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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SOUTH TO LOUISIANA

January 31st, 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
  • SEGMENT: Dewey Balfa

    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
  • INTERVIEW: Zydeco Joe live at KRVS

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  • 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

  • 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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