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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SAN ANTONIO SOUNDS

September 9th, 2020

The great Texas river city is a mix of Mexican, German, Anglo and African American cultures, among others. Home to the Texas Conjunto Festival and the International Accordion Festival, San Antonio is best known for Tex-Mex or Tejano music played by squeeze box masters like Flaco Jimenez, Narciso Martinez and Mingo Saldivar among many. We’ll speak with Flaco, who in collaborations with Doug Sahm, Ry Cooder, and Los Super Seven, has carried the music worldwide. “Chicano brown-eyed soul” performers like Sunny and the Sunliners and other groups describe music that connected New Orleans and Louisiana Swamp Pop with San Antonio and East Los Angeles. We’ll also talk with Vox organ legend Augie Meyers who worked in the high hippie era with Doug Sahm as part of the Sir Douglas Quintet and later in the Texas Tornadoes. The conversation comes full circle with Max Baca, the leader and bajo sexto player of Los Texmaniacs who was influenced by both Flaco and Doug Sahm. The Grammy-winning family band sticks with tradition, but finds ways to include country, blues and rock. Plus music from Sam the Sham, Bob Wills and the Texas Playboys, Freddy Fender and Willie Nelson. Vamos!

  • Listen to Hour One
  • Listen to Hour Two

HOUR ONE

  • Open Bed: Viva Seguin Flaco Jiménez
    Arriba El Norte: 14 Exitos, San Antonio Music Publishers
  • Open Bed: Sidewinder Parts I and II Sunny and the Sunliners
    Smile Now, Cry Later , Big Crown Records
  • Ay te dejo en San Antonio Flaco Jiménez
    Ay te dejo en San Antonio y Mas, Arhoolie Records
  • Wooly Bully Sam the Sham and the Pharaohs
    Pharaohization! Sam the Sham and the Pharaohs, Rhino
  • Ooh Poo Pah Doo The Sisters with Ersi Arvisu
    Ooh Poo Pah Doo, Minit
  • Papa Ain't Salty T-Bone Walker
    The Very Best of T-Bone Walker, Rhino
  • Ya Me Voy (Ain't That a Shame) Freddy Fender
    Canciones de Mi Barrio, Ideal/Arhoolie
  • Instrumental: Chinches Bravas Sunny and the Sunliners
    This Is My Band, Big Crown Records
  • SEGMENT: Flaco Jiménez

    Listen
  • He'll Have to Go Ry Cooder and Flaco Jiménez
    Chicken Skin Music, Warner/Reprise
  • Got You On My Mind Sunny and the Sunliners
    Talk to Me, Key Lock Records
  • Instrumental: Soul Pride Sunny and the Sunliners
    The Missing Link, Big Crown Records
  • SEGMENT: Brown-Eyed Soul, with members of Sunny and the Sunliners

    Listen
  • Let's Dance Chris Montez
    The Hits, Smith and Co.
  • Lonely Blue Nights Rosie and the Originals
    Golden Doo Wop Vol. 6, Cherished Records
  • Corina Corina Freddy Fender
    Tejano Roots: Raices Tejanas, Arhoolie
  • Closing Bed: Norma la de Guadaljara Sunny and the Sunliners
    This is My Band, Big Crown Records

HOUR two

  • Open Bed: She's About a Mover Sir Douglas Quintet
    The Prime of Sir Douglas Quintet, Crazy Cajun
  • Open Bed: Marina Los Texmaniacs
    Borders y Bailes, Smithsonian Folkways
  • Mendocino Doug Sahm
    Mendocino, Smash
  • Nuevo Laredo Sir Douglas Quintet
    Together After Five, Smash
  • SEGMENT: Augie Meyers

    Listen
  • Is Anybody Going to San Antone Doug Sahm
    Doug Sahm and Band, Atlantic
  • Blues Stay Away from Me Doug Sahm and Band
    Doug Sahm and Band, Atlantic
  • Instrumental: Viva Seguin Los Texmaniacs
    Texas Towns and Tex-Mex Sounds, Smithsonian Folkways
  • SEGMENT: Max Baca

    Listen
  • Instrumental: El Paso/San Antonio Rose Los Texmaniacs
    Texas Towns and Tex-Mex Sounds, Smithsonian Folkways
  • San Antonio Rose Bob Wills and the Texas Playboys/Tommy Duncan
    San Antonio Rose and Other Hits, Columbia
  • Faded Love Willie Nelson and Ray Price
    San Antonio Rose, Columbia
  • Before the Next Teardrop Falls Freddy Fender
    The Best of Freddy Fender, MCA
  • Wasted Days and Wasted Nights Sir Douglas Quintet
    The Return of Doug Saldaña, Phillips
  • Home in San Antone Buddy Emmons, with Johnny Bush
    Guitar Player Presents: Country, Vol. 2, Rhino
  • Closing Bed: Atotonilco Los Texmaniancs
    Texas Towns and Tex-Mex Sounds, Smithsonian Folkways

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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