Béla Fleck connected with Sean from Jazz88 in advance of a two-night four show run at the Dakota on Thursday and Friday of this week (July 13 and 14). Fleck is touring in support of his 2021 release, My Bluegrass Heart. Fleck and McPherson discussed the unique challenges of playing bluegrass, and the new perspective Fleck has on the genre after a ten year absence from playing it outside of his own practice.

Scottie Miller’s latest musical project is a book of Scottie’s poetry and a CD of some of the poems set to musical accompaniments. The music ranges from blues and jazz to string quartets. Some call the combination of performed poems with music, beat poetry. In a conversation with Phil Nusbaum, Scottie talked about his poetry personality.

On her way to rehearsal Ginger Commodore visited the Afternoon Cruise to talk about her upcoming show honoring the legacy of Tina Turner. The show happens on Sunday night at the Dakota.

Celebrated musician and composer Martin Dosh swung through the Afternoon Cruise to discuss some upcoming shows including a Courtyard appearance at Icehouse on Thursday, July 6.

Lila Ammons. Hers is a prominent jazz family. Her grandfather, Albert, was a noted boogie woogie piano player, and her uncle was sax man Gene Ammons. But it hasn’t been jazz all the way with Lila, whose parents listened to a lot of symphonic music and opera.

To Sarah Porwell-Lee, it isn’t only that she plays new music on the clarinet. When she talked with Phil Nusbaum, she revealed that she gets excited working with the composers of the music she plays.

Taylor Carik, one of the organizers of Taste of Minnesota, visited the Afternoon Cruise to discuss the event including answers on how to enjoy the festival, how to get to the festival and what he plans on eating once he gets there!

David Billingsley visited the Afternoon Cruise to discuss his upcoming show on Sunday at Taste of Minnesota. He'll be one of the headliners at the Jazz88 stage at 5th and Nicollet in downtown Minneapolis. In the interview David discussed his lineup for the show and what he hopes to give to listeners with his musical efforts.

Master drummer Kevin Washington swung through the Afternoon Cruise in advance of his appearance at the Jazzclectic pop up concert series on Wednesday June 28 at Waterworks Park in Minneapolis.

Maud Hixson is known for her shows which highlight some of our greatest music icons. Coming up this Saturday, July 1, Maud is singing songs of Henry Mancini, with Rick Carlson accompanying on the piano. Where do ideas for these shows come from? When Maud talked to Phil Nusbaum, Maud said it was a combination of places.