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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CAROLINA CHOCOLATE DROPS AND THE BLACK EXPERIENCE IN COUNTRY MUSIC

January 20th, 2016

This week, we talk to the founding members of the Grammy award-winning Carolina Chocolate Drops. Justin Robinson, Rhiannon Giddens and Dom Flemons started playing music together under the tutelage of legendary black old-time fiddler, Joe Thompson in his backyard shed. The Chocolate Drops came together to carry on the old time and country traditions from the Piedmont region in the Carolinas, but they wanted to do more than just play. They wanted to show their audiences that African American music finds its roots in genres beyond blues and jazz. Then we delve into the archives for our classic conversation with the late, great Ray Charles — and pianist Johnnie Johnson tells us about the surprising origins of Chuck Berry’s “Maybellene.”

  • Listen to Hour One
  • Listen to Hour Two

HOUR ONE

  • Open Bed: Peace Behind the Bridge Carolina Chocolate Drops
    Genuine Negro Jig, Nonesuch
  • Open Bed: Vine Street Drag Tennessee Chocolate Drops
    Violin Sing the Blues for Me: African American Fiddlers 1926-1949, Old Hat
  • Blue Ridge Mountain Boys Martin, Bogan and Armstrong
    Martin Bogan and Armstrong/That Old Gang of Mine, Flying Fish
  • John Henry Cephas and Wiggins
    Richmond Blues, Smithsonian Folkways
  • Freight Train Elizabeth Cotten
    Freight Train and Other North Carolina Folk Songs and Tunes, Smithsonian Folkways
  • SEGMENT: Rhiannon Giddens Pt. 1

    Listen
  • Instrumental: Sitting On Top of the World Jelly Roll Kings
    Off Yonder Wall, Fat possum
  • Sitting On Top of the World Mississippi Sheiks
    Honey Babe Let the Deal Go Down, Colombia/ Legacy
  • Violin Blues Johnson Mountain Boys
    Violin Sing the Blues For Me, Yazoo
  • The Fiddler Claude Williams
    Claude Williams Live at J’s Part 1, Arhoolie
  • SEGMENT: Justin Robinson

    Listen
  • Instrumental: Guitar Rag John Jackson
    Country Blues and Ditties, Arhoolie
  • Blue Yodel #9 Jimmie Rodgers
    The Singing Brakeman, Bear Family
  • Down Yonder Snooks Eaglin
    Snooks Eaglin and Friends, Sonet
  • SEGMENT: Dom Flemons

    Listen
  • End Bed: Dixie Carolina Chocolate Drops
    Dona Got a Ramblin' Mind, Music Maker

HOUR two

  • Open Bed: Sunshine Twist (You Are My Sunshine) Jelly Roll Kings
    Jelly Roll Kings: Rockin' the Juke Joint Down, Earwig
  • You Are My Sunshine Ray Charles
    The Complete Country & Western Recordings 1959-1986, Rhino
  • I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry Al Green
    Country Meets Soul, Hi Records
  • SEGMENT: Rhiannon Giddens Pt. 2

    Listen
  • Instrumental: Last Date Willie Mitchell
    Robbin's Nest, Hi Records
  • CLIP: Ray Charles
  • Makes No Difference Now Ray Charles
    The Complete Country & Western Recordings 1959-1986, Rhino
  • Whiskey Heaven Fats Domino
    From Where I Stand: The Black Experience in Country Music, Warner Brothers
  • Grand Tour Aaron Neville
    The Very Best of Aaron Neville, A&M
  • That's How I Got to Memphis Solomon Burke
    Nashville, Shout
  • Detroit City Arthur Alexander
    The Ultimate Arthur Alexander, Razor and Tie
  • Almost Persuaded Etta James
    Etta James, MCA
  • Instrumental: Last Date Willie Mitchell
    Sunrise Serenade/Hold It, Hi Records
  • CLIP: Johnnie Johnson
  • Down on the Farm Big Al Downing
    From Where I Stand: The Black Experience in Country Music, Warner Brothers
  • Cotton Fields Charley Pride
    Charley Pride in Person, BMG
  • Cotton-Eyed Joe Nina Simone
    Nina Simone Anthology -- The Colpix Years, Rhino
  • The Weight The Staples Singers and Marty Stuart
    Rhythm, Country and Blues, MCA
  • End Bed: Last Date Little Willie John
    Yellow Boogie and Blues, Oldie Blues

THE LATEST STREAMS

  • January 13th, 2021

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

    Listen
  • January 6th, 2021

    LOVE IS STRANGE WITH JUDY COLLINS AND JIM LAUDERDALE

    Listen
  • December 30th, 2020

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

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