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NEW ORLEANS TRADITIONAL JAZZ LIVE WITH DR. MICHAEL WHITE AND THE ORIGINAL LIBERTY JAZZ BAND - JAZZ MANOUCHE FROM CHRISTINE TASSAN ET LES IMPOSTEURES

It’s an American Routes Live session of New Orleans Traditional Jazz with Dr. Michael White, the beloved clarinetist leading the Original Liberty Jazz Band, in concert and conversation. Then, we explore the world of Jazz Manouche and its late leading influence, guitarist Django Reinhardt and his historic recordings with violinist Stephane Grapelli from the Quintette du Hot Club de France. We also visit with a contemporary women’s Jazz Manouche band from Quebec: Christine Tassan et les Imposteures. Plus music influenced by Django Reinhardt from Willie Nelson, Bob Wills, the Modern Jazz Quartet, and the Hot Club of Cowtown.

THE COLOR OF MUSIC WITH HENRY BUTLER & LONNIE HOLLEY

Get out your Crayolas and sketch pads, as we fill in the spectrum of musical colors… from red hot jazz to cool blues. What do we see when we hear music? We dig back into the archives for our epic interview with the late, blind New Orleans piano professor Henry Butlerabout his eclectic musical visions. Then self-taught visual artist Lonnie Holley expands his cosmic imagery into words and music to heal society on what he calls “the mothership”—Earth. Plus, word jazz maestro Ken Nordine narrates the paint palette; Nina Simone plays “Mood Indigo”; George Jones sings “Color of the Blues”; and Los Lobos describe the power of the Lavender Moon.

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.

NEH WORK SAMPLES 2023

Hour 1: from the show Who was Harry Smith?: The Great Delineator and his Anthology of American Folk Music
Originally broadcast July 21-27, 2021

Hour 2: from the show Celebrating Jazz Fest at 50: with Duke Ellington and Mahalia Jackson
Originally broadcast May 1-7, 2019

PIEDMONT BLUES WITH JONTAVIOUS WILLIS & ANDREW ALLI AND THE STOOGES BRASS BAND LIVE FROM NEW ORLEANS

We’re digging into the Piedmont blues, a rich style that mixes ragtime, old-time country music, jazz, gospel, hollers, and historic popular songs. A conversation and music with two younger players in the tradition: guitarist/singer Jontavious Willis from rural Greenwood, GA and harmonica player Andrew Alli from Richmond VA. Plus music by Sonny Terry and Brownie McGee, Elizabeth Cotten, Cannonball Adderly and Bob Wills. Then it’s The Stooges Brass Band from New Orleans in a live studio session.