Jazz88

Flip Side is Robin Nelson, Bonnie Donnay and Jan Stroup. The trio performs swing era jazz with the accent great songs. Flip Side performs next Saturday, November 14 at Show Time Studio and Coffee in Roseville. A Flip Side show always includes duet and trio vocal arrangements. When Robin and Jan of the group met with Phil Nelson, Robin addressed where that interest comes from.

Vanisha Gould has earned critical praise for her creative approach to singing and composing. In this conversation with Peter Solomonj, she talks about her creative process and the making of her latest album "What an Interesting Girl," which was released in October by Cellar Music.

Each Year, Prairie Fire Choir puts on a grand season Finale. In 2026, that final concert is Sunday November 8 at the Parkway Theater in Minneapolis. Doors open at 6, with the music starting at 7. Musical collaborator is the Foxgloves, noted for its new spins on old songs, and the two groups are working on a concert containing a comfortable blend of old and new. Each yearly grand finale concert also has a community partner that also benefits from the performance. When the Foxgloves and Prairie Fire Choir met with Phil Nusbaum, Prairie Fire member Leah Drury talked about the reason for the community partner, the Immigrant Law Center of Minnesota.

Peter Solomon speaks with Reed Sigmund, who is reprising the role of The Grinch in the Children's Theater Comopany production of "How The Grinch Stole Christmas."

Lead Belly is one of the most important folk musicians of the age of audio recordings. In 1948, towards the end of his life, Lead Belly toured to Minnesota, and on November 21, 1948, a historic show was held in Minneapolis. On November 21 of this year, Pop Wagner, along with Corpse Reviver members Adam Kiesling, Jillian Rae, and Mikkel remember the 1948 Lead Belly visit with a concert at the Hook and Ladder in Minneapolis called Songs of Lead Belly. Doors open at 6:30 and the show is at 7. One of the special things Lead Belly did on his trip was to make up a song about Lake Superior.

Alto saxophonist Rudresh Mahanthappa will be appearing at Berlin in Minneapolis on Wednesday, November 4th. He spoke with Jazz88's Peter Solomon about his Indian-American background and how he incorporated a wide range of influences into his music, including Indian Classical and Carnatic music, Grover Washington, Charlie Parker, Chuck Mangione, and even George Michael.

Yonci speaks with Eli Awada of local crew Room3, ahead of their November 2026 residency at Berlin.

A couple of decades back , saxophonist Ronny Lowe led a kickin’ Minneapolis Jazz Funk band. Since those early days, Ronny left, returned, raised a family, and then, came back to music. The Ronny Loew Band is totally back to work, at the Capri Theater in Minneapolis, Sunday November 1 at 3pm. When Ronny talked to Phil Nusbaum, Ronny first addressed his long-standing musical interests.

Jazz88 Morning Host Peter Solomon speaks with Philip Brunelle, Founder and Artistic Director of VocalEssence.He discusses an upcoming performance of the monumental Berlioz composition "Te Deum," which will feature a chorus of 200 singers, a full orchestra, a pipe organ, and twelve harps. Details on the concert, taking place the Cathedral of Saint Paul Friday, October 30th at 7:30 PM can be found at www.VocalEssence.org.

Capri Glee is a choir of singers who just really love to sing. Led by J.D. Steele, the group rehearses weekly, leading to a concert on Tuesday October 27 at the Capri Theater in North Minneapolis. Phil Nusbaum went to a rehearsal of Capri Glee, and talked with some of the principals of the group.