Jazz88

08/09/2025

The Minnesota Bluegrass August Festival is in full effect. You can get your dose of Bluegrass Saturday Morning anywhere even your car going out to Richmond, MN!
Catch Lonesome String Band, Bob Carlin and The Dillards on air this morning. And you have time to head out to the festival and hear DRY BRANCH FIRE SQUAD
and SISTER SADIE tonight.

Tune into 88.5 FM or www.jazz88.fm to hear the new stuff, the old stuff and the hard stuff

More info about the Festival here: https://www.minnesotabluegrass.org/Main-Stage-Schedule

08/08/2025

Professional pianist Abebi Stafford and student saxophonist Sam Stauning stopped by the Jazz88 studios to talk about the fundraiser concert the MN Hard Bop Collective is hosting on Monday, August 11 at Metronome in Lowertown. The concert will feature a student ensemble with Stauning, alongside pianist Basil Saathoff and guitarist Kyle Baxter. The concert will also feature a professional performance with Abebi Stafford on organ, Jesse Simon on drums and Ian Duerr on guitar. Stafford and Stauning discussed navigating a rhythm-section-free performance and also reflected upon the skills one can learn performing in a casual setting like the Sit-In Series.

Check out their conversation here: https://www.jazz88.fm/2025/08/07/the-mn-hard-bop-collective-hosts-a-student-concert-at-metronome-brewery-on-monday-august-11/

Abebi Stafford MetroNOME Brewery

08/07/2025

What's new in jazz? Jazz88 is vibin' with what's new across the country.
Check out the artists listed and vote for your favorites here:
https://www.jazz88.fm/2025/08/06/the-jazz88-chart-vote-for-your-favorites-42/

08/07/2025

There is still plenty of BBQing time this summer and plenty of baked goods to make while you support Jazz88 by purchasing an apron.

Cookin' with Jazz88. Sean McPherson and Bob Jurek both love food. Someone loves tartar sauce more then someone else. We won't name names. But if you want to support Jazz88...

08/06/2025

The legendary guitarist Mark Whitfield is making his way back to the Twin Cities for a set at the Lakeside Guitar Festival on Saturday, August 9. Whitfield is no stranger to Minnesota, having played here frequently at the beginning of his career when he was touring with Brother Jack McDuff. Whitfield covered the details of the trio he’s traveling with, his reverence and love for education and his approach to improvising even when playing solo.

https://www.jazz88.fm/2025/07/30/mark-whitfield-prepares-for-his-show-at-the-lakeside-guitar-festival/

Mark Whitfield Lakeside Guitar Festival

08/06/2025

Sean brought daikon to share, what food have you shared with a friend this summer?

08/06/2025

I don't know what the feel is called when the drummer hits a cross stick on every quarter-note, but I love it. To me it will always be the "Swept Away" feel from the masterful playing of Questlove on The Roots album "Do You Want More?!??" Heck, maybe that's what leader Joan Hutton called out to drummer David Schmalenberger when they were working up the song. Regardless of how the conversation went. . .the results are stunning.

The new tune from Joan Hutton is called "Sunshine" and it moves along with a smooth, relaxed feel that still packs a punch in terms of dynamics and intensity. I'm glad this one dropped in the summertime as the energy feels just right for those long afternoons and evenings when you want the music to go down as smoothly as the lemonade does. Mission accomplished in my humble opinion.

Joan Hutton tapped the pre-locked in rhythm section from her group "Take That Back" to handle this recording and it was the right decision because the groove is rock solid. Kameron Markworth on bass and David Schmalenberger on drums don't try anything too fancy, and they don't have much reason to, the tune speaks for itself. David Milne makes beautiful contributions on flute including a reading of the melody that moves from unison to harmony at just the right moments to connect with Joan Hutton's tenor sax. And Ted Godbout (piano) and Joan Hutton (tenor sax) take star turns with concise solos that always stay rooted in the groove and melodic material of the tune. I'd also like to give a special nod to Dylan Nau who recorded the group at his Daydream Studios operation. There's a wealth of great studio choices for musicians in this town, but I thought this recording was particularly stellar, so I tip my hat to Dylan and his team.

We're lucky to have players and writers of this caliber jumping into the studio to get new originals out into the universe and we're doubly lucky that we can listen to this summer-approved tune before the autumn chill arrives. Kudos to Joan Hutton and the rest of the group on this effort.

08/05/2025

The celebrated multi-instrumentalist Dosh dreamed big a couple years ago when he put together the Larry Schaefer Memorial Orchestra. This fully improvised 12-piece unit has been performing for a handful of years and Dosh is ready to bring the show to Palmer’s on the West Bank for a show this Saturday. The orchestra will be joined by LA Buckner, Little Lizard and more. Dosh was nice enough to stop by the Jazz88 studios and talk about the new project and the upcoming concert. He also took time to celebrate Palmer’s, a venue with a 100+ year history that is closing its doors in Mid-September.

Check out Sean McPherson's chat with Dosh here: https://www.jazz88.fm/2025/08/04/dosh-corals-an-improvised-orchestra-for-a-throwdown-at-palmers/

08/05/2025

Jazz88’s Peter Solomon speaks with Ricky Riccardi, the Head of Research Collections at the Louis Armstrong House Museum, and the author of three books on Armstrong. Riccardi’s newest book is called “Stomp Off, Let’s Go: The Early Years of Louis Armstrong.” It draws on previously unavailable sources to provide new details and insights about Armstrong’s life and music, particularly shedding light on his early years in New Orleans. The book is set to be released in audio book form on August 26th.

Check out Peter's conversation with Ricky Riccardi:
https://www.jazz88.fm/2025/08/04/a-story-thats-still-being-written-new-insights-into-the-life-and-music-of-louis-armstrong/

08/04/2025

Non-Jazz Question:
Umbrella or Rain Jacket?
And why?

08/04/2025

Today, August 4th is a day many folks celebrate as the birthday of Louis Armstrong. Join us today for Louis Armstrong tunes and Peter will be interviewing an Armstrong scholar this morning.

Happy Heavenly Birthday, Louis!

07/31/2025

We've settled into our new studios and the Jazz88 Songs of the Week is BACK!
Celebrate the new music you hear on Jazz88 and check out the ten we are highlighting this week.

https://www.jazz88.fm/2025/07/30/the-jazz88-chart-vote-for-your-favorites-41/