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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HOW BLUE CAN YOU GET?: HOWARD TATE AND LYLE LOVETT

January 20th, 2010

When we asked Lyle Lovett why he didn’t stick with journalism, he said “It’s hard to sing the newspaper.” From blues to country to Texas swing, Lyle and his large band can tell some good stories, and they’re not all about penguins. We’ll hear all about it (and more) when we sit down in conversation. Howard Tate is a master of soulful singing, bringing his bluesy touch and deep meaning to such classics as “Get it While You Can” and “Ain’t Nobody Home.” We’ll talk about his life in Philadelphia’s gospel and soul scenes, and his path back to the stage today.

  • Listen to Hour One
  • Listen to Hour Two

HOUR ONE

  • Open Bed: Boot Heel Drag Bob Wills and his Texas Playboys
    Legendary Masters, United Artists
  • Bring it on Down to My House, Honey Bob Wills and His Texas Playboys
    Legends of Country Music, Columbia
  • Pantry (Acoustic Version) Lyle Lovett
    Natural Forces, Lost Highway
  • Fried Chicken Eden Brent
    Mississippi Number One, Yellow Dog
  • Chicken Shack Boogie Amos Milburn
    Essential Blues Piano, House of Blues
  • Instrumental: The Ma Grinder Robert Shaw
    Essential Blues Piano, House of Blues
  • Ain't It Hard Mance Lipscomb
    Texas Blues Guitar, Arhoolie
  • If I Needed You Townes Van Zandt
    The Late Great Townes Van Zandt, Poppy
  • SEGMENT: Lyle Lovett

    Listen
  • Instrumental: The Blues Walk Lyle Lovett
    Lyle Lovett and his Large Band, Curb/MCA
  • Texas Woman Blues Taj Mahal
    The Essential, Columbia
  • Honey Don't The Beatles
    Beatles For Sale, EMI
  • I'm a King Bee Rolling Stones
    The Rolling Stones, abkco
  • Honey Bee Muddy Waters
    More Real Folk Music, Chess
  • Buzzin' Fly Tim Buckley
    Morning Glory: The Tim Buckley Anthology, Elektra
  • Wurlitzer Prize (I Don't Want To Get Over You) Nora Jones
    Lonesome, On'ry and Mean: A Tribute to Waylon Jennings, Dualtone
  • End Bed: Tipitina Allen Toussaint
    American Routes original recording,

HOUR two

  • Village Blues John Coltrane
    The Heavyweight Champion: The Complete Atlantic Recordings, Atlantic
  • Ain't That Loving You Baby Bettye LaVette
    Change is Gonna Come Sessions, Anti
  • Ask Me Nice Mose Allison
    The Way of the World, Anti
  • Up the Country Blues Sippie Wallace
    Women Be Wise, Alligator
  • Your One and Only Tampa Red
    The Bluebird Recordings: 1936-1938, RCA
  • Lost Love Blues Lefty Frizzell
    Look What Thoughts Will Do, Columbia
  • Instrumental: Slim Jenkin's Place Booker T & MGs
    The Complete Stax-Volt Singles, Atlantic
  • SEGMENT: Howard Tate

    Listen
  • Happy-Go-Lucky Local (aka "Night Train") Jimmy Smith & Wes Montgomery
    Jimmy & Wes: The Dynamic Duo, Verve
  • Instrumental: Peace in the Valley Rev. Lonnie Farris
    Fire in My Bones, Tompkins Square
  • Crazy Mixed Up World Lil Walter
    The Essential Little Walter, Chess
  • I'm a Little Mixed Up Betty James
    Women Blues Singers 1928-1969, Geffen
  • Like a Rolling Stone Drive By Truckers
    The Fine Print, New West
  • Gypsy Davy Woody Guthrie
    My Dusty Road, Rounder
  • Tomorrow is a Long Time Sandy Denny
    Sandy, Island
  • End Bed: Twilight Property Leo Kottke
    Instrumentals: The Best of the Capitol Years, 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

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