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.

Jazz88's Peter Solomon spoke with pianist Aaron Diehl about his recent recording of Mary Lou Williams' "Zodiac Suite," the influence of pianist and composer John Lewis, and his upcoming performance of music by Lewis, Gunther Schuller and others with members of the Chamber Music Society of Minnesota Sunday, April 7th at Sundin Hall on the campus of Hamline University in St. Paul..

Jazz88's Peter Solomon spoke with Victor Cole, Director of Recruitment, Retention and Induction in the School of Urban Education at Metro State University, about a Graduate Programs Preview Day coming up April 13th.