The Culture of America: A Cross-Country Visit with the NEA National Heritage Fellows
Check out the NEA’s film “The Culture of America: A Cross-Country Visit with the NEA National Heritage Fellows” to learn more about the 2020 Fellows here
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
