Singer Maud Hixson loves giving audiences her spins on great old Christmas songs. But she also enjoys singing songs that should be better known. When she talked with Phil Nusbaum, Maud addressed the great spirit everybody seems to share at this season.

Guitarist Zacc Harris curates Monday nights this December at the Icehouse in Minneapolis. Doors open at 6 with music starting at 8PM. Each show is a double bill. So there will be plenty of space not only for bands Zacc plays in, but for groups with contrasting styles. In a conversation with Phil Nusbaum, Zacc Harris talked about his curatorial style.

Ross Sutter researches and performs traditional Swedish songs and tunes. You can catch Ross with Art Bjorngjeld in a craft market setting, Saturday December 4 at 10 and 11:30 AM at the American Swedish Institute in Minneapolis. In a conversation with Phil Nusbaum, Ross tells of some of the rare songs and tunes he’s come up with.

It must be the holiday season because Cornbread Harris fronts his band at a Blues Party at the Hook and Ladder in Minneapolis. It’ll be next Thursday, December 2. When Phil Nusbaum visited the Twin Cities’ piano playing blues icon, Cornbread was in the mood to talk about how his songs and shows are put together.

Rondo 56 tells how the Rondo neighborhood in Saint Paul was changed when Interstate 94 was built right through it. Rondo 56 includes music by a combination of T Michael Rampbo, Thomassina Petra, Charmin Michelle and Dan Chouinard. Phil Nusbaum went to a rehearsal of the group and talked to Dan and T Michael. Dan explained how interstate construction was set in motion.

En route to a PhD in creative writing, Brian Laidlaw was struck by the work of French Canadian poet Emile Nelligan. Brian translated the work, and then composed music and recorded it on a CD called The Aster. In a conversation with Phil Nusbaum, Brian told how the project got started.

It was a long wait, but Zeitgeist presents its early music festival featuring the work of Frederick Shefsky this Friday and Saturday night at 7:30 at Studio Z in Saint Paul. Zeitgeist percussionist Heather Barringer spoke with Phil Nusbaum about the production, and about the composer, Frederick Shefsky.

A few years ago, guitarist Pavel Jany received a Minnesota State Arts Board grant to create a new CD and play some concerts. But then came the pandemic. The CD is finally here, and Pavel plays with the World Jazz Collegium sextet Thursday, November 18th, 7:00-9:00 PM at the Granada Theater in Minneapolis. Pavel told Phil Nusbaum, that because of the pandemic, the titles of some of the pieces have added meaning.

California based Kiefer joins Justus Sanchez at Jazz88 for an in-studio performance and interview. Kiefer, who gained acclaim for optimistic beat-based jazz, released his latest album "When There's Love Around" in 2021. The new album is a departure from his previous works. He has switched out the beats for a full band. He and his band we're touring this fall and after a stop at the Fine Line on October 20th, they stopped into KBEM.

Kenne Thomas has a new CD called Yesterdays. The CD release event takes place at the Dakota in Minneapolis, Tuesday November 9 at 7PM. Kenne is a drummer. But his major reference point is the saxophone sound he heard as a kid growing up in Chicago, especially as played by Kenne’s father, James Whitehead. Kenne talked to Phil Nusbaum about the project.