson, Credit: John Botkin
Kathleen Johnson and members of the Historical Soul Tight Committee have long-term affection for Stevie Wonder. That feeling is the basis of the gr...

  • Added: Feb 13, 2024
  • Length: 07:57
Caption: jazz88 logo 2022, Credit: Tim Nyberg (Octane Creative)
The Group is Traiveon and Candi, featuring Jackson Hurst and Mayyadda. The group’s music has a pop sound, but the songs deal with some serious pers...

  • Added: Feb 11, 2024
  • Length: 08:00
Caption: Corky Siegel and Randy Sabien, Credit: Holly Siegel
Corky Siegel has been entertaining audiences with the blues for over half a century. For many of those years, Corky has performed with violinist an...

  • Added: Feb 01, 2024
  • Length: 08:00
Caption: Scott Mateo Davies, Credit: Janice Jahn
Mateo’s Rogue Tango has been playing since 2010 or 2011, and it’s leader, Scott Mateo Davies goes back further than that with Twin Cities Tango. Da...

  • Added: Jan 18, 2024
  • Length: 08:00
Caption: jazz88 logo 2022, Credit: Tim Nyberg (Octane Creative)
When preparing for a performance, there are many considerations. When Alex sat down with Phil Nusbaum to talk about performing, the talk turned to ...

  • Added: Jan 09, 2024
  • Length: 08:00
Caption: Mother Banjo, Credit: Anna Kostochko
Mother Banjo’s new lp is actually a reissue of gospel lp, called The Devil Hasn’t Won. In a conversation with Phil Nusbaum, Mother Banjo, a.k.a. El...

  • Added: Dec 24, 2023
  • Length: 08:00
Caption: Tim Sparks CD Cover, Credit: by Manfred Pollert
The stylistic range of guitarist Tim Sparks is as broad as any, and he does it again on his new CD. The project is called Lost and Found, whose tit...

  • Added: Dec 23, 2023
  • Length: 08:00
Caption: Kavey Kaviraj by Evin Rodriguez-Sosa, Credit: Evin Rodriguez-Sosa
Pianist Kavey Kaviraj composes music that combines the East Indian forms of his childhood with Jazz. When Kavey spoke with Phil Nusbaum about his m...

  • Added: Dec 19, 2023
  • Length: 08:00
Caption: Peter K Grivna Quartet, Credit: assemblage by David Graf
Peter Kogan plays with his own group, but also enjoys sitting in with other groups that share musical directions. One such group is the Brian Grivn...

  • Added: Dec 15, 2023
  • Length: 08:00
Caption: Luke LeBlanc by Sara Bel Kloetzke, Credit: Sara Bel Kloetzke
Creating a CD is a process that has a lot of moving parts. In a conversation with Phil Nusbaum, Luke discussed how his CD Places came together, sta...

  • Added: Dec 06, 2023
  • Length: 08:00
Caption: Courtney Burton, Credit: Tera Gerardin
Vocalist Courtney Burton and the Minnesota Jazz Chamber Orchestra perform distinctive holiday shows. In a conversation with Phil Nusbaum, Courtney ...

  • Added: Nov 30, 2023
  • Length: 08:00
Caption: Maud Hixson, Credit: Olivia Wilcox
Vocalist Maud Hixson has a deep knowledge of American song, including songs for the holidays. In a conversation with Phil Nusbaum, she first talked...

  • Added: Nov 29, 2023
  • Length: 08:00
Caption: Davu Seru, Credit: Andrea Canter
Percussionist Davu Seru, Levi Schwartzberg on the vibes and saxophonist Nathan Hanson have played together over the years in multiple bands. Nathan...

  • Added: Nov 22, 2023
  • Length: 08:00
Caption: CD Cover, I Awake, Credit: design by Ryan Picone, logo by Jacqui Cary, graphic work by Ian Stenlund
Ryan Picone’s new CD features Ryan’s compositions which frequently reference people and events important to Ryan. When Ryan talked to Phil Nusbaum ...

  • Added: Nov 18, 2023
  • Length: 08:00