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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20 Pieces

Joan Griffith, Twin Cities musician and educator, has conversations with prominent Minnesota jazz musicians.

  • From: KBEM
  • Updated: May 25, 2016
Caption: Joan Griffith, Credit: Ann Marsen
20 Pieces

Joan Griffith, Twin Cities guitar player and educator, interviews Minnesota jazz artists.

  • From: KBEM
  • Updated: May 27, 2016
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13 Pieces

Minneapolis Public School teachers talk with Kevin O'Connor about their accomplishments.

  • From: KBEM
  • Updated: Jul 14, 2011
Caption: Leigh Kamman, Credit: Andrea Canter
57 Pieces

During his 60-plus years in jazz broadcasting, Leigh Kamman conducted hundreds of interviews with jazz artists, including many from the Minnesota scene. These are being preserved and edited by the Leigh Kamman Legacy Project and presented as The Jazz Image: Minnesota Edition, a continuation of the The Jazz Image: Special Edition series. These projects are part of the process of preserving and sharing the massive archive of historical recordings he left when he passed away in October 2014.

  • From: KBEM
  • Updated: Jun 29, 2020
Caption: Leigh Kamman, Credit: Andrea Canter
14 Pieces

Minnesota jazz broadcasting legend Leigh Kamman conducted hundreds of interviews with jazz artists, including some of jazz's illustrious figures. Now, these treasures have been lovingly preserved and edited into a new series of broadcasts, The Jazz Image: Special Edition. These recordings preserve priceless conversation Leigh Kamman had with such luminaries as Duke Ellington, Sarah Vaughan and Stan Kenton. In his ninth decade, Kamman adds fresh commentary to round out these 5 minute broadcasts, 13 in all in this series.

  • From: KBEM
  • Updated: Jan 14, 2014
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785 Pieces

5 to 8-minute, highly produced heads-ups highlighting great musical activities in the Twin Cities broadly conceived. The pieces feature the musicians, their music, club owners, fans, in short all of those responsible for creating musical experiences.

  • From: KBEM
  • Updated: Dec 10, 2019
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0 Pieces

Viva City, Festival of the Arts, was initiated thirteen years ago as a way to showcase arts education in Minneapolis Public Schools (MPS). In this pod cast, we feature the musical portion of Viva City from the Ted Mann Concert Hall at the University of Minneapolis.

  • From: KBEM
  • Updated: May 29, 2011
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31 Pieces

Minneapolis High School Students comment on Minnesota Arts, Culture and History

  • From: KBEM
  • Updated: Aug 24, 2011

Latest Pieces

Caption: Wayne Anthony, Credit: David Murphy
When Wayne Anthony does Sinatra with an 8-piece ensemble, the evening is what Wayne says it is: Ultimate Sinatra. Wayne plus ensemble brings an eve...

  • Added: May 14, 2024
  • Length: 08:00
Caption: Debbie Briggs, Credit: Debbie Briggs
Debbie Briggs Vintage Jazz performs in many configurations. To Debbie, the different musical settings cause her to adapt her singing style. In a co...

  • Added: May 08, 2024
  • Length: 08:00
Caption: Debbie Briggs, Credit: Debbie Briggs
Debbie Briggs’ Vintage Jazz Duo performs every Saturday night at the Velveteen Speakeasy in Stillwater, including this Saturday May 18, 8 till 10:3...

  • Added: May 08, 2024
  • Length: 08:00
Caption: Cafe Accordion Orchestra, Credit: Jim Dryden
Dan Newton’s Café Accordion Orchestra celebrates its Thirty-Year Anniversary this coming Thursday at Crooners Supper Club in Fridley. The show will...

  • Added: May 05, 2024
  • Length: 08:00
Caption: Enso Daiko, Credit: Dan Norman
Taiko Arts Midwest stages concerts that bring together international and Twin Cities Taiko drummers. In a conversation with Jennifer Weir, executi...

  • Added: May 02, 2024
  • Length: 08:00
Caption: Enso Daiko, Credit: Dan Norman
Taiko Arts Midwest stages concerts that bring together international and Twin Cities Taiko drummers. The organization’s performing group, Enso Dai...

  • Added: May 02, 2024
  • Length: 08:00
Caption: World Jazz Collegium, Credit: Lidyane Ponciano
Minnesota’s Pavel Jany came of age musically during the Jazz-Rock Fusion era of the 1970s. His Group, World Jazz Collegium carries the banner of Fu...

  • Added: May 01, 2024
  • Length: 08:00
Caption: History Theatre's Kim Loo Sisters Kelsey Angel Baehrens, Suzie Juul, Morgan Kempton and Audrey Mojica photo by Rich Ryan, Credit: Paul Ryan
In the 1930s, the Kim loo Sisters of Minneapolis was a harmony singing force. From May 4 through the 26th, St Paul’s History Theater in co-producti...

  • Added: Apr 26, 2024
  • Length: 08:00
Caption: Neighborhood Quartet, Credit: Benny Moreno
The Neighborhood Quartet is vibraphonist Steve Roehm, Guitarist Dan Schwartz, drummer Greg Schutte and bassist drummer Nick Salisbury. On its recen...

  • Added: Apr 16, 2024
  • Length: 08:00
Caption: Neighborhood Quartet by Benny Moreno, Credit: Benny Moreno
The Neighborhood Quartet is vibraphonist Steve Roehm, Guitarist Dan Schwartz, drummer Greg Schutte and bassist drummer Nick Salisbury. At its album...

  • Added: Apr 16, 2024
  • Length: 08:00