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

BAD LUCK / GOOD LUCK

September 26th, 2001

Baton Rouge bluesman Henry Gray, composer of “I’m a Lucky, Lucky Man,” plays piano and tells tales of life’s downs and ups from humble beginnings to reknown as a musician. Guitarist and singer John Hammond Jr. was born into an urbane East Coast family with music business connections, but chose the country blues as a way of life. He speaks about his travels and fortunes as a musician, and his recent collaboration with Tom Waits. Plus we visit with the fortune teller, light a candle, and ask you to listen for the luckiest music mix in the world.

  • Listen to Hour One
  • Listen to Hour Two

HOUR ONE

  • Wheel of Fortune Little Jimmy Scott
    Everybody's Somebody's Fool, Decca
  • Never Get Out of this World Alive Delta Rhythm Boys
    The Jive is Jumpin': RCA & Bluebird Vocal Groups, 1939-52, West Side
  • Never Get Out of this World Alive Hank Williams
    The Compete Hank Williams, Mercury
  • Gambler's Yodel Doc Watson
    Ballads from Deep Gap, Vanguard
  • I'm a Bad Luck Woman Memphis Minnie
    Hoodoo Lady 1933-1937, Sony
  • Instrumental: Sahara Mac ‘Dr. John' Rebennack
    Dr. John: Medical School, MCI
  • SEGMENT: Sandra Blenden and Felix Figueroa of F&F Botanica and Candle shop

    Listen
  • Fortune Teller Benny Spellman
    Minit Records Story, EMI
  • Four Leaf Clover ReBirth Brass Band
    Do Whatcha Wanna, Mardi Gras
  • Invocando a Chango Ernesto Lecuona and the Lecuona Cuban Boys
    Mambo Cubano: The Golden Age of Cuban Music 1940-1960, Proper/Retro
  • Fallaste Corazón Cuco Sanchez
    Mexicanisimo: 24 Exitos, CBS International
  • Instrumental: Klezmer Dances: Introduction Los Angeles Guitar Quartet
    L.A.G.Q., Sony Classical
  • Dear Someone Gillian Welch
    Time (The Revelator), Acony
  • Stones In My Passway John Hammond
    The Best of, Vanguard
  • INTERVIEW: John Hammond Jr

    Listen
  • Happy Go Lucky Local Duke Ellington
    Blues Masters Vol.13: New York City Blues, Rhino

HOUR two

  • Open Bed: Mr. Lucky Si Zentner
    Ultra Lounge Vol. 13: TV Town, Capitol
  • Stormy Monday Them
    Them Featuring Van Morrison, London
  • Stormy Monday Lou Rawls
    Anthology, Capitol
  • I'm Just a Lucky So and So Ella Fitzgerald
    The Very Best of Ella, Decca
  • I'm Just a Lucky So and So Eddie Lockjaw Davis
    Giants of the Blues & Funk Tenor Sax, Fantasy
  • Mean Old World Little Walter
    The Essential, MCA/Chess
  • Mean Old World Sam Cooke
    Night Beat, Abkco
  • Instrumental: Slim's Shout Sunnyland Slim
    Slim's Shout, Fantasy
  • INTERVIEW: Henry Gray

    Listen
  • I Ain't Superstitious Howlin' Wolf
    His Best: Chess 50th Anniversary Collection, MCA
  • I Had My Chance Morphine
    Yes, Rykodisc
  • Instrumental: Feelin' Bad Blues Ry Cooder
    music by Ry Cooder, Warner Bros
  • Nobody Knows the Trouble I've Seen The Staple Singers
    Great Day, Milestone
  • Rolling Stone Bob Marley & The Wailers
    Wailing Wailers at Studio One, Vol.2, Heartbeat
  • Ol' 55 Tom Waits
    Closing Time, Asylum
  • That Lucky Old Sun (Just Rolls Around) Jerry Lee Lewis
    Classics Box, Bear Family
  • Close bed: I'm Just a Lucky So and So Yusef LaTeef
    The Riverside Records Story, Riverside

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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