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Interviews, performances, and special programming from Jazz88. Hear us live at 88.5 FM in the Twin Cities!
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We’ve been hearing Tom Peschges’ original songs for years. He plays in a bluegrass group, the Double Down Daredevils, and also performs as a solo artist. But it’s taken till now for Tom to complete a CD of original songs. When Tom talked to Phil Nusbaum, Tom addressed a question about his songwriting process.
Steve Kenny leads Blue Chunks into the Berlin Jazz Club in Minneapolis, Friday night April 3 at 7:30pm. In 2025, Steve recorded a CD with Blue Chunks, and is eager to continue performing with the group, and to exploring new frontiers with Blue Chunks. In a conversation with Phil Nusbaum, Steve told why he so enjoys performing with Blue Chunks.
The Foxgloves leads LaPlant Road and Lanue into the Dakota in Minneapolis, 7pm, Tuesday March 31. The Foxgloves specialize in creating song versions together, and that includes new songs as well as fresh spins on old ones. When 3 of the 5 Foxgloves, Sara, Liz and Steph met with Phil Nusbaum, Sara first told how the group chose to perform House of the rising Sun.
Jazz88's Peter Solomon speaks with Jenny Klukken, a Twin Cities-based marimba player who is releasing a new album on March 27th called "Marimba Standard." She talks about her musical journey and how she came to embrace the marimba, and about the artists that she colaborated with to create her new recording. An album release celebration will take place Saturday, March 28th at Art House North in St. Paul.
Jazz in the Cities takes place Saturday March 28. Sponsored by the Noack Endowment and the College of Saint Benedict and Saint John’s University in Collegeville, Jazz in the Cities combines performance and other kinds of programs that enrich jazz experiences. Jazz in the Cities comes from the imagination of Ryan Picone. When Ryan talked to Phil Nusbaum about the event, Ryan told why the focus on Jazz history.
Jazz88 Morning Show Host Peter Solomon speaks with Tony Balluff, a clarinetist who leads the Twin Cities-based traditional jazz ensemble, The South Side Aces. Balluff is something of a jazz historian, and speaks eloquently about the innovative artists that created the artform. Sunday, March 22nd, the South Side Aces and some friends will be featured playing Bechet's music at Jazz Age Rumpus V, taking place at the Hook and Ladder Theater. Concurrently, the South Side Aces are releasing a new album called "Les Oignons," dedicated mostly to the music Bechet recorded in France in the 1950's.
Ella Grace, an award winning trumpet player, and recording artist, speaks with Jazz88's Patty Peterson about her upcoming album release concert at Berlin in Mpls. The album's title is "Figments" and she is bringing her band from Chicago who is also featured on the recording project, to perform along with her. Ella talks about when she started composing jazz, and creating arrangements at a young age, and where she sees herself in the coming years with her career.
Bassist and composer Eli Zukor has recently returned to Minneapolis. Eli leads his quintet into Jazz Central Studios this Saturday night, March 21, from 8 till 9:30. Eli is the bassist, Bryan Murray the saxophonist, Jordan Christianson on the piano, and Everett Needleman is the drummer. When Eli spoke with Phil Nusbaum, Phil asked Eli, Why compose?
Pert Near Sandstone hosts the annual String Band Gatherin’ at the Turf Club in Saint Paul this Friday and Saturday. Each night there will be local and visiting bands, plus an opening act, and an after party. Phil Nusbaum talked to J. Lenz and Justin Bruhn of the band about the event. First, J responds to Phil’s question about thinking, all year ‘round, about acts for the Gatherin’.
When you say Motown, you are saying more than the name of a record label located in Detroit. You are referencing a group of artists who collectively made a greater contribution to American music than their numbers would suggest. Locally, the Minneapolis Men of Motown, as well as the Minneapolis Women of Motown, and they celebrate Motown music at the Dakota in two shows on Saturday March 21. When Phil Nusbaum talked to two of the Minneapolis women of Motown, Kathleen Johnson and Courtnie Johnson, Kathleen talked about how the Minneapolis Men of Motown got started.
Arne Fogel Visited with Peter Solomon on the Morning Show to discuss his new recording "Arnthology," a compilation featuring recordings made between 1971 and 2026. Fogel will celebrate the release of the album Saturday, March 14th at Crooners with a performance featuring Rick Carlson, Maude Hixson, bassist Graydon Peterson, and other special guests. In this segment, you'll hear some tracks from the new album, as well as some music from Bong Crosby. Listen to Arne host "The Bing Shift" Sundays at 7 PM on Jazz88.
Jacquelin Ultan, Josh Misner, Devan Moran and Erica Burton comprise the Laurels String Quartet. All the players are classically trained, but the quartet frequently plays in non-classical situations. Every Sunday this March, the Laurels String Quartet plays at Berlin in Minneapolis, each week with a select collaborator. When Phil Nusbaum talked with members of the quartet, he asked about how they met, and Josh responded.
Peter Solomon speaks with Greg Brosfske, writer and composer of a jazz-infused operetta called "Strange Heart," in spired by Pulitzer-winning poet John Berryman's writings. Actors Anna Hashizume and Bradley Greenwald also join the conversation. "Strange Heart" opens at Open Eye Theatre opened March 5th and runs through March 22nd.
About thirty years ago, Lilith Fair was created to point out gender-based inequities in the music business. Sunday evening March 8 at 6:30, at a performance at Crooner’s in Fridley, vocalist Tristana Ward fronts Pandora’s Other Box, a celebration of the original Lilith Fair artists and those who came later. When Tristana talked to Phil Nusbaum, she reflected on her shock, in the late 1990s, when she learned about the uphill battle faced by female artist.
Theo Bleckmann is an vocalist with a penchant for creating experimental, boundary-pushing recordings drawing on a wide range of musical styles. His latest recording, called "Love and Anger," is no exception. It includes highly personal and sometimes radical arrangements of two Kate Bush songs, Sylvester’s disco hit “Mighty Real,” “Hide Your Love Away” by the Beatles, “Dido’s Lament” by Henry Purcell, and other songs by Massive Attack, Frank Ocean, Janis Ian, and more. Peter Solomon speaks with Bleckmann about the new recording, and Bleckmann discusses his musical origin story, including his close musical and personal relationship with the legendary singer Sheila Jordan.
Guitarist Dean Magraw and percussionist Davu Seru have each performed in many ensembles. Take together all that playing, and Dean and Davu are well prepared to show up in clubs and entertain. They perform Saturday February 28 at the High Hat in Saint Paul, at 7pm.Dean and Davu say that what they do is to play in the moment. But what does that mean? Phil Nusbaum asked the pair, and Dean was the first to respond.
John Penny has had multiple musical careers, including performing and music production for movies and commercials. Today, among other things, he leads the Virtual Band. He creates dense musical textures through synthesizing multiple instruments and sings and plays his electric guitar in performance. John’s virtual Band performs Sundays 11 to 2 at the Golden Thyme in Saint Paul. John Penny says he lives in composition. When he talked to Phil Nusbaum about his craft, he told what he meant by that.
Saturday night, the Cedar Cultural Center presents a group of artists commissioned to create new musical work. It’ll be the second Cedar Commissions show, from 7:30 till about 11pm. Phil Nusbaum talked with two of the artists performing February 21, Mikey Marget and Valentine Lowry-Ortega. But first, we hear from John Marks, Operations director of the Cedar, who tells why the Cedar puts on the Cedar Commissions every year.
Peter Solomon speaks to Paul Fonfara and Spencer Roth of The Brass Messengers, a Twin Cities-based brass band that blends elements of Balkan, Macedonian, Afrobeat, Free Jazz, New Orleans sounds. The group will play a Mardi-Gras show called "Dance Your Brass Off" Tuesday, February 17th at the Turf Club, presented by Jazz88.
Each year, The Cedar Cultural Center presents a group of artists commissioned to create new work. The grant that funds the Cedar Commissions comes from the Jerome Foundation, and the performances are Friday and Saturday February 20 and 21 at the Cedar, 7:30 till 11pm. Phil Nusbaum talked with the artists performing February 20, Deeq Abdi, Creekbed Carter Hogan and Trick Locket. As we join the artists and Phil Nusbaum, the group is set up in the Green Room of the Cedar. Deeq Abdi of Minneapolis was born in Somalia, and writes songs that address cultural connection
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