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

SONG MAKERS AND SONG TAKERS: WILLIAM BELL AND CHRIS SMITHER

September 28th, 2016

This week on American Routes, we hear from great songwriters and performers- and those who emulate them. Original songs can take on new form and meaning when interpreted by different voices, and we’ll hear some of those renditions and transformations this week. We’ll hear the rocking Southern sound of the Drive By Truckers covering Bob Dyla, and Ray Charles doing Hank Williams. Our guest William Bell, from Memphis, will tell us all about his music being played by the Byrds, and bluesman Albert King. And we’ll go live on stage in Northampton Massachusetts with New Orleans blues guitarist Chris Smither for songs and stories.

  • Listen to Hour One
  • Listen to Hour Two

HOUR ONE

  • Open Bed: Rent Party Booker T. Jones
    The Road from Memphis, Anti-
  • I Can't Stand the Rain Ann Peebles
    Ann Peebles- St. Louis Woman/Memphis Soul, HiBook Records
  • You Don't Miss Your Water William Bell
    The Complete Stax/Volt Singles: 1959-1968, Atlantic
  • SEGMENT: William Bell

    Listen
  • Instrumental: Willow Weep for Me Booker T. Jones
    Soul Limbo, Stax
  • Cold Cold Heart Dinah Washington
    Jazz Masters 19, Verve
  • Half as Much Ray Charles
    The Complete Country & Western Recordings 1959-1986,
  • Worried Man Blues George Jones
    Winding Stream: The Carters, the Cashes and the Course of Country Music, Omnivore Records
  • Ain't Nobody Dori Freeman
    Dori Freeman, Free Dirt Records
  • 16 Tons Eugene Church
    16 Tons 45 rpm single, King
  • Instrumental: Slim Jenkins' Place Booker T. Jones
    The Complete Stax/Volt Singles: 1959-1968, Atlantic
  • Like a Rolling Stone Drive-By Truckers
    The Fine Print 2003-2008, New West
  • Tonight I'll Be Staying Here with You Esther Phillips
    How Many Roads: Black America Sings Bob Dylan, ACE Records
  • It Ain't Me Babe Johnny Cash
    Orange Blossom Special, Columbia
  • Stuck Inside of Mobile with the (Memphis Blues Again) Bob Dylan
    Blonde on Blonde, Columbia
  • Closing Bed: I Can't Stand the Rain Booker T. Jones
    That's the Way it Should Be, Columbia

HOUR two

  • Open Bed: Statesboro Blues Chris Smithers
    Don't Drag It On, Poppy
  • My Creole Belle Mississippi John Hurt
    Avalon Blues, Origin Records
  • Dixie Flyer Randy Newman
    The Randy Newman Songbook, Vol. 2, Nonesuch
  • Old Jim Crow Nina Simone
    Nina Simone in Concert, Philips Records
  • Okra Olu Dara
    In the World: From Natchez to New York, Atlantic
  • Les Ognons Albert Nicholas and His Creole Serenaders
    Jazz a la Creole, G.H.B. Records
  • Instrumental: Watermelon Man Herbie Hancock
    Takin' Off, Columbia
  • SEGMENT: Chris Smither

    Listen
  • Instrumental: Instrumental, No. 2 Carl Perkins and Scotty Mooe
    The Clasic Carl Perkins, Bear Family
  • Match Box Carl Perkins
    The Classic Carl Perkins, Bear Family
  • Honey Don't Carl Perkins
    The Classic Carl Perkins, Bear Family
  • Everybody's Trying to Be My Baby The Beatles
    Beatles For Sale, Parlophone
  • Homeward Bound Simon & Garfunkel
    Parsley, Sage, Rosemary and Thyme, Columbia
  • American Tune Allen Toussaint
    American Tunes, Nonesuch
  • Closing Bed: St. Charles Street Parade Wardell Quezergue
    After the Math, Jazz Foundation

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

    Listen
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