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

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AMERICAN ROUTES ON INSTAGRAM

ROBBIE ROBERTSON / JOHNNY OTIS / DEW DROP INN

October 10th, 2001

A visit with legendary bandsmen including roots rocker Robbie Robertson and California jazz bandleader Johnny Otis. Robertson was a prime mover behind The Band, who, along with the Grateful Dead and others, defined the image and sound of American rock with folk roots in the 1960s and ’70s. Johnny Otis shaped the West Coast jump boogie sound, working with artists such as Jackie Wilson, Big Mama Thornton, and Etta James. Also a trip back in time to the Dew Drop Inn, a halcyon New Orleans nightclub which also served as a hotel, eatery, barber shop and post office. We’ll hear about one of the Dew Drop’s most infamous characters, female impersonator and R & B singer Patsy Vidalia.

  • Listen to Hour One
  • Listen to Hour Two

HOUR ONE

  • Open Bed: Slippin' & Slidin' The Band
    Across The Great Divide, Capitol
  • Who Do You Love Ronnie Hawkins & the Hawks
    Across The Great Divide, Capitol
  • The Weight Aretha Franklin
    Queen of Soul, Rhino
  • Rag Mama Rag The Band
    The Band, Capitol
  • INTERVIEW: Robbie Robertson Part 1

    Listen
  • The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down The Band
    The Band, Capitol
  • Instrumental: Nashville Rag Bob Dylan
    Nashville Skyline, Columbia
  • INTERVIEW: Robbie Robertson Part 2

    Listen
  • Crash on the Levee (Down in the Flood) Bob Dylan and the Band
    The Basement Tapes, Sony
  • I Shall Be Released Nina Simone
    Here Comes the Sun & Other Greatest Hits, BMG
  • INTERVIEW: Robbie Robertson Part 3
  • Stage Fright The Band
    Stage Fright, Capitol
  • INTERVIEW: Robbie Robertson Part 4
  • Instrumental: Cleo's Back Jr. Walker & the All Stars
    The Ultimate Collection, Motown
  • INTERVIEW: Robbie Robertson Part 5
  • Acadian Driftwood The Band
    Northern Lights-Southern Cross, Capitol
  • King Harvest The Band
    Across The Great Divide, Capitol

HOUR two

  • Open Bed: New Orleans Shuffle Johnny Otis
    The Johnny Otis Rhythm & Blues Caravan, Savoy Jazz
  • Wolverine Blues Jelly Roll Morton
    Jelly Roll Morton 1923/24, Milestone
  • Creole Song Ory's Creole Jazz Band
    Central Avenue Sounds: Jazz in Los Angeles 1921-1956, Rhino
  • Blues on Central Avenue Joe Turner with the Freddie Slack Trio
    Central Avenue Sounds: Jazz in Los Angeles 1921-1956, Rhino
  • Willie and the Hand Jive The Johnny Otis Show
    Loud, Fast & Out of Control, Rhino
  • INTERVIEW: Johnny Otis

    Listen
  • Instrumental: Freight Train Boogie Johnny Otis
    The Johnny Otis Rhythm & Blues Caravan, Savoy Jazz
  • Mistrustin' Blues Johnny Otis
    The Johnny Otis Rhythm & Blues Caravan, Savoy Jazz
  • Almost Persuaded Etta James
    From Where I Stand, Warner
  • Black Coffee Kd Lang
    Shadowland, Sire
  • Special Rider Lorette Velvette
    Rude Angel, Okra-Tone
  • When You Got a Good Friend Gatemouth Brown & Chris Thomas King
    Hellhound on My Trail: Songs of Robert Johnson, Telarc
  • Instrumental: Elmer's Blues Lonnie Johnson w/ Elmer Snowden
    Blues and Ballads, Bluesville
  • SEGMENT: Patsy Vidalia and Dew Drop Inn

    Listen
  • Dew Drop Inn Esquerita
    Vintage Voola!, Norton
  • Goodnight Sweetheart James Booker
    King Of the New Orleans Keyboard, Junco Partner
  • Goodnight Sweetheart Sarah Vaughan
    Visions of Jazz, Blue Note
  • End Bed: The Crave Tom McDermott
    The Crave, STR

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
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