Shabaka is one of the most vital voices working in music today. For the past decade he has been heralded as one of the strongest and most imaginative saxophonists and bandleaders in jazz. The past handful of years have seen Shabaka turn his focus towards the flute. But his mission of creating "the best music possible" remains unchanged. Shabaka caught up with Sean McPherson to discuss his approach in advance of his appearance at The Walker on Thursday, March 20.

Black Market Brass and Obi Original are two of the most respected names in Minnesota music and now they have teamed up for a collaborative release. Obi is the featured vocalists on the new single "Battle Ready" from Black Market Brass. Vocalist Obi Original along with Mitch Sigurdson (guitar) and David Tullis (congas) swung by the Jazz88 studios to talk about the new music and the release show on Saturday, March 22 at the Turf Club.

Adrian Younge is a prolific and gifted musician, producer, performer and curator who has been at the helm of the Jazz is Dead project alongside his partner Ali Shaheed Mohammed since 2017, releasing collaborative albums with legends like Brian Jackson, Azymuth, Jean Carne, Tony Allen and more. Younge is on the road for his Something About April Tour with a stop at the Turf Club in Saint Paul on Friday March 14. Younge connected with Sean from Jazz88 to discuss the tour and the Jazz is Dead project.

Bobby Commodore has been an indispensable part of the Twin Cities music scene since he sat behind the kit with Sounds of Blackness in 1974. During tenures with Sounds of Blackness, Moore by Four and many other great groups, Commodore served the Twin Cities. Beyond his work behind the kit, Bobby Commodore has served as a business manager, a live sound engineer and, most importantly, as a supportive voice to generations of Twin Cities players. As Commodore prepares to hang up his cymbal bag and retire from live performances, he was nice enough to visit with Sean McPherson from Jazz88 to discuss his farewell concert on Tuesday, March 4 at the Dakota as well as his storied career.

Bobby Commodore has been an indispensable part of the Twin Cities music scene since he sat behind the kit with Sounds of Blackness in 1974. During tenures with Sounds of Blackness, Moore by Four and many other great groups, Commodore served the Twin Cities. Beyond his work behind the kit, Bobby Commodore has served as a business manager, a live sound engineer and, most importantly, as a supportive voice to generations of Twin Cities players. As Commodore prepares to hang up his cymbal bag and retire from live performances, he was nice enough to visit with Sean McPherson from Jazz88 to discuss his farewell concert on Tuesday, March 4 at the Dakota as well as his storied career.

Drummer and composer Emma Garau is performing on Monday, March 3 at Berlin in Minneapolis with Bryan Nichols (piano) and Chris Bates (bass). Garau recently moved to town from North Carolina and she discussed how she is enjoying the Twin Cities so far. She also explained her approach to making music and connecting her love of classic jazz to her more avant-garde side.

Gabe Terraciano is one of the most celebrated violinists from the jazz world and tonight he's stepping on stage at Berlin with Minneapolis players Greg Byers on cello and Geoff LeCrone on guitar. Tarraciano and Byers stopped by the Jazz88 studios to talk about the show and the importance of rhythm for string players.

In addition to being a stellar leader, saxophonist and vocalist Lucia Sarmiento has also toured with Pitbull and Karol G. and collaborated with many of the biggest names in music. This weekend, Sarmiento is celebrating the release of her debut album as a leader, Escape. Lucia stopped by to visit Jazz88 to talk about the new album and her process.

Terrell X, the improvisational jazz human beatboxer, is preparing to perform selections from his most recent album, Transformation to Terrell X, with a live band on Saturday at Antonello Hall at MacPhail. In addition to being an in-demand performer, X also serves as an instructor in Electronic Music Recording Arts Program at MacPhail. Terrell X, also known as Carnage the Executioner, discussed his personal journey, his connection to jazz music and his advice for anyone who is struggling to tell their own story.

The players in Room3 are keeping busy. After building up a reputation in the past handful of years for electrifying live shows the band has finally released some recorded material and they're preparing for a performance on Friday, January 31 at First Ave as part of the Best New Bands concert. Keyboardist Eli Awada and bassist Beck Madson stopped by our studios to chat about their new single, Moqueca, and about the big show coming up this weekend.