Jazz88's Peter Solomon spoke with Brazilian guitar virtuoso Diego Figueiredo about his musical development and his recent album "My World," which featured guest appearances by clarinetist/saxophonist Ken Peplowski and trumpeter Nicholas Payton. Figueiredo is appearing at Crooners on Friday 3/29.

Sue Scott is an actor who has always been touched by women's stories. So she started a series of live performances that are recorded and then posted as podcast episodes that include original music, stories and conversation, called “The Island of Discarded Women.” It is staged every other month at Crooners Supper Club in Fridley. Yemi Love, originally from Nigeria and now residing in Minneapolis performs at the April 4 show, with doors open at 6:30 and the show set for 7:30. When Phil Nusbaum talked with both Sue Scott and Yemi Love, first Sue addressed why she asked Yemi to be part of the show.

Jazz88's Peter Solomon spoke with pianist Miki Yamanaka on "Shades of Rainbow," her new collaboration with tenor saxophonist Mark Turner. She discusses the influence of pianist Cedar Walton on her playing, the making of the new album, and the status of women in the contemporary Jazz scene.

Katia Cardenas is at the helm for Walker-West's "Women in Jazz Initiative". This Saturday the team is hosting a jazz workshop and jazz jam sessions with players like Mary Louise Knutson, Tasha Baron, BEth Varela and Sophia Kaufmann and more. Cardenas spoke about the importance of creating places to play and learn jazz that are focused around women.

Michael Cain, a gifted pianist, piano instructor and Director of Electronic Music and Recording Arts at MacPhail as well as the co-founder and CEO of Ekwe stopped by Jazz88 to discuss a concert he's throwing at Antonello Hall this Saturday with Yousif Sheronick, Barbara Cohen, JD Steele, Zacc Harris and more.

The celebrated singer-songwriter Valerie June is making her way to the Twin Cities for a performance this Saturday at Hopkins Center for the Arts. Sean McPherson caught up with Valerie June to find out about her performance process, her songwriting philosophy and her recent forays into public speaking.

A.J. Srubas leads a group of great local fiddlers in a tribute to bluegrass fiddler, Kenny Baker. Baker served for many years as the fiddler in the band led by the father of bluegrass music, Bill Monroe. The performance takes place at Celtic Junction, Sunday March 24 at 3PM. In a conversation with Phil Nusbaum, A.J. addressed why he wanted to honor the memory of Kenny Baker.

Jazz88's Peter Solomon caught up with singer Cyrille Aimee ahead of her performance at the Dakota on Tuesday, March 19th. She talked about her childhood in France, her introduction to jazz, her decision to move to New Orleans, the house she designed and built in Costa Rica during the pandemic, and her new album of originals "A Fleur de Peau" which is being released this month.

Singer-Composer Jennifer Grimm and her husband and musical partner, Joe Cruz, visited with Jazz88's Peter Solomon on the Morning Show. Jennifer performed two originals - "Half a Man" and "I Miss Minneapolis/St. Paul" and did a short version of "Our Love Is Here to Stay." She talked about her unusual musical background (she grew up singing in a family variety show act) and about her approach to writing songs.

Mary Halvorson is widely regarded as the most exciting guitarist of her generation. She continues to cement that reputation with her new Nonesuch release "Cloudward". On this record Halvorson endeavored to not "overwrite", leaving space for the instrumentalists to find their way on their terms. Halvorson discussed her approach, her philosophy and the way that she navigated exploring music as a career.