KBEM

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Recognized as the Twin Cities’ public radio voice for jazz and education, KBEM is a program of the Minneapolis Public Schools (MPS) Approximately 150 students annually participate in KBEM’s hands-on educational program, which focuses on all aspects of broadcasting and production. Students who develop their skills and select broadcasting experience can gain significant on-air time. The station is on-air 24/7 with 35 hours of student programming each week, with live professional announcers and pre-recorded, syndicated programming filling out the rest of the schedule. KBEM is the only station in the Twin Cities market which offers a jazz format and officially provides MN-DOT traffic reports.

KBEM was initially established at Minneapolis Vocational High School in the 1960s. The station was moved to North High School in 1983 as a part of the District’s desegregation initiative and it continues to reside there today. The vast majority of KBEM students attend North High School.

Series

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62 Pieces

Minneapolis High School Students, with the help of a team of educators and poets, were encouraged to write poetry. The poems created by the students are in some cases hard-hitting, and in others, cute.

  • From: KBEM
  • Updated: Jan 13, 2014
Caption: Susan Spongberg, Credit: Frank T. Heffelfinger III
9 Pieces

Minnesota Creates is curious about how creativity occurs, so Susan Spongberg asked an assortment of Minnesota artists how do you choreography a dance? Where do your novel’s characters come from? How do you decide what to paint?

  • From: KBEM
  • Updated: Jan 14, 2014
Caption: Minnesota Jazz Legends: The Elders, Credit: Jim Davis
7 Pieces

Minnesota has many wonderful jazz musicians, still playing well into their 80's. Minnesota Jazz Legends: The Elders, features live and in studio performances and interviews, talking about their careers in the Twin Cities from early on to present.

  • From: KBEM
  • Updated: Nov 11, 2021
Caption: Jazz 88 FM, Credit: http://www.jazz88fm.com
15 Pieces

Minnesota Music Moment is a weekly feature of KBEM FM 88.5, each week highlighting a different Minnesota musician.

  • From: KBEM
  • Updated: Feb 25, 2011
Caption: KBEM logo, Credit: Tim Nyberg (Octane Creative)
424 Pieces

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.

  • From: KBEM
  • Updated: Oct 09, 2015
Caption: Arne Fogel, Credit: John Whiting
65 Pieces

Minnesota Voices-Certain Standards Minnesota Vocalists perform new renditions of the Great American Songbook. Arne Fogel-Host

  • From: KBEM
  • Updated: Oct 31, 2012
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2 Pieces

In a world and time of differences, music has the power to bring us together, to unite us through a shared experience. Music knows no boundaries. It transcends that which keeps us apart. Join Jazz88 for an evening of discovery with Music Without Borders.

  • From: KBEM
  • Updated: Sep 04, 2019
Caption: Bobb Fantauzzo performing with Lyz Jaakola, Credit: Andrea Canter
18 Pieces

Native flute player Bobb Fantauzzo illuminates the contributions made by jazz musicians with Native American heritage.

  • From: KBEM
  • Updated: Apr 19, 2016
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4 Pieces

Butch Thompson's Piano Bench Show looks at the piano stylings of the early performers of jazz.

  • From: KBEM
  • Updated: Jul 14, 2011
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0 Pieces

Perspectives relating to Minnesota culture, history and the arts contributed by Minneapolis high school students.

  • From: KBEM
  • Updated: Apr 04, 2010

Latest Pieces

Caption: Sarah Streitz, Credit: Chris Hagedorn
Sarah Streitz Sings Her Pointed Original Songs Next Wednesday October 24 at the Black Dog in St Paul

  • Added: Oct 12, 2018
  • Length: 08:00
Caption: Travis Anderson Trio, Credit: Travis Anderson
Next Tuesday, Oct 16, The Travis Anderson Trio plays Vieux Carre in St Paul from 8 till 11. When Travis got together with Phil Nusbaum, Travis addr...

  • Added: Oct 12, 2018
  • Length: 08:00
Caption: Jazz 88 logo, Credit: Tim Nyberg (Octane Creative)
Pop Wagner’s been a folk music entertainer in the Twin Cities for at least a generation. On Sat Oct 20, he’ll take his general program to the Inver...

  • Added: Oct 07, 2018
  • Length: 08:00
Caption: Wilkinson James, Credit: David Tanner
The band Wilkinson James has had quite an evolution over it’s 10 years together, both as a duet and as a full band. Phil Nusbaum talked with foundi...

  • Added: Oct 03, 2018
  • Length: 08:00
Caption: Wilkinson James, Credit: David Tanner
Local band Wilkinson James has had quite an evolution over its 10 years together. The group celebrates its decade of music making together 9-11 Fri...

  • Added: Oct 03, 2018
  • Length: 08:00
Caption: Bill Simenson Orchestra, Credit: Bill Simenson
The Bill Simenson Jazz Orchestra’s instrument lineup looks like a typical big band, but that’s where the similarity ends. Bill Simenson leads a gro...

  • Added: Sep 17, 2018
  • Length: 08:00
Caption: Twin Cities Brass Band, Credit: Samantha Garber
The Twin Cities Brass Band plays a wide variety of works, some written for brass and some adapted for brass. Adam Hille is the director. In a conve...

  • Added: Sep 16, 2018
  • Length: 08:00
Caption: Twin Cities Brass Band, Credit: Samantha Garber
2018 is the 100th anniversary of Gustav Holst’s symphony The Planets. Originally written for full orchestra, The Twin Cities Brass Band plays it in...

  • Added: Sep 16, 2018
  • Length: 08:00
Caption: Cedar Avenue Big Band, Credit: Jim Richards
The Cedar Avenue Big Band. After 25 years they still love playing big band music, big band fans love what they do. Currently, the group plays secon...

  • Added: Sep 14, 2018
  • Length: 08:00
Caption: Moonlight Serenaders, Credit: Phyllis Wojchik
This Thursday evening, The Moonlight Serenaders play the coolest venue anyplace. The Wabasha Caves are just that, caves that are fixed up and turne...

  • Added: Sep 14, 2018
  • Length: 08:00