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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AMERICAN ROUTES ON INSTAGRAM

MILLENNIAL ROUTES

January 5th, 2000

Now that the Y2K dust has settled we’ll take a relaxed look back at our favorite American Routes music from the 20th century—and try to imagine what the 21st century will bring. Of course you’ll hear Armstrong, Gershwin, Ellington, Dylan, and Hendrix along with Aretha, Patsy Cline, Jerry Lee Lewis and Tito Puente. How about Dewey Balfa, Clifton Chenier, Professor Longhair, and Flaco Jimenez. By the way January 8 is Elvis’ birthday!

  • Listen to Hour One
  • Listen to Hour Two

HOUR ONE

  • Open Bed: I Got Rhythm Don Byas and Slam Stewart
    Classics Jazz: The Smithsonian Collection, Smithsonian
  • I Got Rhythm Mary Martin
    The Great Songs of George Gershwin, Sony
  • Buddy Bolden Blues Jelly Roll Morton
    Jazzin' the Blues, Forlane
  • Walk Over God's Heaven Mahalia Jackson
    Gospel, Spirituals & Hymns, Sony
  • I've Got A Woman Ray Charles
    Genius and Soul, Rhino
  • I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry Hank Williams
    The Complete Hank Williams, Mercury
  • Hellhound On My Trail Robert Johnson
    King of the Delta Blues, Sony
  • Instrumental: There'll Be Some Changes Made
    Music from the Motion Picture Sweet and Lowdown, Sony Classical
  • This Land is Your Land Woody Guthrie
    This Land is Your Land: The Asch Recordings Vol. 1, Folkways
  • Friend of the Devil Grateful Dead
    American Beauty, Warner
  • Ay Te Dejo En San Antonio Flaco Jimenez
    Ay Te Dejo En San Antonio, Arhoolie
  • Zydeco Sont Pas Soleil Clifton Chenier
    60 Minutes with the King of Zydeco, Arhoolie
  • Instrumental: Escualo Gidon Kremer
    Hommage a Piazzolla, Nonesuch
  • Caledonia Boogie Louis Jordan and His Tympani Five
    Let the Good Times Roll, Bear Family
  • Respect Aretha Franklin
    Queen of Soul: The Atlantic Recordings, Atlantic
  • St. Louis Blues Bessie Smith
    The Essential Bessie Smith, Columbia/Legacy
  • Memphis Chuck Berry
    Chess Box Set, MCA
  • I Shot the Sheriff Bob Marley and the Wailers
    Burnin', Island
  • Say it Loud, I'm Black & I'm Proud James Brown
    Startime, Polygram

HOUR two

  • Open Bed: Deep River Blues Doc Watson
    The Vanguard Years, Vangaurd
  • Blue Moon of Kentucky Bill Monroe
    Blue Grass, Bear Family
  • Great Balls of Fire Jerry Lee Lewis
    Classic, Bear Family
  • Mardi Gras in New Orleans Professor Longhair
    New Orleans Piano, Atlantic
  • West End Blues Louis Armstrong
    Jazzin the Blues, Forlane
  • Manteca Dizzy Gillespie
    The Complete RCA, RCA
  • Instrumental: Caravan Duke Ellington
    Money Jungle, Blue Note
  • In a Mellotone Duke Ellington
    Classic Jazz: The Smithsonian Collection, Smithsonian
  • Blue Yodel # 9 Jimmie Rodgers
    America's Blue Yodeler, 1930-31, Rounder
  • Heartbreak Hotel Elvis Presley
    The King of Rock and Roll, RCA
  • Crazy Patsy Cline
    The Nashville Sound… Owen Bradley, Decca
  • God Bless the Child Billie Holiday
    The Billie Holiday Story Volume II, Columbia
  • Blue in Green Miles Davis
    Kind of Blue, Sony
  • Instrumental: Third Stone From the Sun Jimi Hendrix
    Are You Experienced?, Reprise
  • I'm Your Hoochie Coochie Man Muddy Waters
    His Best, 1947 to 1955, Chess
  • All Apologies Kurt Cobain
    In Utero, DGC
  • Woodstock Joni Mitchell
    Hits, Reprise
  • I Shall Be Released Bob Dylan & The Band
    The Last Waltz, Warner

THE LATEST STREAMS

  • May 18th, 2022

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

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  • May 11th, 2022

    BREAKING OUT: BRITISH BLUES TO NEW ORLEANS BOUNCE

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  • May 4th, 2022

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

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