A Christmas Carole Petersen portrays a Minnesota family’s Christmas celebration. It has light moments and dark ones, but in the end, family and tradition win out. Tod Petersen plays himself as the son of Carole Petersen. Tod talked to Phil Nusbaum about A Christmas Carole Petersen which is staged at Crooner’s Supper Club in Fridley December 15 through 18 at different times.

With Winter Break on the horizon at Minneapolis Public Schools, there are important dates to remember and programs coming up. Jazz88’s Manny Hill talks with MPS Interim Superintendent Rochelle Cox, and they discuss the latest from Enrollment season, a change to the Winter Break schedule, and how students can recover credit for classes over the break.

When pianist Laura Caviani and saxophonist David Milne perform, their shared classical music and jazz backgrounds bring about surprising new treatments. The duet plays at Crooners Lounge in Fridley, Friday December 9 at 6:30 PM. In a conversation with Phil Nusbaum, David talked about how the duet, known as the Tableaux Duo goes about working together.

Twin Cities music icon Wain McFarlane shares the Dakota Stage with his son and granddaughter next Wednesday. It’ll be at the Dakota in Minneapolis from 7 till 9:30. Wain is known as the Dreadlock Cowboy, and in a conversation with Phil Nusbaum, he told how that designation came to be. Then he talks about his musical son and granddaughter.

The first urban public elementary school observatory resides at Hall STEM Academy in Minneapolis! The Observatory launched in mid-November and it's brought plenty of excitment to the MPS community. Jazz88's Manny Hill talks with Hall STEM Coordinator Joel Halvorson about how the idea of the observatory came about, what it all contains, and the next steps to incorporate it into the curriculum for the students at Hall.

Take That Back is a group that plays the compositions of Joan Hutton and Sue Orfield, and plays Jazz Central Studios in Minneapolis, Saturday December 3 at 8PM. But to Joan and Sue, it’s really much more than their compositions. When Sue and Joan talked to Phil Nusbaum, Joan made clear how important are Ted Godbout on piano, Kameron Markworth on bass and Dave Schmalenberger on drums.

Jenny Klukken takes the marimba into unexpected musical places. In a conversation with Phil Nusbaum, Jenny talked about her distinct musical path.

Charmin Michelle takes the stage at the Dunsmore Room at Crooner’s this Saturday November 26. Charmin will be paying tribute to Jazz legend, singer Billie Holliday. When Charmin sat down with Phil Nusbaum to talk about the show, Charmin told Phil that Billie Holliday has always meant a lot to her.

Charmin Michelle takes the stage at the Dunsmore Room at Crooner’s this Saturday November 26. Charmin will be paying tribute to Jazz legend, singer Billie Holliday. When Charmin sat down with Phil Nusbaum to talk about the show, Charmin told Phil that Billie Holliday has always meant a lot to her.

Monday is the night for the jazz series at the Icehouse in Minneapolis. On Monday November 21, it’s two groups that feature free improvisation. Phil Nusbaum spoke Michelle Kinney of Herbaceous and Alma Engebretson of Creatures of Prometheus. Both are composers. Phil asked Alma, first, how can you compose music that is free and improvised.