Sean McPherson is an in-demand bassist, bandleader and songwriter from St. Paul, Minnesota. He plays bass with Heiruspecs, Dessa and his solo project, the Twinkie Jiggles Broken Orchestra. McPherson graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2007 with an Individualized Degree in Music, African-American Studies and Cultural Studies. Sean is an instructor at McNally Smith College of Music, teaching courses in Composition, Liberal Arts and Hip-Hop Studies. In addition to his performance and teaching career, McPherson is an active entrepreneur in the Twin Cities media community. He is the co-owner of Trivia Mafia, the largest trivia company in Minnesota. McPherson is also a freelance food writer for City Pages.
Marvin Gaye tapped the biggest names of the day for 'You're The Man,' including Larry Mizell, Willie Hutch, and Smokey Robinson to make this highly anticipated follow-up. The studio sessions were prolific and the writers brought their A-game.
The work Prince released in 2001 speaks for itself, but it also speaks for the band-oriented funk sound Prince would home in on so deeply in the coming years.
Coming off of the work of the 'Graffiti Bridge' movie and soundtrack and a 1991 that was heavy on releases by other artists, 1992 brought us the 'Love Symbol' album and some incredible work with other artists. Take a look and let us know your favorites for music Prince released, written or recorded in 1992!
Cherry Glazerr's latest album, 'Stuffed and Ready,' released on February 1 of this year, and the Los Angeles three-piece stopped at The Current to talk about and play songs from the record. 'I feel like it's always the most exciting to play the things you've written most recently, and so it feels really fresh and very exciting,' says Cherry Glazerr songwriter and frontperson Clementine Creevy.
Thirty years ago, Prince was in a particularly prolific period. What are his best tracks as producer, collaborator, or musician from 1989?
We have revved up the Purple Current time machine for 1981, here are the results.
From the early 1960s to this very day, Stax recording artist William Bell has crafted soul classics with a clarity, passion and grit that is truly unparalleled. Last week Sean McPherson sat in the backstage of the Dakota with the soul legend and discussed soul music with him.
Sean McPherson sat down with Chicago hip hop artist Serengeti and talked about his upcoming show as part of the Andrew Broder residency at the Turf Club on January 30.
The new record from Pedro The Lion is a sober look at the idiosyncrasies of youth and the indignities of aging with bravery and self-confidence.
Help us make a great new funk show for Purple Current.
This is part two of a two-part conversation with three up-and-coming Minnesota-based hip-hop artists — Kamilla Love, booboo, and Student 1 — and Medium Zach, an artist with two decades of experience, about Minnesota’s hip-hop scene. Read Part 1 here. Sean McPherson: As a media person — a host here at The Current — I…
Four local artists discuss collaboration, creative barriers, and the future of rap in the North Star State. Sean McPherson: I’m Sean McPherson and I’ve been playing bass in Twin Cities hip-hop groups for 20+ years now. I went to St. Paul Central, and I started a band that’s still active today called Heiruspecs, and I…
We are just stepping into 2019, but the Purple Universe is already thinking about April.
Although hip-hop artist Aaron Aye is barely legal to drink, he has already lived a lot of life. Originally from Minneapolis, Aye is now working in Los Angeles, where he looks poised on the brink of making a splash on a national scale. Aaron Aye spoke to The Message hosts Sean McPherson and Sanni Brown about his life and his career so far.
This week on The Message, Sean McPherson and Sanni Brown sit down with The I.R.M. Crew for a conversation full of legendary hip-hop moments, many of them recorded for the first time.
Hosts Sean McPherson and Jim McGuinn share their favorite Purple Current songs of 2018.
Radio Free Current host, The Message co-host, and Purple Current project manager Sean McPherson shares his favorite songs of 2018.
On Sunday, November 4, we'll fall back one hour for the end of Daylight Saving Time. With a 25 hour day, we couldn't resist a full day celebrating The Time.
Early Eyes have had a big year. They released EPs "Decorating" and "All Shades of Teal"; they've sold out their Nov. 2 show at the 7th St Entry; and they performed their first in-studio session at The Current, hosted by Sean McPherson.
We've been fortunate to have Bobby Z, the drummer for The Revolution, stop by a few times to share the mic for special programming on The Current and Purple Current. Here's where to find it.