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.
Beninese singer-songwriter Angelique Kidjo connected with The Current's Sean McPherson from Paris, where Kidjo has been spending time with her family throughout the duration of the global pandemic. Kidjo talks about some of her influences and performs three songs that reflect those influences.
In the run-up to Juneteenth, the staff and listeners of Purple Current assembled a playlist of Prince's greatest protest songs - the music that amplifies Prince's Blackness and speaks directly to it.
Over the weekend of May 15-17, The Current hosted Sounds Like Home: a virtual festival of Minnesota music.
Over the weekend of May 15 to 17, The Current hosted Sounds Like Home: a virtual festival of Minnesota music. Watch Har Mar Superstar's performance from that festival.
Andrew Bird is at home making music and spending time with his family, and he is celebrating the silver linings in the midst of tour cancellations and the general pause on the music industry. From his home in Los Angeles, Bird connects with The Current's Sean McPherson for a live virtual session.
Glover has found his way on '3.15.20' by using every ounce of his influences and points of departure to create a record worthy of praise and exploration.
Celebrating the 20th anniversary of the release of D'Angelo's breakout album 'Voodoo,' Sean McPherson describes how the record helped him forge his personal path as a musician, fan and explorer of music.
Atmosphere return with 'Whenever' featuring stellar guest appearances from Murs, Musab, Nikki Jean, Gifted Gab, Muja Messiah and Haphduzn.
The votes are in! They've been tabulated. Here is The Message's Top Ten songs of 2019.
Welcome to the 2019 Purple Current Top 10!
Host Sean McPherson shares his favorite songs of 2019.
In St. Paul for a show at the Palace Theatre, FKA twigs stopped by The Current studio to talk with Sean McPherson about some of her artistic decision-making on Magdalene, and the magic surrounding the time she performed at Paisley Park.
On Sunday, November 3, 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.
As the hip-hop and R&B show for The Current, The Message aims to bring our listeners great music and celebrate fixtures of the hip-hop and R&B world in the Twin Cities and beyond. There is a stunning and omnipresent connection between these genres and poetry.
The Louisville, Ky., five-piece will release their new album, 'You Deserve Love,' on October 18. White Reaper frontman Tony Esposito credits producer Jay Joyce with helping the band maintain their lively, fun sound on the album. 'His whole m.o. was making sure we stayed sounding like a rock band,' Esposito says. Listen to the full session hosted by Sean McPherson.
Touring in support of his highly acclaimed debut album, 'Para Mi,' Cuco and his band visited The Current for a session hosted by Sean McPherson. 'I think we have a really sick set right now,' Cuco says. 'I think we're the best we've sounded.'
Touring in support of their latest album, 'Living Mirage,' three members of Seattle-based six-piece The Head and the Heart visited The Current to play an acoustic set of songs and to talk music with host Sean McPherson.
Acclaimed musical 'The Last Ship,' starring and featuring music by Sting, will make its regional premiere at the Ordway in St. Paul in April 2020. In the run-up to those dates, The Current's Sean McPherson had a chance to speak with the Grammy-winning singer and songwriter.
Hear Taja Sevelle, singer and urban farming activist talk about her work with Prince and Paisley Park records in the 1980s.
While in the Twin Cities for a show in Minneapolis, Taylor Goldsmith of Dawes stopped at The Current to host an hour of tunes with Sean McPherson.