The Morning Show

Episodi

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  Woody 'n' Me - The Lasting Impact of Woody Herman on John Fedchock's Career 14.10.2026 23min

  Trombonist John Fedchock spent the first seven years of his professional career with Woody Herman's band, filling a variety of roles, including section playing, arranging, and eventually music director and coordinator for recording sessions. That experience gave him a solid grounding for the career he has had over the last four decades both leading his own big band and combos. In this conversation with Peter Solomon, he talks about some of the things that impressed him about Woody Herman, as well the influence of Carl Fontana on his playing, and his collaboration with his wife - bass trombonist Jennifer Wharton - in her band Bonegasm. Fedchock plays at Jazz Central Studios October 20th at 8 PM.
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  From Carne Y Frijol to Carnegie Hall: Documentary Tells Life Story of Paquito D'Rivera 01.10.2026 17min

  Latin jazz legend Paquito D'Rivera is the subject of a documentary premeiring on PBS this month called "Paquito D'Rivera: From Carne Y Frijol to Carnegie Hall." It tells his story from his earliest days as musical progidy growing up in Cuba and follows his first encounter with Dizzy Gillespie, his defection to the United States, and his unparalleled career in Latin, jazz, and classical music in the four and a half decades since. In addition to extensive interviews with Paquito, there are conversations with some of the extraordinary musicians who have collaborated with him, including Chucho Valdes, Yo Yo Ma, Anat Cohen, and Diego Urcola. He speaks with Jazz88's Peter Solomon about the upcoming film, which will be broadcast locally on Minnesota PBS at 9 PM on Monday, October 12.
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  This Very Moment: Singer and Composer Chenxi Pan 20.09.2026 19min

  Jazz88 Morning Host Peter Solomon speaks with vocalist and composer Chenxi Pan, who changed her life path in her early twenties when she left her native country of China and came to the US to study jazz. She talks about her unique musical path, the artists that influenced her singing and writing, and talks through some of the music on her debut recording, "This Very Moment," wheich was released in the Spring of 2026 on Origin Records.
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  Adam O'Farrill and The Elephant in the Room 10.09.2026 12min

  In this case, the Elephant is Adam O'Farrill's recently formed quartet, and the room is the Minneapolis jazz venue Berlin. The trumpeter and composer speaks with Jazz88's Peter Solomon about the literary, cinematic, and musical influences that inform his compositions. Adam O'Farrill and Elephant will play at Berlin on Tuesday, September 15th.
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  Wozniak (Not Wozniak) 03.09.2026 9min

  Jazz88's Peter Solomon speaks with Twin Cities based saxophonist Brandon Wozniak, who has been selected as September Artist in Residence at Minneapolis jazz venue Berlin. Wozniak will perform in a series of Sunday night concerts, including collaborations with musicians such as drummer Dave King, cellist Michell kinney, guitarist Zacc Harris, among others. Information at www.berlinmpls.com.
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  What I Was Always Meant To Do: Trumpeter Charles Tolliver On His 60+ Year Career In Music 28.08.2026 23min

  Charles Tolliver's professional career began in earnest in 1964, when he recorded as a sideman with alto saxophonist Jackie McLean. In subsequent years, Tolliver worked with Max Roach, Horace Silver, Andrew Hill, Sonny Rollins, Gerald Wilson, and others. Recently, Mack Avenue records reissued his first session as a leader, under the title "Right Now... And Then." In this conversation with Jazz88's Peter Solomon, Tolliver talks about his formative influences, discusses what it was like making records for the famed Blue Note Record label, reminisces about the making of his debut album, and delves into the story of the renowned artist-owned label he co-founded with pianist Stanley Cowell, caled Strata-East Records.
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  Society of Chemists Releases Long Awaited New Album 12.08.2026 9min

  Jazz88 Morning Host Peter Solomon speaks with composer and saxophonist Stephanie Wieseler and bassist Charlie Bruber about the long awaited new recording by Society of Chemists. The Twin Cities-based ensemble has a unique musical approach with they describe as "chamber jazz fusion." They discuss what that means, and Wieseler talks about the ways she sometimes finds inspiration for her compositions in nature. Society of Chemists will play an album release party at Berlin in Minneapolis on Saturday, August 15th at 7:30 PM. Find information on their new recording on bandcamp.
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  Logan Richardson on "A Living Score" at Berlin 27.07.2026 10min

  Logan Richardson in a saxophonist, composer and producer who will be Artist in Residence July 29th through 31st at Berlin in Minneapolis. He speaks with Peter Solomon about growing up in Kansas City in the 1980's and how that shaped him as an artist. Richardson will be working with a group of Twin Cities-based artists, including pianist Kavyesh Kaviraj, trumpeter Omar Abdulkarim, bassist Kevin Gibbs and drummer Kevin Washington.
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  Reverence and Innovation - Tom McDermott's Unique Approach to New Orleans Music 17.07.2026 11min

  Tom McDermott moved to New Orleans in the early eighties and has quickly himself as a leading voice in early jazz and New Orleans roots music. He brings a personal and inventive approach to the repertoire of Jelly Roll Morton, Louis Moreau Gottschalk, Professor Longhair, and James Booker, as well as ragtime and Brazilian Choro music. McDermott spoke with Jazz88 Morning Host Peter Solomon about his music, and gave a preview of a concert taking place Monday, July 20th at Judson Memorial Baptist Church at 4101 Harriet Avenue in Minneapolis.
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  Scott Keever and Joe Cruz Bring New Guitar Duo to Aster Cafe 14.07.2026 7min

  Jazz88's Peter Solomon speaks with guitarists Joe Cruz and Scott Keever about the new guitar duo they are bringing to Aster Cafe on July 23rd. Both musicians have diverse musical interests, ranging from Americana to Latin, Blues, Jazz, and more.
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  Lessons in Leaderlessness: Russell Ferrante of The Yellowjackets 12.06.2026 16min

  Russell Ferrante is a founding member of the legendary fusion band, the Yellowjackets. He spoke with Jazz88 Morning Host Peter Solomon about his musical path, including an eye-opening first tour with blues singer Jimmy Witherspoon. He also discussed the collaboration with guitarist Robben Ford that led to forming the Yellowjackets, and the leaderless philosphy that has helped the band stay together for nearly five decades. The Yellowjackets will perform Friday June 19th on the AARP MN Main Stage at Mears Park as part of the Twin Cities Jazz Festival.
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  Choro Borealis Brings Joyful Brazilian Music to Jazz88 and Twin Cities Jazz Festival 11.06.2026 45min

  Choro Borealis is a Twin-Cities based Brazilian ensemble that performs a variety of musical styles from South America’s largest country, including choro, samba, forro, and original compositions that incorporate jazz influences. The term choro references a type of instrumental music that evolved in the late nineteenth century from the fusion of European dances like polkas, schottisches, and walzes, combined with the rhythms brought to Brazil by enslaved African-descended people. The musicians include Pat O’Keefe on clarinet, Tom O’Keefe on percussion, Robert Everest on 7-string guitar and vocals, John Croakian on flute, and David Burk aka “Dusty” on cavaquinho. Some of the band members have played together in Brazilian groups for forty years. They are all knowledgeable and passionate and have a lot to say about the African and European roots of the music they perform, and the ways they are incorporating new influences. The musical selections are “Noiches Carioca,” “Coisa Feita,” “Okoco,” Ta Ligado,” “Sarau Para Radames,” and “Brilhante.” Choro Borealis is performing at 5:00 PM on Saturday, June 20th on the 6th Steet stage at the Twin Cities Jazz Festival.
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  The Melodies That Stay With You - Guitarist Zacc Harris 08.06.2026 16min

  Twin Cities-based guitarist Zacc Harris speaks with Jazz88 Morning Host Peter Solomon about his latest trio project "American Reckoning," the upcoming Zacc Harris group appearance at the Twin Cities Jazz Festival, and his work in the Atlantis Quartet. You can catch Harris's set at the TCJF Saturday, June 20th at 4 PM at Mears Park.
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  TCJF Highlight: Michael Mayo with the JazzMN Orchestra 29.05.2026 9min

  Jazz88 Morning Host Peter Solomon speaks with Andrew Wallesch, the Artistic Director of the JazzMn Orchestra, about their Saturday, June 20th appearance with singer Michael Mayo at the 2026 Twin Cities Jazz Festival. Wallesch, a singer himself, discusses Mayo's unique gifts as a vocalist and improvisor. More information on that and other Twin Cities Jazz Festival performances can be found at www.twincitiesjazzfestival.com.
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  TCJF Highlight: Michael Mayo with the JazzMN Orchestra 29.05.2026 9min

  Jazz88 Morning Host Peter Solomon speaks with Andrew Wallesch, the Artistic Director of the JazzMn Orchestra, about their Saturday, June 20th appearance with singer Michael Mayo at the 2026 Twin Cities Jazz Festival. Wallesch, a singer himself, discusses Mayo's unique gifts as a vocalist and improvisor. More information on that and other Twin Cities Jazz Festival performances can be found at www.twincitiesjazzfestival.com.
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  Kenny Reichert: Letters from the Road 07.05.2026 13min

  Guitarist Kenny Reichert is an artist who splits his time between the Twin Cities, Milwaukee, Chicago, and a teaching job in Oklahoma. He is Artist in Residence at the Minneapolis venue Berlin this month, and through the month of May he is featuring several of his different projects in a series called "Letters from the Road." In this conversation with Jazz88 Morning Host Peter Solomon, he discusses of some of the featured projects. They include  a collaboration with vocalist Ana Everling called "Maldovest" that draws on Eastern European folk music, an organ trio called "Righteous Rooster" featuring Chicago based musicians Henry Dickhoff on organ and Luke Sagadin on drums, the "Colours Quintet" featuring trumpeter Russ Johnson and saxophonist Geoff Bradfield, and  the "Twin Cities Quartet" with pianist Kavyesh Kavaraj, bassist Graydon Peterson, and drummer Ben Erlich.
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  Twin Cities Tango: Charles Gorczynski and Caro Bernardini at KBEM Studios 05.05.2026 36min

  Two Twin-Cities based musicians, guitarist and singer Caro Bernardini and bandoneon player Charles Gorczynski, join Jazz88 Morning Host Peter Solomon for an in-studio performance and conversation. They discuss the evolution of the music, which was a cultural fusion of European immigrants that came into contact with African-descended people that lived in Buenos Aires in the late nineteenth century. Both musicians will partake in ta two-night Tango Music Showcase taking place May 7th at Parkway Theater and May 8 at Sundin Hall. The session was engineered by Ryan Myrold, with production assistance by Peter Carlson.
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  The Inspirations and Explorations of Riley Mulherkar 09.04.2026 14min

  Riley Mulherkar is a Seattle native and Julliard-trained trumpeter and composer who has embraced both jazz roots and modern production techniques in crafting his art. In a conversation with Jazz88's Peter Solomon, he discusses his musical influences, the brass ensemble The Westerlies that he helped to found, and his solo debut project "Riley." Mulherkar will appear at Berlin in Minneapolis on April 15th.
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  Jenny Klukken - Marimba Standard 25.03.2026 15min

  Jazz88's Peter Solomon speaks with Jenny Klukken, a Twin Cities-based marimba player who is releasing a new album on March 27th called "Marimba Standard." She talks about her musical journey and how she came to embrace the marimba, and about the artists that she colaborated with to create her new recording. An album release celebration will take place Saturday, March 28th at Art House North in St. Paul.
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  Celebrating Sidney Bechet with Tony Balluff of the South Side Aces 19.03.2026 17min

  Jazz88 Morning Show Host Peter Solomon speaks with Tony Balluff, a clarinetist who leads the Twin Cities-based traditional jazz ensemble, The South Side Aces. Balluff is something of a jazz historian, and speaks eloquently about the innovative artists that created the artform. Sunday, March 22nd, the South Side Aces and some friends will be featured playing Bechet's music at Jazz Age Rumpus V, taking place at the Hook and Ladder Theater. Concurrently, the South Side Aces are releasing a new album called "Les Oignons," dedicated mostly to the music Bechet recorded in France in the 1950's.