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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LOS ANGELES: SOUNDTRACK FOR THE ANGELS

February 3rd, 2010

American Routes’ host Nick Spitzer uncovers the music and cultural traditions of Los Angeles: from Hollywood to neighborhood. Join Nick as he travels across the City of Angels to hear from legends — including Brian Wilson of the Beach Boys and songwriter Randy Newman — and explores musical cultures with Cambodian-born rapper PraCh Ly, Louisiana Creole zydeco accordionist T-Lou, and East L.A.‘s Ersi Arvizu. Plus conversations and music from Mexican-American rock band Los Lobos, R & B saxophonist Big Jay McNeely, and rockabilly guitarist Glen Glenn. Along the way we visit L.A. musical landmarks — including the famed Capitol Records recording studios.

  • Listen to Hour One
  • Listen to Hour Two

HOUR ONE

  • Open Bed: Badge of Honor Jerry Goldsmith
    L.A. Confidential Soundtrack, Restless
  • Peter Gunn Suite Ray Anthony
    Ultra-Lounge Volume 7: The Crime Scene, Capitol
  • Motor Head Baby Chuck Higgins and his Mellotones
    Straight to Watts: The Central Avenue Scene 1951-54 Vol.1, Ace
  • Los Angeles Blues Johnny Moore's Three Blazers
    Los Angeles Blues, West Side
  • Act Naturally Buck Owens
    21 #1 Hits: The Ultimate Collection, Rhino
  • SEGMENT: L.A. Classics

    Listen
  • SEGMENT: Thomas Newman

    Listen
  • Instrumental: Mountain Greenery The Ernie Freeman Combo
    Ultra-Lounge Vol.8: Cocktail Capers, Capitol
  • The Under Assistant West Coast Promotion Man Rolling Stones
    Singles Collection: The London Years, abkco
  • Vine Street Swing Johnny Otis
    The Capitol Years, Collectables
  • 3 Cool Cats Ry Cooder featuring Little Willie G
    Chavez Ravine, Nonesuch
  • Frank's Wild Years Tom Waits
    Swordfishtrombones, Islands
  • Instrumental: Straight to Watts Jimmy O'Brien
    Straight to Watts: The Central Avenue Scene 1951-54 Vol.1, Ace
  • Blues on Central Ave Joe Turner with the Freddie Slack Trio
    Central Avenue Sounds: Jazz in Los Angeles 1921-1956, Rhino
  • Fine Brown Frame Nellie Lutcher
    Central Avenue Sounds: Jazz in Los Angeles 1921-1956, Rhino
  • Laguna Slim Gaillard Quartet
    Central Avenue Sounds: Jazz in Los Angeles 1921-1956, Rhino
  • SEGMENT: Big Jay McNeely

    Listen
  • SEGMENT: praCh Ly

    Listen
  • End Bed: Bernie's Tune Al Caiola
    Ultra-Lounge Vol.17: Bongo Land, Ultra-Lounge Vol.17: Bongo Land

HOUR two

  • Open Bed: Hector (Part 1) Village Callers
    The West Coast East Side Sound Vol.2, Varese Sarabande
  • SEGMENT: Louie Perez of Los Lobos

    Listen
  • Chuco's Cumbia Los Lobos
    The Town and the City, Hollywood
  • Los Chucos Suaves Lalo Guerrero
    Recuerdos – Memories, Lalo Guerrero
  • SEGMENT: Ersi Arvizu
  • SEGMENT: T-Lou
  • Instrumental: Fiddle Time Tex Williams
    Tex Williams and his Western Caravan, Capitol
  • SEGMENT: Dave Alvin

    Listen
  • California on My Mind Merle Haggard & the Strangers
    Mama Tried/Pride in What I Am , Capitol
  • Long Journey Home Rose Maddox
    Sing a Little Song of Heartache, Bear Family
  • SEGMENT: Glen Glenn

    Listen
  • Instrumental: The Sudbury Nickel John Doe and the Sadies
    Country Club, Yep Roc
  • Sin City The Flying Burrito Brothers
    The Gilded Palace of Sin, Edsel
  • Will the Wolf Survive? Los Lobos
    How Will the Wolf Survive?, Slash
  • Clip: Randy Newman

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  • I Love L.A. Randy Newman
    American Routes original recording,
  • Clip: Brian Wilson

    Listen
  • California Girls The Beach Boys
    Good Vibrations: Thirty Years of the Beach Boys, Capitol
  • End Bed: The Beast Milt Buckner
    Mulholland Drive soundtrack, Milan

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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