Topics

Folk, Jazz & World

  • Esperanza Spalding makes light of serious talent
    Jazz sensation Esperanza Spalding rolls into St. Paul Tuesday night for a concert at St. Catherine's University. Spalding, an upright bassist and singer, is one of the hottest performers on the jazz scene right now.October 4, 2011
  • A little bit of this, a little bit of that in Minn. Orchestra's 'TimePiece'
    The Minnesota Orchestra's first program of the new season includes something a little different.September 28, 2011
  • Boy from the north country: Bob Dylan in Minnesota
    A new documentary from Minnesota Public Radio News explores Bob Dylan's Minnesota roots and how they influenced the evolution of his music.May 21, 2011
  • Musician authors on Midmorning
    Excerpts from Kerri Miller's conversations with three well-known musicians who have also written books.Midmorning, May 11, 2011
  • St. Olaf jazz band recognized by Downbeat magazine
    Downbeat magazine is honoring a jazz band from St. Olaf College in Northfield as the nation's top undergraduate large ensemble. "Jazz One" is the only Minnesota band to make this year's Downbeat honors.April 29, 2011
  • Jazz legend Irv Williams
    At 91, Irv Williams has earned the right to slow down a bit. But this Minnesota jazz legend has just released another CD and still performs. Irv stops by to talk about his life, his music and his work with Ella Fitzgerald and Fletch Henderson.Midmorning, April 29, 2011
  • Janis Ian performs in the Maud Moon Weyerhauser studio
    At age 14, Janis Ian wrote a controversial song that sailed to the top of the charts. It was 1964, and "Society's Child" told the story of a forbidden interracial romance. Nearly 50 years later, Ian is still making bold statements with her music.Midmorning, April 27, 2011
  • Mpls. musician takes low-key approach to his work
    Minneapolis singer-songwriter Ben Weaver is known for deeply imagistic lyrics and an ability to reduce songs to their bare elements. He won't tell you what he thinks his song "East Jefferson" means. That's for you to decide.April 15, 2011
  • Patti Austin in the Maud Moon Weyerhauser studio
    Grammy-award winner Patti Austin stops by to talk about her 53 year musical career, a career that began at age 4 on the stage of the famed Apollo Theater.Midmorning, March 7, 2011
  • Rodney Crowell in the Maud Moon Weyerhauser Studio
    What do you get when you grow up poor, as an only child of a drunk father and a holy-rolling mother? How about an acclaimed musician, songwriter and now author of the book "Chinaberry Sidewalks." Hear Rodney share his story, through words and songs.Midmorning, March 1, 2011
  • A painful history retold through jazz music
    Growing up, jazz guitarist David Becker heard stories of how the Japanese captured his Dutch grandparents during the invasion of Indonesia in World War II. On his new album "Batavia," he retells his family's adventures through music.November 26, 2010
  • Reviving the great American songbook
    Songwriter and musician Adam Levy is exploring the great American Songbook, a collection of songs created between 1925 and 1960 that he believes shapes our notions of American music. He performs some classics of the jazz canon live in the Maude Mood Weyerhauser studios, with help from some musical guests.Midmorning, November 12, 2010
  • Singer-songwriter collects friends along the way
    Dar Williams' latest album is a retrospective with a twist. On "Many Great Companions," the coffee-house veteran collaborates with some of her contemporaries to breathe new life into some of her old favorites.Midmorning, October 29, 2010
  • Meg Hutchinson, a musician singing to writers
    Singer-songwriter Meg Hutchinson says it's entirely appropriate that she's appearing at the Sinclair Lewis Writer's Conference this weekend, as she's always considered herself more of a writer than a musician.October 5, 2010
  • Saxophonist defies smooth jazz label
    Saxophonist David Sanborn has often been associated with smooth jazz, but he says his roots are in the blues. He joins Midmorning to talk about his influences and his long career.Midmorning, August 19, 2010

MPR News
Radio

Listen Now

Other Radio Streams from MPR

Classical MPR
Radio Heartland

Services