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

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

WORDS AND MUSIC IN THE SPIRIT OF MARTIN LUTHER KING JR.

January 10th, 2018

American Routes reflects on the legacy of Martin Luther King, Jr. in words and music. Join us as we speak with those who knew Dr. King, from the late music scholar Albert Murray and late historian Julian Bond to singers Mavis Staples, Harry Belafonte and Mable John. Also, Mississippi riverboat captain Doc Hawley shares a unique memory of Memphis. Plus songs of freedom, deliverance and hope to commemorate this holiday weekend.

  • Listen to Hour One
  • Listen to Hour Two

HOUR ONE

  • Open Bed: Spiritual Charlie Haden & Hank Jones
    Steal Away: Spirituals, Hymns and Folk Songs, Polydor/Polydram
  • Ofay and Oxford Gray Louis Jordan
    The Hoy Hoy Collection: Rock Before Elvis, Stash
  • It Ain't Necessarily So Mary Lou Williams
    Black Christ of the Andes, Folkways
  • Straighten Up and Fly Right Nat King Cole
    The Best of Nat King Cole Trio: The Vocal Classics, Vol. 1, Capitol
  • Jim Crow Blues Leadbelly
    Bourgeois Blues, Smithsonian Folkways
  • When a Black Man's Blue Duke Ellington
    The Duke Ellington Centennial Edition: The Complete RCA/Victor Recordings, 1927-1973, RCA
  • CLIP: Albert Murray

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  • Instrumental: I've Got a Robe You Got a Robe Charlie Haden & Hank Jones
    Steal Away: Spirituals, Hymns and Folk Songs, Polydor/Polygram
  • Freedom Train James Carr
    The Essential James Carr, Razor & Tie
  • Change It Kathleen Cleaver
    Black Power: Music of a Revolution, Shout! Factory
  • Freedom Train Honeyboy Edwards, Floyd Jones, Kansas City Red, Sunnyland Slim & Big Walter Horton
    Old Friends, Earwig
  • CLIP: Julian Bond

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  • Paths of Victory Odetta
    Odetta Sings Dylan, Camden
  • Joshua Fit the Battle Elvis Presley
    His Hand in Mine, RCA
  • Ninety-Nine and a Half Dorothy Love Coates
    The Oxford American Sampler 1999, Oxford American
  • Instrumental: It's Me O Lord, Standing In the Need of Prayer Charlie Haden & Hank Jones
    Steal Away: Spirituals, Hymns and Folk Songs, Polydor/Polygram
  • Freedom Road Blind Boys of Alabama
    Higher Ground, Real World
  • Old Jim Crow Nina Simone
    Nina Simone in Concert, Mercury
  • We're a Winner The Impressions
    Change Is Gonna Come: The Voice of Black American 1963-1973, Kent
  • Lift Every Voice and Sing Zion Harmonizers
    Best of New Orleans Gospel, Vol. II, Mardi Gras
  • Down by the Riverside Louis Armstrong
    Louis and the Angels/Louis and the Good Book, MCA
  • Redemption Song Johnny Cash and Joe Strummer
    Redemption Songs, American
  • End Bed: Freedom Jazz Dance Eddie Harris
    Atlantic Jazz-Saxophones Vol. 1, Rhino

HOUR two

  • Open Bed: Inner City Blues Dirty Dozen Brass Band
    Buck Jump, Mammoth
  • Wake Up, Everybody John Legend and the Roots
    Wake Up, Columbia
  • Where Are We Going? Marvin Gaye
    The Very Best of Marvin Gaye, Motown
  • How Long Charles Bradley
    No Time For Dreaming, Dunham
  • CLIP: Harry Belafonte

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  • Those Three Are on My Mind Harry Belafonte
    Belafonte on Campus, RCA Victor
  • Instrumental: My Lord What a Mornin' Charlie Haden & Hank Jones
    Steal Away: Spirituals, Hymn and Folk Songs, Polydor/Polygram
  • CLIP: Mavis Staples

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  • Long Walk to DC Staple Singers
    Soul Folk in Action, Stax
  • We Shall Not Be Moved SNCC Freedom Singers
    Voices of the Civil Rights Movement, Smithsonian Folkways
  • CLIP: Mable John

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  • All Men Are Made By God Highway QC's
    World's Greatest Gospel, Roadshow/HOB
  • Martin Luther King Southside Joe Turner
    Everyday I Have the Blues, Pablo
  • Instrumental: Wade in the Water Charlie Haden & Hank Jones
    Steal Away: Spirituals, Hymns and Folk Songs, Polydor/Polygram
  • Wade in the Water Staple Singers
    Freedom Highway, Columbia
  • CLIP: Captain Doc Hawley

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  • Swing, Low Sweet Chariot/Every Time I Feel the Spirit Paul Robeson
    The Power and the Glory, Sony
  • A Change is Gonna Come Sam Cooke
    The Man and His Music, RCA
  • End Bed: We Shall Overcome Charlie Haden & Hank Jones
    Steal Away: Spirituals, Hymns and Folk Songs, Polydor/Polygram

THE LATEST STREAMS

  • June 7th, 2023

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

    Listen
  • May 31st, 2023

    PIANO PEOPLE AND MORE: JASON MORAN & HEATH ALLEN

    Listen
  • May 24th, 2023

    MEMORIAL DAY WITH THE 2022 NATIONAL HERITAGE FELLOWS

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