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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SAINTS ALIVE: AFTER THE STORM XI

August 26th, 2009

This week we commemorate the anniversary of Hurricane Katrina in music and conversation with piano professor Allen Toussaint, who shares his thoughts about the recovery of his beloved city and his recent turn toward New Orleans jazz classics on his release The Bright Mississippi. Then, up and coming jazz trumpeter and Lower 9th Ward native Shamarr Allen stops by the American Routes studios to tell of his life both before and after the storm, as well as his hopes for his hometown. Plus music and songs that reflect our shared sense of loss for what has gone, and that celebrate the continuing recovery of the Crescent City.

  • Listen to Hour One
  • Listen to Hour Two

HOUR ONE

  • Open Bed: Bright Mississippi Allen Toussaint
    The Bright Mississippi , Nonesuch
  • River's Invitation Percy Mayfield
    His Tangerine and Atlantic Sides , Rhino
  • To the River Smiley Lewis
    Shame, Shame, Shame , Bear Family
  • Old Man River AFO Executives & Tammy Lynn
    Compendium , AFO
  • Flood Muddy Waters
    The Chess Box , MCA
  • Crash on the Levee (Down in the Flood) Bob Dylan and the Band
    The Basement Tapes , CBS
  • Instrumental: Blue Monk/Stormy Monday Dirty Dozen Brass Band
    Dirty Dozen Live: Mardi Gras in Montreux , Rounder
  • Blue Monk Art Blakey and Thelonious Monk
    Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers with Thelonious Monk , Rhino
  • Egyptian Fantasy Allen Toussaint
    The Bright Mississippi , Nonesuch
  • SEGMENT: Allen Toussaint

    Listen
  • Instrumental: Wade in the Water Little Sonny
    Essential Blues: Harmonica , HoB
  • Muddy Water (A Mississippi Moan) Bessie Smith
    Martin Scorsese Presents: The Best of the Blues , UTV
  • Backwater Blues James Blood Ulmer
    Bad Blood in the City , Hyena
  • Rainin' in My Heart Slim Harpo
    Raining in My Heart , Excello
  • End Bed: Tipitina Allen Toussaint
    American Routes original recording,

HOUR two

  • Open Bed: Wade in the Water Dr. John
    Dr. John Plays Mac Rebennack , Clean Cuts
  • Summertime Toussaint McCall
    Nothing Takes the Place of You: The Ronn Recordings , Fuel 2000
  • Come On In My Kitchen Cassandra Wilson
    Blue Light 'Til Dawn , Blue Note
  • Storm Warning Dr. John
    Medical School: the Early Sessions of Mac "Dr. John" Rebennack , MCI
  • I Think It's Going to Rain Today Nora Jones
    Higher Ground: Hurricane Relief Concert , Blue Note
  • Didn't It Rain (Live) Mahalia Jackson
    The Essential Mahalia Jackson , Columbia/Legacy
  • Instrumental: Backwater Blues Edgar Hayes and the Stardusters with Lloyd Glenn
    The Swing Time Records Story , Capricorn
  • You Can Depend on Me Katrina Story Carl LeBlanc
    New Orleans' Seventh Ward Griot , Preservation Hall
  • Do You Know What It Means To Miss New Orleans Tuts Washington
    New Orleans Piano Professor , Rounder
  • Another Man Done Gone Irma Thomas
    After the Rain , Rounder
  • Higher Ground Stevie Wonder
    Innervisions , Motown
  • Instrumental: Down By the Riverside Dirty Dozen Brass Band
    Funeral For a Friend , Ropeadope
  • SEGMENT: Shamarr Allen

    Listen
  • Walking to Louisiana Clifton Chenier
    Bon Ton Roulet , Arhoolie
  • Walk Through the Streets of the City Joe Lastie Jr. and the Lastie Family
    Joe Lastie Jr. and the Lastie Family Gospel , Preservation Hall
  • End Bed: When the Saints Go Marching In Jimmy Smith
    Prayer Meetin', Blue Note

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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