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AMERICAN ROUTES ON INSTAGRAM
CELEBRATING JAZZ FEST AT 50: WITH DUKE ELLINGTON AND MAHALIA JACKSON
We’re celebrating 50 years of the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival by looking back at historic performances from the first festival in 1970. We’ll hear live recordings from Jazz Fest royalty, Duke Ellington and the Queen of Gospel, Mahalia Jackson. We’ll start with commentary from jazz clarinetist Dr. Michael White on Duke Ellington’s New Orleans Suite, which was commissioned by Jazz Fest founder George Wein, premiered at the 1970 festival, and was turned into an iconic studio recording. Then, we’ll hear from Mahalia Jackson in her own words in historic interviews and performances. Also Irma Thomas’ tribute in Jazz Fest’s Gospel Tent; plus Jackson biographer Mark Burford and New Orleans gospel singer Cynthia Girtley on the Gospel Queen’s legacy in and beyond New Orleans. Join us for Jazz Fest’s 50th anniversary with a trip back to its birth in Congo Square, 1970.
Photo by Michael P. Smith courtesy of The Historic New Orleans Collection
HOUR ONE
- Open Bed: Blues for New Orleans Duke Ellington
Live recording from the 1970 New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival, - Bourbon Street Jingling Jollies Duke Ellington
New Orleans Suite, Atlantic - Instrumental: West End Blues Allen Toussaint
The Bright Mississippi, Nonesuch - Clip: Duke's Place Duke Ellington and Louis Armstrong
The Great Summit, Roulette - Portrait of Louis Armstrong Duke Ellington
New Orleans Suite, Atlantic - Thanks for the Beautiful Land on the Delta Duke Ellington
New Orleans Suite, Atlantic - Portrait of Wellman Braud Duke Ellington
New Orleans Suite, Atlantic - Second Line Duke Ellington
New Orleans Suite, Atlantic - Portrait of Sidney Bechet Duke Ellington
New Orleans Suite, Atlantic - Instrumental: Summertime Sidney Betchet
Dear Old Southland, Definitive - Aristocracy a la Jean Lafitte Duke Ellington
New Orleans Suite, Atlantic - Portrait of Mahalia Jackson Duke Ellington
New Orleans Suite, Atlantic - C Jam Blues Duke Ellington
Live recording from the 1970 New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival, - April in Paris Duke Ellington
Live recording from the 1970 New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival, - End Bed: C Jam Blues Duke Ellington
Blues In Orbit, Columbia
HOUR two
- Open Bed: Just a Little While to Stay Here Dr. Michael White
A Song For George Lewis, Basin Street - I'm Going to Live the Life I Sing About in My Song Mahalia Jackson
The World's Greatest Gospel Singer, Columbia - SEGMENT: Soundscape and Influences: Sounds of New Orleans and Bessie Smith
Listen - SEGMENT: Her Youth in New Orleans
Listen - Instrumental: Weather Bird Louis Armstrong and Earl Fatha Hines
The Complete Hot Five and Hot Seven Recordings, Sony/Legacy - SEGMENT: Move to Chicago
Listen - SEGMENT: I'm a Modern Gospel Singer: Columbia Records, Two Careers, Mahalia Treatment
Listen - Where Could I Go But for the Lord Ernestine Washington with Bunk Johnson's Band
The Asch Recordings, 1939-1947 Vol. 1: Blues, Gospel and Jazz, Folkways - Everybody's Going to Have a Wonderful Time Up There (Gospel Boogie) Sister Rosetta Tharpe with the Dependable Boys
Sister Rosetta Tharpe Vol. 3: 1946-1947, Document - Keep Your Hand on the Plow Mahalia Jackson
Moving on Up a Little Higher, Shanachie - Instrumental: Rev. Moses Lou Donaldson
Alligator Bogaloo, Blue Note - SEGMENT: Inheritors of Mahalia & Homecoming
Listen - SEGMENT: Cynthia Girtley
Listen - SEGMENT: Homecoming: 1970 Jazz Fest
Listen - He Will Remember Me Mahalia Jackson
Live from the 1970 New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival, - End Bed: Just a Closer Walk with Thee Dr. Michael White
A Song for George Lewis, Basin Street
