Dan Newton’s Café Accordion Orchestra celebrates its Thirty-Year Anniversary this coming Thursday at Crooners Supper Club in Fridley. The show will be from 6:30 till 8pm. All band members from the history of Café Accordion Orchestra will join Dan on stage, including Elizabeth Rowan, Eric Mohring, Joe Steinger, Gordy Abel, Brian Barnes, Eric Lillestol, Diane Jarvi, Robert Bell and Tony Bailuff. In a conversation with Dan addressed how the group started.

Jazz88's Peter Solomon spoke with Tracy Byrd, a language arts teacher at Washburn High School, who received the award for Minnesota Teacher of the Year for 2024.

Jazz88 and MPS Voices host Olive Norvell recently connected with the team from Keane Sense of Rhythm to get the update on their celebration of National Tap Dance Day at Como Park Pavilion on Saturday May 25.

Jazz88's Peter Solomon spoke with Kansas City- based saxophonist Adam Larson, who will be playing May 17th and May 18th at Jazz Central. Larson will be playing with Twin Cities musicians Abinnet Berhanu, and bassists Chris Bates and Ted Olsen.

Jazz88's Peter Solomon caught up with tenor saxophonist Adam Larson, an artist based in Kansas City who is slated to play shows at Jazz Central Friday, May 17th and Saturday, May 18th with drummer Abinnet Berhanu, and bassists Chris Bates and Ted Olsen.

Iconic producer and musician Don Was is bringing his new project, The Pan-Detroit Ensemble, to the Dakota for two shows on Tuesday May 21. Though much of Was's work nowadays is working as the head of Blue Note Records he recognizes the importance of getting out and playing the music. In the conversation he confesses that "there's nothing like it". Listen to Don Was's conversation with Sean McPherson as he reflects on his life in music.

Jazz88's Peter Solomon spoke with drummer Robert "Sput" Searight, who co-founded the funk/fusion band Ghost Note with fellow drummer Nate Werth. Sput discusses playing with Werth in Snarky Puppy, the formation of Ghost Note, the influences that inform the music, and their new recording "Mustard "n" Onions." Ghost Note plays two shows at the Dakota on Friday, May 17th.

Atlanta-based pianist Joe Alterman hopped on the phone recently to catch up with Sean McPherson from Jazz88 about his upcoming show at Crooner's. Alterman discussed how a love of bluegrass brought him to his career in jazz and discussed the humor he sometimes finds in a player's dynamic range.

Jazz88's Peter Solomon caught up with clarinetist Tony Balluff of the Southside Aces. Balluff talked about one of his musical heroes: New Orleans clarinetist Jimmy Noone. He also discussed the formation of the South Side Aces, the group he co-founded twenty years ago with tuba player Erik Jacobson (The Southside Aces will be featured in the next Jazz88 Jazzclectic Concert on Saturday April 18th). Finally, Tony laid out the details of the Jazz Age Rumpus, taking place at the Hook and Ladder on May 19th.

Taiko Arts Midwest stages concerts that bring together international and Twin Cities Taiko drummers. The organization’s performing group, Enso Daiko, takes the stage at the Ordway theater, Sunday May 12 at 7pm. In a conversation with Jennifer Weir, executive director of Taiko Arts Midwest, related how Taiko is more than power and rhythm.