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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LABOR DAY: ROOTS ROCK & SOUL, JAZZ & THE WORKING WO/MAN'S BLUES

August 30th, 2017

For Labor Day weekend, we take a break from the grind with a sonic salute to the heroic “Factory Girl” and those all too familiar with the “Workin’ Man Blues.” We explore the pains and joys of labor with tunes about coal miners, undertakers, chain gangs, and paydays. We hear a tribute to Cesar Chavez and the 1969 farm workers strike in Delano, CA. And we time travel with Lord Invader to 1940s Brooklyn to attend the West Indian Labor Day Carnival. Finally, we settle under the neon signs of New Orleans’ famed Chickie Wah Wah club to hear a live set from Telecaster master and rockabilly journeyman, Bill Kirchen.

  • Listen to Hour One
  • Listen to Hour Two

HOUR ONE

  • Open Bed: The Undertaker Man Kermit Ruffins
    The Big Butter and Egg Man, Justice
  • Every Man to His Own Profession Louis Jordan
    Let the Good Times Roll, Bear Family
  • Work, Work, Work Lee Dorsey
    Wheelin' and Dealin': The Definitive Collection, Arista
  • Blue Monday Fats Domino
    Out of New Orleans, Bear Family
  • Labor Day Lord Invader
    Calypso in New York, Folkways
  • I'm Not Going to Work Today Clyde McPhatter
    A Shot of Rhythm and Blues, Sundazed
  • Instrumental: Work Song Cannonball Adderley
    Sweet and Dangerous Jazz Blues, Disky
  • Bed: Hammer Ring Henry Scott and Group
    Wake Up Dead Man, Rounder
  • Chain Gang The Persuasions
    We Came To Play, Capitol
  • Work Song Nina Simone
    Anthology: The Colpix Years, Rhino
  • A Hard Day's Night Peggy Lee
    Ultra Lounge- On the Rocks Part 1, Capitol
  • Factory Girl Rolling Stones
    Beggar's Banquet, ABCKO
  • Ain't Nobody Dori Freeman
    Dori Freeman, Free Dirt Records
  • 16 Tons Eugene Church
    45 rpm single, King
  • Instrumental: Moanin' Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers
    Art Blakey is Jazz, Music Club
  • Moanin' Sarah Vaughn
    Jazz Profile: Sarah Vaughn, Blue Note
  • When Will We Be Paid The Staple Singers
    We'll Get Over, Stax
  • Corrido de César Chávez Los Perros del Pueblo Nuevo
    Classic Protest Songs from Smithsonian Folkways, Smithsonian Folkways
  • Quarters Wilco
    Schmilco, Anti-
  • Workin' Man Blues Jerry Lee Lewis
    Killer Country , Mercury
  • Workin' for the Man Roy Orbison
    For the Lonely: 18 Greatest Hits, Rhino
  • I've Been Working Van Morrison
    His Band and the Street Choir, Warner
  • Closing Bed: Work Song Grant Green
    2 By 5: Guitar Jazz, 32 Jazz

HOUR two

  • Open Bed: The Finger Bill Kirchen
    Hot Rod Lincoln Live, Hightone
  • Hillbilly Truck Driving Man Bill Kirchen
    Live at Chickie Wah Wah, American Routes original recording
  • Let's Rock Austin Delone
    Live at Chickie Wah Wah , American Routes original recording
  • Think It Over Bill Kirchen
    Live at Chickie Wah Wah, American Routes original recording
  • Instrumental: Work Song Michael Bloomfield w/ the Butterfield Blues Band
    Essential Blues: 1964-1969, Columbia/Legacy
  • Check Mr. Popeye Austin Delone
    Live at Chickie Wah Wah , American Routes original recording
  • Wine, Wine, Wine Bill Kirchen
    Live at Chickie Wah Wah , American Routes original recording
  • Semi Truck Bill Kirchen
    Live at Chickie Wah Wah , American Routes original recording
  • SEGMENT: Bill Kirchen

    Listen
  • Hot Rod Lincoln Bill Kirchen
    Live at Chickie Wah Wah , American Routes original recording
  • Instrumental: Moanin' Buddy Guy
    The Complete Chess Studio Recordings, Chess
  • Somebody's Goin' Home Bill Kirchen and Austin Delone
    Live at Chickie Wah Wah, American Routes original recording
  • The Times They Are a Changing Bill Kirchen
    Live at Chickie Wah Wah, American Routes original recording
  • Closing Bed: Sleepwalk Bill Kirchen and Austin Delone
    Live at Chickie Wah Wah, American Routes original recording

THE LATEST STREAMS

  • May 18th, 2022

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

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  • May 11th, 2022

    BREAKING OUT: BRITISH BLUES TO NEW ORLEANS BOUNCE

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  • May 4th, 2022

    KINGPINS OF THE GULF COAST: RODNEY CROWELL & DR. JOHN

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