AMERICAN ROUTES
Blues and Jazz, African Roots and Branches with Shemekia Copeland and Balla Kouyaté Blues and Jazz, African Roots and Branches with Shemekia Copeland and Balla Kouyaté June 7th, 2023 (Hour 1)
Blues and Jazz, African Roots and Branches with Shemekia Copeland and 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

AMERICAN ROUTES LIVE!: MUSICAL GEOGRAPHIES OF THE GULF SOUTH

December 31st, 2014

American Routes celebrates music and musicians from New Orleans, Mississippi and French Louisiana. Recorded live at New Orleans’ venerable (1906) Civic Theatre, the show features New Orleans clarinetist Dr. Michael White and the Original Liberty Jazz Band with the definitive Creole music born in the Crescent City: traditional jazz. White is joined by fellow NEA Heritage recipient, Cajun fiddler Michael Doucet and the influential band of the French Louisiana cultural revival BeauSoleil (‘good sunshine’). The downhome blues of guitarist and wordslinger Little Freddie King of McComb, Mississippi kicks off the show and the spirit-filled gospel of Electrifying Crown Seekers from New Orleans’ west bank take us home. Our special guest is beloved jazz vocalist Topsy Chapman, also famed locally as the first black cocktail waitress on Bourbon Street in the 1960s.

  • Listen to Hour One
  • Listen to Hour Two

HOUR ONE

  • Open Bed: Tipitina Tom McDermott
    Recorded Live at the Civic Theatre,
  • Chicken Dance Little Freddie King
    Recorded Live at the Civic Theatre,
  • on-stage interview Little Freddie King
    Recorded Live at the Civic Theatre,
  • I Used to Be Down Little Freddie King
    Recorded Live at the Civic Theatre,
  • Instrumental: Just a Little While to Stay Here Tom McDermott
    New Orleans Duets, Rabadash
  • first tune BeauSoleil avec Michael Doucet
    Recorded Live at the Civic Theatre,
  • Zydeco Gris-Gris BeauSoleil avec Michael Doucet
    Recorded live at the Civic Theatre,
  • Lula, Don't You Go to Bingo BeauSoleil avec Michael Doucet
    Recorded live at the Civic Theatre,
  • La Doucer BeauSoleil avec Michael Doucet
    Recorded live at the Civic Theatre,
  • Instrumental: 2 Step BeauSoleil
    Recorded live at the Civic Theatre,
  • on-stage interview Michael and David Doucet
    Recorded live at the Civic Theatre,
  • Carencro BeauSoleil avec Michael Doucet
    Recorded live at the Civic Theatre,
  • Bamako BeauSoleil avec Michael Doucet
    Recorded live at the Civic Theatre,
  • End Bed: The Broken Windmill Tom McDermott and Evan Christopher
    Danza, STR Digital

HOUR two

  • Open Bed: Tipitina Tom McDermott
    Recorded live at the Civic Theatre,
  • (Drop Your Net and) Follow Me Electrifying Crown Seekers
    Recorded live at the Civic Theatre,
  • on-stage interview Electrifying Crown Seekers
    Recorded live at the Civic Theatre,
  • See What the End's Gonna Be Electrifying Crown Seekers
    Recorded live at the Civic Theatre,
  • on-stage interview Dr. Michael White
    Recorded live at the Civic Theatre,
  • Panama Dr. Michael White & the Original Liberty Jazz Band
    Recorded live at the Civic Theatre,
  • Instrumental: Valse #4 Tom McDermott and Evan Christopher
    Danza, STR Digital
  • Sunday Morning Dr. Michael White & the Original Liberty Jazz Band
    Recorded live at the Civic Theatre,
  • Nobody Knows You When You're Down and Out Dr. Michael White & the Original Liberty Jazz Band with Topsy Chapman
    Recorded live at the Civic Theatre,
  • on-stage interview Topsy Chapman
    Recorded live at the Civic Theatre,
  • It's a Highway to Heaven Dr. Michael White & the Original Liberty Jazz Band with Topsy Chapman
    Recorded live at the Civic Theatre,
  • Instrumental: Magyar Sisters Tom McDermott and Evan Christopher
    Danza, STR Digital
  • Down By the Riverside Dr. Michael White & the Original Liberty Jazz Band, Topsy Chapman, David and Michael Doucet, Electrifying Crown Seekers
    Recorded live at the Civic Theatre,
  • End Bed: Swipesy, Cakewalk for Piano Tom McDermott and Evan Christopher
    Danza, STR Digital

THE LATEST STREAMS

  • June 7th, 2023

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

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  • May 31st, 2023

    PIANO PEOPLE AND MORE: JASON MORAN & HEATH ALLEN

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  • May 24th, 2023

    MEMORIAL DAY WITH THE 2022 NATIONAL HERITAGE FELLOWS

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