AMERICAN ROUTES
American Routes Live: Creole Songlines of Leyla McCalla and Saxophonist Donald Harrison's Jazz Journey American Routes Live: Creole Songlines of Leyla McCalla and Saxophonist Donald Harrison's Jazz Journey January 13th, 2021 (Hour 1)
American Routes Live: Creole Songlines of Leyla McCalla and Saxophonist Donald Harrison's Jazz Journey

We go live in concert and conversation with two New Orleans artists each of whom bring their family heritage forward into contemporary music. Singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Leyla McCalla has called New Orleans home for many years, but her family ties are to Haiti. She draws on French Creole roots for inspiration, as well as from the poetry of Langston Hughes. Then jazz saxophonist Big Chief Donald Harrison, whose musical journey includes time in New York with drummer Art Blakey’s band, talks about “Afro-New Orleans” culture and demonstrates how to bring soul, funk, and Black carnival traditions into modern jazz.

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VISIONS OF GENIUS: REMEMBERING RAY CHARLES

January 30th, 2019

Ray Charles’ unique vision blended the best of jazz and R&B, gospel and soul, country and pop into distinctive music that forever changed the American soundscape. This two hour American Routes special includes our exclusive interviews with Ray and those closest to him, tracing the radiant arc of his life and music. Voices include: Atlantic Records producer Jerry Wexler; saxophonist and bandleader, David “Fathead” Newman; singer and Raelette Mable John; Ray’s chauffeur and assistant of more than forty years Vernon Troupe; his ex-wife and confidante Della Bea Robinson; and producer-engineer Terry Howard. Hear Ray’s classics and the stories behind them, as well as his songs by Elvis, Percy Mayfield, Willie Nelson and others.

  • Listen to Hour One
  • Listen to Hour Two

HOUR ONE

  • Open Bed: Rockhouse Ray Charles
    Genius & Soul, Rhino
  • Hallelujah I Love Her So Ray Charles
    Genius & Soul, Rhino
  • SEGMENT: Early Experiences
  • I Got a Woman Ray Charles
    Live in Concert, ABC
  • Alone in this City Ray Charles
    Genius & Soul, Rhino
  • Let the Good Times Roll Ray Charles
    Genius & Soul, Rhino
  • I Got a Woman Ray Charles
    Genius & Soul, Rhino
  • I Got a Woman Elvis Presley
    The King of Rock 'N' Roll, RCA
  • SEGMENT: Gospel
  • Ain't That Love Ray Charles
    Genius & Soul, Rhino
  • Lonely Avenue Ray Charles
    Genius & Soul, Rhino
  • Nearer to Thee Sam Cooke
    The Complete Sam Cooke on Specialty, Specialty
  • This Little Light of Mine James Shorty & Viola Congregation
    Sounds of the South CD #4, Atlantic
  • This Little Girl of Mine Ray Charles
    Genius & Soul, Rhino
  • Hit the Road Jack Percy Mayfield
    Percy Mayfield, Vol 2: Memory Pain, Specialty
  • Hit the Road Jack Ray Charles
    Genius & Soul, Rhino
  • Instrumental: Hit the Road Jack David "Fathead" Newman
    I Remember Brother Ray, Highnote
  • SEGMENT: Raelettes
  • Night Time is the Right Time Ray Charles
    Live, Atlantic
  • Lonely Avenue Ray Charles
    Genius & Soul, Rhino
  • Swanee River Rock Ray Charles
    Genius & Soul, Rhino
  • Eleanor Rigby Ray Charles
    Genius & Soul, Rhino
  • SEGMENT: What'd I Say
  • What'd I Say Ray Charles
    Genius & Soul, Rhino
  • What'd I Say Ray Charles
    Live, Atlantic
  • SEGMENT: Live
  • I Got a Woman Ray Charles
    Live, Atlantic
  • SEGMENT: The Road/Ray the Man
  • It Should've Been Me Ray Charles
    The Birth of Soul, Atlantic
  • Instrumental: Hallelujah I Love Her So Ray Charles & Milt Jackson
    Soul Meeting, Atlantic Jazz
  • SEGMENT: Della Bea and Ray
  • Bed: How Long Blues Ray Charles & Milt Jackson
    Soul Brothers/Soul Meeting, Atlantic Jazz
  • SEGMENT: Blindness
  • Booty-Butt Ray Charles
    Genius + Soul = Jazz, Rhino
  • One Mint Julep Ray Charles
    Genius & Soul, Rhino
  • SEGMENT: America the Beautiful
  • America the Beautiful Ray Charles
    Genius & Soul, Rhino
  • End Bed: Rockhouse Ray Charles
    Genius & Soul, Rhino

HOUR two

  • Open Bed: Blue Genius Ray Charles & Milt Jackson
    Soul Brothers/Soul Meeting, Atlantic Jazz
  • Side By Side Ray Charles & Betty Carter
    Dedicated to You, Rhino
  • Sinner's Prayer Ray Charles & B.B. King
    Genius Loves Company, Concord
  • SEGMENT: Ray in studio w/ Blues Lab kids
  • Busted Johnny Cash
    Essential Johnny Cash, Columbia
  • You Are My Sunshine Ray Charles
    Genius & Soul, Rhino
  • Instrumental: Wagon Wheels Grant Green
    Goin' West, Blue Note
  • SEGMENT: Country
  • I Can't Stop Loving You Ray Charles
    Genius & Soul, Rhino
  • I'm Moving On Ray Charles
    Genius & Soul, Rhino
  • Georgia On My Mind Ray Charles
    The Complete Country & Western, Rhino
  • It Makes No Difference Now Ray Charles
    Genius & Soul, Rhino
  • Georgia on My Mind Willie Nelson
    Stardust, Columbia Legacy
  • SEGMENT: Drugs
  • Love On My Mind Ray Charles & Milt Jackson
    Soul Brothers, Atlantic Jazz
  • Drown in My Own Tears David "Fathead" Newman
    I Remember Brother Ray, High Note
  • SEGMENT: Race
  • In the Heat of the Night Ray Charles
    Genius & Soul, Rhino
  • Instrumental: Georgia on My Mind Tuts Washington
    New Orleans Piano Professor, Rounder
  • SEGMENT: New Orleans
  • Early in the Morning Ray Charles
    The Birth of Soul, Atlantic
  • I Got a Woman Kermit Ruffins & Rebirth Brass Band
    Throwback, Basin St.
  • SEGMENT: Memories
  • Georgia on My Mind David "Fathead" Newman
    I Remember Brother Ray, Highnote
  • Don't Let the Sun Catch You Crying Ray Charles
    Genius & Soul, Rhino
  • Come Rain or Come Shine Ray Charles
    Genius & Soul, Rhino
  • Drown in My Own Tears Ray Charles
    Genius & Soul, Rhino
  • End Bed: Come Rain or Come Shine Modern Jazz Quartet & Branford Marsalis
    A Celebration, Atlantic Jazz

THE LATEST STREAMS

  • January 13th, 2021

    AMERICAN ROUTES LIVE: CREOLE SONGLINES OF LEYLA MCCALLA AND SAXOPHONIST DONALD HARRISON'S JAZZ JOURNEY

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  • January 6th, 2021

    LOVE IS STRANGE WITH JUDY COLLINS AND JIM LAUDERDALE

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  • December 30th, 2020

    AR LIVE: LOUISIANA NEW YEAR'S PARTY WITH CAJUN & ZYDECO AND NEW ORLEANS PIANO & SONG

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