SUPPORT GREAT STORYTELLING
We rely on your support to remain on air and online. Your contribution helps us bring you interviews with great American artists and the carefully curated music mix that you’ve enjoyed over the years.
Donate
AMERICAN ROUTES ON INSTAGRAM
BLUES AND JAZZ, AFRICAN ROOTS AND BRANCHES WITH SHEMEKIA COPELAND AND BALLA KOUYATé
It’s Blueswomen, Jazzmen, African roots and branches. Chicago blues singer Shemekia Copeland‘s father, the late blues guitarist Johnny Copeland, brought her into his music as a child. As an adult, she found new ways to use blues to express her perspective. We’ll hear from some of Shemekia’s heroes including Etta James, Ruth Brown, Alberta Hunter and Big Mama Thornton. Then a conversation and performance by Boston-based Mandinka balafon player Balla Kouyaté and music inspired by and from the continent of Africa from Randy Weston, Miriam Makeba and the Modern Jazz Quartet.
Shemekia Copeland photo by Mike White
HOUR ONE
- Open Bed: After Hour Swing Sammy Price & King Curtis
Rib Joint: Roots of Rock n Roll, Savoy - As Long as I'm Moving Ruth Brown
Rock n Roll , Atlantic - Harlem Blues Big Maybelle
Mamie Webster sings W.C. Handy , Cub - Chirpin' the Blues Alberta Hunter
Songs We Taught Your Mother, Fantasy - Walkin' Blues Big Mama Thornton
Hound Dog: The Peacock Recordings, MCA - Instrumental: It Ain't Necessarily So Mary Lou Williams
Mary Lou Williams, Smithsonian Folkways - Golden Girl Blues Trudy Lynn
Golden Girl , NOLA Blue Records - Old Man Blues Johnny Copeland
When the Rain Starts Fallin’, Rounder - Sweet Dreams Tommy McClain
Swamp Gold, Vol. 1, Jin - Sweet Dreams Patsy Cline
The Last Sessions , MCA - I'd Rather Go Blind Etta James
The Best of Etta James, UMG - Instrumental: Back in Business Beverly 'Guitar' Watkins
Back in Business, Cello Recordings - It's All Over Now Valentinos
Lookin’ for Love: The Complete SAR Recordings, ABKCO - Under My Thumb Shemekia Copeland
Uncivil War , Alligator Records - T-Bone Shuffle Albert Collins, Robert Cray, Johnny Copeland
Showdown! , Alligator Records - Segment: Shemekia Copeland
Listen - Closing bed: Pickin' the Blues Memphis Minnie
Guitar Women Vol. 4 , All About Jazz
HOUR two
- Open Bed: Kora Bali Toumani Diabaté, Ballaké Sissoko
New Ancient Strings , Chrysalis - To Zion Lauryn Hill and Carlos Santana
The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill, Ruffhouse - Natty Take Over Justin Hinds and the Dominos
Jezebel, Island - When the Saints Go Marchin' In Eddie Bo
Our New Orleans, Nonesuch - Blackbird Special Delfayo Marsalis and the Uptown Jazz Orchestra
Jazz Party, Troubadour Jazz Records - Caban Bamboo Highlife Randy Weston
Music from New African Nations Featuring the Highlife, Capitol - Instrumental: Jabula Abdullah Ibrahim
The Balance, Gearbox Records - Yegellé Tezeta Mulatu Astatke
New York-Addis-London: The Story of Ethio Jazz 1965-1975, Strut - 96 Tears Aretha Franklin
Aretha Arrives, Atlantic - Uncle Bud-Radio Version Boozoo Chavis
Zydeco Trail Ride with Boozoo Chavis, Maison de Soul - Your Lips Olu Dara
Olu Dara–From Natchez to New York, Atlantic - Pata Pata Miriam Makeba
Pata Pata, !K7 music - Instrumental: Bright Mississippi Allen Toussaint
The Bright Mississippi, Nonesuch - Kelya Tabu Ley Rochereau
The Voice of Lightness, Vol. 1: Congo Classics, 1961-1977 - Bluesology Modern Jazz Quartet
Fontessa, Atlantic - Segment: Balla Kouyaté
Listen - Closing Bed: Blue Monk McCoy Tyner and Bobby Hutcherson
Manhattan Moods, Blue Note
