Award-winning pianist Isaiah J. Thompson is navigating life as a rising star in the jazz world, an in-demand sideman touring the world with John Pizzarelli and a newly-wed! It's a lot to balance but Thompson finds a way to that and also serenade his mother's old Volvo in song form.

JT Bates is preparing for a show on Monday August 14 with Todd Clouser and John Medeski. JT Bates connected with Sean from the Afternoon Cruise to talk about what it's like to play with Medeski and Clouser and what they plan to bring to the stage of Icehouse on Monday, August 14.

Ted Godbout is a consumate sideman supplying the needed support on the keys for many of the greats in the Twin Cities and beyond. But on Wednesday August 9 Godbout will be stepping out as a leader to bring his sounds to the plaza of the Capri Theater. Check out the conversation between Ted and Sean McPherson from the Afternoon Cruise.

Back in the 1980s, Diane Schuur was singing with the Count Basie orchestra. She recorded with Basie, the recording won a grammy, and now Diane Schuur is an established Basie interpreter. Diane comes to the Twin Cities this Saturday night to team up with JazzMN, a Twin Cities jazz orchestra that works frequently with international talent. Phil Nusbaum talked with JazzMN music director Pete Whitman, and first they addressed the stature of the Basie orchestra.

The 30-Days Foundation’s Art and All that Jazz Festival comes to the Ames Center and Nicollet Commons Park in Burnsville, Friday and Saturday August 18 and 19. The festival features prominent Twin Cities figures Steve Cole; Jamecia Bennett, known for her work solo and with the Sounds of Blackness; Jay Young with Ginger Commodore; Ticket to Brasil; and Mary Louise Knutson with Patti Peterson as a guest. Phil Nusbaum talked with the founder of the Art and All that Jazz festival, Dan Gustafson, who addressed what it is like to be the curator for an event.

Singer-songwriters Shahidi and Alicia Thao perform outside the Cedar Cultural Center 5PM this coming Wednesday, August 9. Shahidi and Alicia have won prestigious Cedar Commissions awards. When the two sat down with Phil Nusbaum to talk about their songs. Shahidi first talked about his song Gotta Let It Breathe.

Adam Meckler isn't just a trumpet player. He's a writer, an arranger, a curator, an educator and more. He swung down from the Upper Peninsula to get his Twin Cities based orchestra back together for a show at Crooners on Friday. In the conversation Meckler and McPherson discuss Meckler's approach to big band writing, his love of reusing material and his dedication to sharing the tricks of trade with the next generation of musicians.

Jason Fabus is a Minnesota educated jazz musician making his way out in Los Angeles. He's swinging back through town to visit friends and play a couple shows. He'll be at Crooners on Friday night with Graydon Peterson (bass) and Phil Hey (drums) supporting. Fabus is a bit of an odd bird in the jazz world, as he works both as a saxophonist and as a vocalist. In the conversation Jason shared a bit about his path to performing in two disciplines.

The Twin Cities based cellist Greg Byers stopped by the Afternoon Cruise to chat about his new album, "Dear Zbigniew". Greg discussed how visiting Poland in 2018 for the Seifert International Jazz Violin Competition changed his life and where he believes the world of bowed jazz players is heading.

Billy Stritch connected with Jazz88 in advance of his Crooners show, "A Musical Night Out with Billy Stritch". Sean from the Afternoon Cruise chatted with Billy about what he's learned from working with greats like Liza Minnelli, Linda Eder and others. Billy Stritch also shared a memory of playing with the late great Tony Bennett in Stritch's hometown of Sugar Land, Texas.