Minnesota has claim to a wealth of creativity; music is no exception. Almost every genre can be heard within our state’s borders. The results range from a simple act of joy, to an influence that reverberates far beyond (the “Minneapolis Sound” is a prime example). The collection below is an introduction to the diverse and talented artists who have called Minnesota home, and the art they share with all of us.
December 12, 2000 - On this Word of Mouth report, Chris Roberts interviews Stan Hill, the artistic director of the Twin Cities Gay Men's Chorus. In a region brimming over with choral groups, choirs, chorales and oratorial societies, the Twin Cities Gay Men's Chorus has been a relatively well-kept secret, but the group is determined to raise its profile as it celebrates a 20-year anniversary.
January 25, 2001 - All Things Considered’s Lorna Benson talks with Minnesota guitarist Sharon Isbin about her album "Dreams of a World: Folk-Inspired Music for Guitar," which is Grammy-nominated in the best solo instrumentalist category.
January 25, 2001 - MPR’s William Wilcoxen presents a profile of jazz organist Jack McDuff (aka Captain Jack), who died on January 24th, 2001. Segment includes recorded interview with McDuff.
February 19, 2001 - Mainstreet Radio’s Mark Steil interviews American composer Maria Schneider, who has been nominated for her jazz orchestral album "Allegresse." Scheinder grew up in Windom in the southwest part of the state. She reflects on how she first got into music.
March 16, 2001 - On Word of Mouth, MPR’s Chris Roberts provides a radio guide to the local arts. This episode includes Yoko Ono, Peter Ostroushko, Popular Creeps, and an arts round-up.
April 6, 2001 - MPR’s Dan Olson profiles Cantus, a male vocal group from Minnesota that appears to have turned the corner and is headed for the big time. The twelve young men who form the group, have signed with a New York management company. The dozen vocalists, all in their 20's, have crisscrossed the country singing their blend of sacred and secular music. They give their season-ending concert tonight in Minneapolis before their next road trip.
May 21, 2001 - MPR’s Tasha Rosenfeld interviews local jazz-pianist Herb Pilhofer about his CD "Full Circle.” Pilhofer was a standout in the Twin Cities jazz scene during the 1950's and 60's. He's spent the last three decades exploring other aspects of the music business, as a composer, producer and owner of the recording studio Sound 80.
May 23, 2001 - MPR’s Cathy Wurzer interviews Minnesota musicians John Koerner and Peter Ostroushko about tribute CD for Bob Dylan and their personal memories of the famed musician.
May 24, 2001 - The Duluth native has seen his life and music career documented over the airwaves, on television and film and on pages and pages of print. But perhaps no single person has written as much as music historian Michael Gray. Gray's latest book, "Song and Dance Man 3: The Art of Bob Dylan” is a detailed analysis of Dylan's 40 year career.
June 22, 2001 - Morning Edition’s Cathy Wurzer talks with Mindy Ratner, host of Evening Classics on MPR, about traveling to China with the Greater Twin Cities Youth Symphony. The group consists of seventy young musicians traveling for a formal 2001 summer concert tour, and features performances in China's most prestigious concert halls in Beijing, Xi'an, and Shanghai.