Moore by Four is getting ready for a show this Friday over at Crooners. Members Ginger and Ashley Commodore stopped by to talk about the group's thirty plus year history and what gives them their staying power.

Kenan Serenbetz has always been interested in medieval music, English folk song and sacred harp singing. His new LP builds on those interests, with original songs whose only accompaniments are provided by wildlife occupying the same natural places as Kenan at the time of recording. It is called Field Song. In a conversation with Phil Nusbaum, Kenan talked about some of the impulses behind his new work.

Bobby Schnitzer and Dan Neale are combining talents for a blues and country based show at Crooners Supper Club in Fridley this Thursday evening at 6:30. When Dan and Bobby got together with Phil Nusbaum, the conversation turned to repertoire. Dan is singing a song written by country music icon Roger Miller, “Nothing Can Stop My Loving You.” It’s not one of Miller’s best known songs, so Phil asked Dan why he chose it.

Twin Cities-based guitarist Pavel Jany and his Global Jazz Collegium are back with their latest disc, Labyrinth. Jany and many of the other members of the Collegium also work in the group Ticket to Brasil, but for this group, they follow their interests beyond Brazil and explore many of the international sounds that have become part of the jazz palette. Jany stopped in to connect with Sean McPherson and talk about the new release and discuss how the pandemic supercharged this passion project with new enthusiasm. They’ll be celebrating the release at MetroNOME Brewery on Sunday, August 4 at 6:30 PM.

Jazz88's Peter Solomon speaks with vocalist Carmen Bradford about her musical career with Count Basie and her participation in the program "Uptown Nights" with trumpeter Byron Stripling and the Minnesota Orchestra on Saturday, August 3rd. Bradford is the daughter of trumpeter Bobby Bradford, a renowned educator and former sideman with Ornette Coleman, and singer Melba Joyce.

Local mainstay and friend of the station Ginger Commodore came to visit Sean McPherson on Friday's Afternoon Cruise to discuss her new 4-show series "And the Melodies Still Linger On". The series launches on Thursday, August 1 at Crooners. Ms. Commodore discussed how she picks songs, accompanists and why she has been so focused on celebrating and expanding the Great American Songbook in the last handful of years.

Jazz88's Peter Solomon spoke with trumpeter/conductor Byron Stripling about "Uptown Nights," a program taking place Saturday, August 3rd, that he will perform with the Minnesota Orchestra. The program will feature Stripling in multiple roles - conducting, playing trumpet, and singing - along with vocalist Carmen Bradford and tap dancer Leo Manzari.

Global Jazz Collegium releases its new CD, 6:30 Saturday night August 4 at the Metrodome in Saint Paul. The CD is called Labyrinth and is centered on fusion jazz, with a mix of older music and originals. Pavel Jany plays the guitar and leads Global jazz Collegium, He talked to Phil Nusbaum about the piece opening the CD.

Jazz 88's Peter Solomon speaks with vocalist Jane Monheit in advance of her appearance Tuesday, July 30th at the Dakota. Monheit talks about her musical influences, the way she's learned to manage expectations as a female performer, lessons learned from working with legendary producer Joel Dorn, and her forthcoming eponymous release on Clubb 44 records.

Jazz 88's Peter Solomon speaks with vocalist Jane Monheit in advance of her appearance Tuesday, July 30th at the Dakota. Monheit talks about her musical influences, the way she's learned to manage expectations as a female performer, lessons learned from working with legendary producer Joel Dorn, and her forthcoming eponymous release on Clubb 44 records.