On April 23, 2024 Cornbread Harris celebrated his 97th birthday. Ahead of his birthday festivities at Hook and Ladder on Thursday Harris took the time to chat with Sean McPherson from Jazz88 to talk about his life. Special thanks to Andrea Swensson for facilitating the interview.

Steve Cole is a big name in the world of smooth jazz and he has been based in the the Twin Cities for over fifteen years now. He's bringing his saxophone and his Super Band onto the stage of the Dakota for two shows on Friday, April 26. Cole dropped by the Jazz88 studio to talk about his recent Mack Avenue release "Without a Doubt" and what goes into getting ready for a run of shows with his band.

The Neighborhood Quartet is vibraphonist Steve Roehm, Guitarist Dan Schwartz, drummer Greg Schutte and bassist drummer Nick Salisbury. At its album release show Sunday April 28 at the Parkway in Minneapolis, the group showcases the contrasting composing styles of Steve and Dan. When the two talked to Phil Nusbaum first, Steve addressed his composing style.

Bassist Anthony Cox joined Jazz88's Sean McPherson to discuss Charles Mingus and Paul Chambers on their birthday (April 22). As a fellow bass player Cox shared the influence these icons of the instrument had on his development as a bass player, including how catching a live performance from Charles Mingus shaped Cox's decision to pursue music as a career.

Tom Wells, leader of the Selby Avenue Brass Band first met singer Thomasina Petrus when she was studying and he was teaching at North Community High School in Minneapolis. Thomasina sings with the Selby Avenue Brass Band at noon, Thursday April 25 at Landmark Center in St Paul, and from 4:30 till 6 Saturday April 27 at Crooner’s Supper Club in Fridley. When Tom and Thomasina talked with Phil Nusbaum, Tom first addressed why he always know Thomasina would be a good fit with the brass band.

Twin Cities mainstay Jeremy Yvilsaker is curating Monday nights at Icehouse for the month of April and he's doing it with a simple philosophy: get really creative people to try out new ideas. The results have been a success for Jeremy so far, and he took a break from a van ride to Kansas City with Annie Humphrey for a gig opening for the Indigo Girls to chat about the series and what is in the works for the remaining Mondays.

Charlie Maguire writes songs that depict people at work. Charlie’s next concert celebrates 50 years of his singular style of songwriting, Saturday night at the Roots Cellar at University Baptist Church in Minneapolis. Charlie writes from lived experiences of himself and others, and his original inspiration comes from Woodie Guthrie. In a conversation with Phil Nusbaum, Charlie first talked about a Guthrie songs that Charlie likes to sing, Government Road.

Twin Cities singer Maud Hixson won a Bistro Award recently for "Permanent Moonlight," an album of songs by Richard Rodney Bennett. She spoke with Jazz88's Peter Solomon about her path to becoming a professional jazz singer and about a Doris Day Tribute at Crooners' Dunsmore Room on April 20th.

Singer-Songwriter Ian George has a new, CD that references many music styles. Not only is it hard to place in any commercial genre, but it takes an unusual approach to a breakup. When Ian talked with Phil Nusbaum, Phil asked Ian if the songs came from Ian’s own experiences.

Peter Solomon speaks with Duluth-based trombonist Thomas Woytko about JAM Duluth, a program of live performances scheduled at Duluth breweries and other locations through the month of April.