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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MEMORIAL DAY WITH THE 2022 NATIONAL HERITAGE FELLOWS

May 24th, 2023

For Memorial Day, we’re celebrating the 2022 National Endowment for the Arts National Heritage Fellows. Great musicians, storytellers, artisans and advocates, who have received our nation’s highest honor in traditional arts with these new honorees: Richmond gospel family, The Legendary Ingramettes; Navajo Diné weaver and sheep rancher, TahNibaa Naataanii; Washington DC step choreographer, C. Brian Williams; Excelsior Brass Band of Mobile, Alabama; master Hawaiian Hale builder Francis “Palani” Sinenci; Tibetan Opera singer and dancer Tsering Wangmo Satho; Flamenco dancer Eva Encinias; Bluegrass fiddler Michael Cleveland; St. Croix Quelbe flute player and bandleader, Stanley Jacobs; and New Orleans Black-masking craftsman, stilt dancer and musician, Shaka Zulu. Plus music from former fellows Doc Watson, Cedric Burnside, Clifton Chenier, Flaco Jiménez, Andy Statman, Dr. Michael White and Wanda Jackson, among others.

  • Listen to Hour One
  • Listen to Hour Two

HOUR ONE

  • Open Bed: I Feel the Blues Moving In Del McCoury Band
    High Lonesome and Blue, Rounder
  • Blues Never Die Koko Taylor
    I Got What It Takes, Alligator
  • Please Tell Me Baby Cedric Burnside
    Benton County Relic, Single Lock Records
  • SEGMENT: The Legendary Ingramettes

    Listen
  • Instrumental: Gospel Groove Billy Preston
    The Complete Vee-Jay Recordings, Concord
  • Eh, 'Tite Fille Clifton Chenier
    Louisiana Blues & Zydeco, Arhoolie
  • Caroline Blinky & the Roadmasters
    Crucian Scratch Band Music, Rounder
  • SEGMENT: Stanley Jacobs

    Listen
  • SEGMENT: Francis P. Sinenci

    Listen
  • Instrumental: I Feel Alright Barbara Lynn
  • Nice and Easy Barbara Lynn
    Movin’ on a Groove, Tribe
  • Any Other Way William Bell
    The Very Best of William Bell, Concord
  • SEGMENT: C. Brian Williams

    Listen
  • SEGMENT: Excelsior Band

    Listen
  • End Bed: Will the Circle Be Unbroken Dr. Michael White
    Blue Crescent, Basin Street

HOUR two

  • Open Bed: Bye Bye Blues Eddie Pennington
    Eddie Pennington Walks the Strings and Even Sings, Smithsonian Folkways
  • I Gotta Know Wanda Jackson
    The Capitol Singles: 1956-1958 , Capitol
  • Singing the Blues Doc Watson
    Docabilly, Sugar Hill
  • Daisy Brownie McGhee
    Classic Piedmont Blues, Smithsonian Folkways
  • SEGMENT: Michael Cleveland

    Listen
  • Instrumental: Descarega Guajira Cachao
    Canta Contrabajo–Cachao, Musica Tropical
  • Descarga Cubana Cachao y su Ritmo Caliente
    Monte Adentro: Cachao y su Ritmo Caliente, Blue Moon
  • Ay Te Dejo in San Antonio Flaco Jimenez
    Ay Te Dejo in San Antonio, Arhoolie
  • SEGMENT Eva Enciñias
  • SEGMENT: TahNibaa Naataanii

    Listen
  • Instrumental: Dialogue Rahim AlHaj Trio
    One Sky, Smithsonian Folkways
  • Bashies Bounce Andy Statman and David Grisman
    Songs of Our Fathers–Traditional Jewish Melodies, Acoustic Disc
  • Kaloaloa Hui Ohana: Ledward Ka’apana, Nedward Ka’apnna, Dennis Pavao
    Young Hawaiians Play Old Hawaii, Lehua
  • SEGMENT: Tsering Wangmo Satho

    Listen
  • Jambalaya Strut Dr. Michael White
    Dancing in the Sky, Basin Street
  • SEGMENT: Shaka Zulu

    Listen
  • End Bed: Spiritual Hank Jones and Charlie Haden
    Steal Away, UMG

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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