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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782 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: Marcus Wise, Credit: Jan Wise
Marcus Wise is a devoted tabla player. The tabla is a hand drum that provides a signature sound in east Indian music. He talks about his musical pr...

  • Added: Apr 26, 2016
  • Length: 07:37
Caption: Marcus Wise with tabla, Credit: Jan Wise
The local tabla player Marcus Wise looks for opportunities to work with San Francisco sarod player Bruce Hamm. This weekend the two play two concer...

  • Added: Apr 26, 2016
  • Length: 05:00
Caption: Sheila Jordan
Jazz vocalist Sheila Jordan often credited her Native roots as an influence in her singing.

Bought by WTJU, WDSE, and WTJU


  • Added: Apr 19, 2016
  • Length: 05:00
  • Purchases: 3
Piece image
Bassist, composer and big band leader Charles Mingus claimed Native American roots, and he incorporated many genres of music into his compositions.

Bought by WTJU, WDSE, and WTJU


  • Added: Apr 19, 2016
  • Length: 05:00
  • Purchases: 3
Caption: Twin Cities Latin Jazz Orchestra, Credit: Diego Ramallo
Jazz Central Studios is a nonprofit organization supporting the Twin Cities jazz community. Its Fundraiser is Saturday April 30, and artists are co...

  • Added: Apr 13, 2016
  • Length: 05:00
Caption: Jim Falbo, Credit: Gilliane Mansfeldt
Jim Falbo is a talented classical-based guitarist. He has a command of many music styles makes him a wedding guitarist who is in demand.

  • Added: Apr 09, 2016
  • Length: 08:48
Caption: Jim Falbo, Credit: Gilliane Mansfeldt
Jim Falbo has a base in classical guitar, but he is a lover of many music styles. In advance of his Studio Z show in Saint Paul this Friday night, ...

  • Added: Apr 09, 2016
  • Length: 05:00
Caption: Southside Aces, Credit: Jonathan Hankin
The Southside Aces is a Minneapolis-based New Orleans-style Jazz group playing uncompromised traditional Jazz. They play it the old way, but when a...

  • Added: Apr 07, 2016
  • Length: 09:10
Caption: Southside Aces, Credit: Jonathan Hankin
The Southside Aces is a New Orleans-style jazz band that has loads of fun playing for dancers and listeners. Founder and clarinetist Tony Balluff (...

  • Added: Apr 07, 2016
  • Length: 05:00
Caption: Diane Jarvi, Credit: Nick Lethert
She’s an artist of many talents, and she keeps embracing more and more. Diane Jarvi is touched by Finnish, American and other world cultures, and s...

  • Added: Mar 28, 2016
  • Length: 09:19