AMERICAN ROUTES
Blues and Jazz, African Roots and Branches with Shemekia Copeland and Balla Kouyaté Blues and Jazz, African Roots and Branches with Shemekia Copeland and Balla Kouyaté June 7th, 2023 (Hour 1)
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

  • Info
  • ABOUT
  • BEST OF
  • UPCOMING
  • ARCHIVE
  • SUPPORT
  • JOURNAL
  • STATIONS
  • MEDIA KIT
  • INDEX
  • STAFF
  • CONTACT
BROWSE BY DATE
  • 2023
  • 2022
  • 2021
  • 2020
  • 2019
  • 2018
  • 2017
  • 2016
  • 2015
  • 2014
  • 2013
  • 2012
  • 2011
  • 2010
  • 2009
  • 2008
  • 2007
  • 2006
  • 2005
  • 2004
  • 2003
  • 2002
  • 2001
  • 2000
  • 1999
  • 1998

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

SOUTH TO LOUISIANA

August 15th, 2007

Allons! Join in as American Routes heads west from our New Orleans studio to Southwestern French Louisiana. For a small area on the map, this area of the state has produced a huge amount of music. We’ll speak with swamp popper Rod Bernard about his breakout hit, “This Could Go On Forever.” Guitarist Lil’ Buck Sinegal recalls the heyday of Clifton Chenier’s Red Hot Louisiana Band. There’s a historic interview with the late fiddler that helped break Cajun music to the world, Dewey Balfa. Plus, a live set with Creole accordion player Zydeco Joe.

  • Listen to Hour One
  • Listen to Hour Two

HOUR ONE

  • Open Bed: Acadian Two-Step Coteau
    Highly Seasoned Cajun Music, Rounder
  • Le Sud de la Louisianne Alex Broussard
    Le Sud de la Louisianne, La Louisianne
  • Zydeco et Pas Sale Clifton Chenier
    Louisiana Blues & Zydeco, Arhoolie
  • Grand Texas Wallace ‘Cheese' Reed
    Cajun House Party, Arhoolie
  • Jambalaya (on the Bayou) Hank Williams
    The Complete Hank Williams, Mercury
  • Instrumental: Jambalaya Original Drifting Cowboys Band
    Hank Williams Instrumentals, Landmark
  • Lake Charles Lucinda Williams
    Car Wheels On A Gravel Road, Mercury
  • Grand Mamou Coteau
    Highly Seasoned Cajun Music, Rounder
  • INTERVIEW: Dewey Balfa
    NPR's All Things Considered 1991,

    Listen
  • Instrumental: Burghers Beat John Hart with Lil' Bob & the Lollipops
    Lafayette Soul Show, La Lousianne
  • I Got Loaded Lil' Bob & the Lollipops
    Lafayette Saturday Night, Ace
  • Bon Ton Roulet Clarence Garlow
    Crescent City Soul: The Sound of New Orleans, 1947 - 1974, EMI
  • SEGMENT: Zydeco Joe live at KRVS

    Listen
  • Tipitina Allen Toussaint
    American Routes original recording,

HOUR two

  • Open Bed: Mon Papa Buckwheat Zydeco
    Classics, Rounder
  • South to Louisiana (North to Alaska) Johnnie Allan
    Swamp Pop Legend, Johnnie Allan: The Essential Collection, Swallow
  • Always Late (With Your Kisses) Jo-El Sonnier
    The Complete Mercury Sessions, Mercury
  • La Porte Dan Arrière (The Back Door) Dewey Balfa, Marc Savoy, D. L. Menard
    En Bas du Chêne Vert, Arhoolie
  • Long Telephone Port Arthur Cleveland Crochet
    Cleveland Crochet & All The Sugar Bees, Goldband
  • Mo Coeur Cassé Sampy and the Bad Habits
    Zodico: Louisiana Créole Music, Rounder
  • Instrumental: Congo Mombo Guitar Gable & the Musical Kings
    Sound of the Swamp: The Best of Excello Revords, Vol.1, Rhino
  • Lake Charles Boogie Nellie Lutcher
    The Best of Nellie Lutcher, Capitol Jazz
  • Opelousas Sostan Rufus Jagneaux
    Swamp Gold, Volume 1, Jin
  • INTERVIEW: Rod Bernard

    Listen
  • Mathilda Cookie & the Cupcakes
    Swamp Gold, Volume 1, Jin
  • Paper in My Shoe Boozoo Chavis
    Alligator Stomp: Cajun and Zydeco Classics, Rhino
  • Instrumental: Line Dancer Lil' Buck Sinegal
    The Buck Starts Here, NYNO
  • INTERVIEW: Lil' Buck Sinegal

    Listen
  • Rainin' in My Heart Slim Harpo
    Sings Raining in My Heart, Hip-O
  • Je Vas Revenir Queen Ida & the Bon Temps Band
    Play the Zydeco, GNP/Crescendo
  • Chez Moreau Pine Leaf Boys
    La Musique, Arhoolie
  • End Bed: Les Blues Des Routes David Doucet
    1957: Solo Cajun Guitar, Rounder

THE LATEST STREAMS

  • June 7th, 2023

    BLUES AND JAZZ, AFRICAN ROOTS AND BRANCHES WITH SHEMEKIA COPELAND AND BALLA KOUYATé

    Listen
  • May 31st, 2023

    PIANO PEOPLE AND MORE: JASON MORAN & HEATH ALLEN

    Listen
  • May 24th, 2023

    MEMORIAL DAY WITH THE 2022 NATIONAL HERITAGE FELLOWS

    Listen
A|R

  • Donate
A|R AMERICAN ROUTES
  • ABOUT
  • BEST OF
  • ARCHIVE
  • UPCOMING
  • SUPPORT US
  • JOURNAL
  • STATIONS
  • STAFF
  • CONTACT
  • Tulane University
  • NEA
  • PRX
  • New Orleans Tourism and Cultural Fund
  • Jim Hart