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AMERICAN ROUTES ON INSTAGRAM

ECLECTIC EXCELLENCE: PITTSBURGH GUITARIST GEORGE BENSON & NEW ORLEANS CLARINETIST AURORA NEALAND

We explore eclectic excellence with African American jazz guitar elder George Benson, who started with guitar/organ trios and has a signature sound for the ages. Then young clarinet/sax virtuoso Aurora Nealand plays traditional and modern jazz, and more, crediting Stravinsky, New Orleans Sidney Bechet and “hippie parents” for inspiration. Plus music from BB King, Louis Prima, Ella Fitzgerald and Chet Atkins.

HOUR ONE

  • Open Bed: Benson's Rider George Benson
    The George Benson Cookbook, Sony
  • Organ Grinder's Swing Jimmy Smith, with Kenny Burrell & Grady Tate
    The Organ Grinder's Swing, Verve
  • Three-Four, the Blues Hank Garland
    Jazz Winds from a New Direction, Columbia
  • Down South Blues Chet Atkins and Merle Travis
    The Atkins-Travis Traveling Show, Sony
  • Guitar Man Jerry Reed
    The Unbelievable Guitar and Voice of Jerry Reed, Sony
  • Instrumental: Ain't That Peculiar George Benson Quartet
    It's Uptown, Sony
  • If You Love Me The Altairs
    YouTube,
  • Segment: George Benson

    Listen
  • Blue Monday George Benson
    Walking to New Orleans, Mascot
  • I Hear You Knockin' Fats Domino
    The Big Beat of Dave Bartholomew, Capitol
  • Instrumental: Peg-Leg Jack George Benson
    Benson Burner, Columbia
  • Lucille BB King
    Lucille, Bluesway
  • Wade in the Water Staple Singers
    Freedom Highway, Epic
  • When I Look Back Dedicated Men of Zion
    Can't Turn Me Round, Bible and Tire Records
  • End Bed: I Don't Know George Benson and Jack McDuff
    George Benson and Jack McDuff, Concord

HOUR two

  • Open Bed: Cakewalking Babies Aurora Nealand and the Royal Roses
    A Tribute to Sidney Bechet: Love at Preservation Hall, New Orleans, Aurora Nealand
  • The Music Goes Round and Round Louis Prima
    Louis Prima—Capitol Collectors Series, Capitol
  • Treme Second Line Kermit Ruffins
    We Partyin' Traditional Style, Basin Street
  • Everytime I Hear that Mellow Saxophone Roy Montrell
    Mardi Gras Blues, Master Classics
  • Careless Love Billie and DeDe Pierce
    Music of New Orleans, Vol. 3: Music of the Dance Halls, Smithsonian Folkways
  • Far from Your Web Leyla McCalla with Aurora Nealand
    A Day for the Hunter, A Day for the Prey, Jazz Village
  • Instrumental: Portrait of Sidney Bechet Duke Ellington
    New Orleans Suite, Atlantic
  • Segment: Aurora Nealand

    Listen
  • Way Back in the 1960s The Incredible String Band
    The 5000 Spirits of the Layers of the Onion—The Incredible String Band, Elektra
  • Teach Your Children Crosby Stills Nash and Young
    Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young—Deja Vu, Atlantic
  • Instrumental: Blue Horizon Sidney Bechet
    The Best of Sidney Bechet, Blue Note
  • Somebody Loan Me a Dime Jimmy Johnson
    Everyday of Your Life, Delmark
  • That Lucky Old Sun Big Mama Thornton
    Big Mama Thornton—Stronger Than Dirt, UMG
  • Blue Skies Ella Fitzgerald
    Get Happy, Victor
  • End Bed: Big Nick Duke Ellington and John Coltrane
    Duke Ellington and John Coltrane, Impulse

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