Four Minnesota award-winning Composers present their compositions this Friday at the Icehouse in Minneapolis. The awards are from the McKnight Foundation American Composers Forum, and the performance is in partnership with The Great Northern Festival and the IceHouse. Composers include Mary Ellen Childs, Reinaldo Moya, Mitchell Bercier and Queen Drea. Director of Artist Support at the American Composer’s Forum, Carolina Heredia talked with Phil Nusbaum about the February 3 event. First, Carolina addressed the work of May Ellen Childs, whose piece “Aurora” was inspired by a trip to the Arctic.

When Charmin Michelle and Joel Shapira perform, it’s more than a singer with a guitarist. It’s an interweaving of musical ideas. Their next show is this coming Monday at the Dakota in Minneapolis at 7PM. Though both Charmin and Joel play with larger ensembles, the two have grown to really love the duet format, as they told Phil Nusbaum.

Rachael Price hosted Sean McPherson from the Afternoon Cruise at the Palace Theatre in St. Paul to chat about her new release with guitarist composer VIlray "I Love a Love Song".

Cumar means confluence in Irish Gaelic, and Cumar is also the name of a Twin Cities group that combines African and Irish Music and Dance. The group performs at the Southern Theater in Minneapolis, 7:30 PM Friday and Saturday January 27 and 28. Phil Nusbaum talked to members of Cumar recently, including the artists guiding the project from its beginnings.

Jazz pianist Tanner Taylor leads a classic piano trio with bassist Graydon Peterson and drummer Mac Santiago. Jazz fans can catch the act at Jazz Central Studios next Friday evening at 8PM. As far as repertoire, the trio has always leaned on jazz composer and pianist Oscar Peterson. When Tanner got together with Phil Nusbaum, Phil asked why.

Erin Schwab joined Patty Peterson to talk about An Evening /w The Divine Miss E! Her show featuring songs from legend, Bette Milder at Capri Theater.

Erin Schwab talks about her concert at The Capri Theater, "An Evening with the Divine Miss E!", featuring songs of Bette Midler.

Twin Cities Jazz Festival executive director Steve Heckler joins Manny Hill to announce the 2023 headline performers on the Jazz88 Mainstage, June 23 and 24, 2023. Recorded Jan. 17, 2023.

Nunnabove is an all-sibling band that composes, sings and plays, and brings it to the Dakota in Minneapolis, Wednesday January 18 at 7PM. When band members talked to Phil Nusbaum, Matti stressed the need to perform music authentic to group members experiences and points of view.

Drummer and composer extraordinaire Kevin Washington visited the Jazz88 studios to Discuss his upcoming concert at The Hopkins Arts Center.