AMERICAN ROUTES
Blues and Jazz, African Roots and Branches with Shemekia Copeland & Balla Kouyaté Blues and Jazz, African Roots and Branches with Shemekia Copeland & Balla Kouyaté May 18th, 2022 (Hour 1)
Blues and Jazz, African Roots and Branches with Shemekia Copeland & 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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MARTIN LUTHER KING IN WORDS AND MUSIC

January 10th, 2001

The spirit of the late Civil Rights leader informs this bittersweet, but uplifting look back and ahead. Includes jazz pianist McCoy Tyner’s reflections on great piano “professors,” his own life in the avant-garde, and his musical and spiritual associations with the legendary late saxophonist John Coltrane. Plus a visit with jazz and classical composer/performer Hannibal Lokumbe regarding his “African Portraits” with the Chicago Symphony.

  • Listen to Hour One
  • Listen to Hour Two

HOUR ONE

  • We're In the Same Boat, Brother Leadbelly
    Last Sessions, Folkways
  • Young, Gifted And Black Aretha Franklin
    Queen of Soul, Atlantic
  • Black, Brown, White Bill Broonzy
    Defiance Blues, HOB
  • Peace In The Valley Red Foley
    Classic Country Music Volume II, Smithsonian
  • Peace In The Valley The Gate City Singers
    Testify! The Gospel Box, Rhino
  • Instrumental: Amazing Grace Terence Blanchard
    Terence Blanchard, Columbia
  • INTERVIEW: McCoy Tyner

    Listen
  • Contemplation McCoy Tyner
    The Real McCoy, Impulse
  • Instrumental: Gold Mine Jackie Mitto
    Tribute to Jackie Mitto, Heartbeat
  • Pretty Africa Desmond Dekker
    Jamaican Roots, Disky
  • My Blood Neville Brothers
    Yellow Moon, A&M
  • My God, My Freedom, My Home Fontella Bass
    Free, Fuel 2000
  • God Bless the Child Billie Holiday
    The Billie Holiday Story Volume II LP, Columbia

HOUR two

  • Compared to What Roberta Flack
    First Take, Atlantic
  • Slavery Days Burning Spear
    Harder Than the Best, Island
  • INTERVIEW: Hannibal Lokumbe

    Listen
  • Instrumental: What's Goin' On Quincy Jones
    Greatest Hits, A&M
  • This is My Country Curtis Mayfield
    The Impressions' Greatest Hits, MCA
  • Freedom Highway The Staple Singers
    Freedom Highway, Columbia/Legacy
  • Tom Joad Pt II Woody Guthrie
    Dust Bowl Ballads, BMG
  • The Ghost of Tom Joad Bruce Springsteen
    The Ghost of Tom Joad, Columbia
  • John Wesley Harding Bob Dylan
    John Wesley Harding, Columbia
  • Instrumental: Sad Hours Little Walter
    The Essential Little Walter, MCA/Chess
  • Fattening Frogs for Snakes Sonny Boy Williamson
    Defiance Blues, HOB
  • I Won't Back Down Johnny Cash
    Solitary Man, American Recordings
  • I Shall Not Be Moved John Jackson
    live Folk Masters DAT,
  • Precious Lord Mahalia Jackson
    Gospels, Spirituals & Hymns, Sony
  • Down by The Riverside Papa Celestain's New Orleans Band
    Marie Laveau, GHB

THE LATEST STREAMS

  • May 18th, 2022

    BLUES AND JAZZ, AFRICAN ROOTS AND BRANCHES WITH SHEMEKIA COPELAND & BALLA KOUYATé

    Listen
  • May 11th, 2022

    BREAKING OUT: BRITISH BLUES TO NEW ORLEANS BOUNCE

    Listen
  • May 4th, 2022

    KINGPINS OF THE GULF COAST: RODNEY CROWELL & DR. JOHN

    Listen
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