BROWSE BY DATE

SUPPORT GREAT STORYTELLING

We rely on your support to remain on air and online. Your contribution helps us bring you interviews with great American artists and the carefully curated music mix that you’ve enjoyed over the years.

Donate

 

AMERICAN ROUTES ON INSTAGRAM

LAZY LESTER / RANDY WESTON

American Routes settles back into the groove with the mellow music and words of our guest Lazy Lester: a hardworking bluesman from Louisiana’s provincial capitol of Baton Rouge. Then a tour of the world of African and African-American music from Morocco to Brooklyn with jazz pianist Randy Weston. Plus, author Jason Berry on the transformation of New Orleans’ Congo Square from a historical trading post to a center for emerging jazz artists.

HOUR ONE

  • Opening Bed: Niger Mambo Randy Weston
    African Cookbook,
  • The Congo-Conga Cab Calloway
    1938-39, Jazz Classics
  • Dejate Llevar Guitarras Y Trovadores
    Africa en America, Corason
  • Coo Coo Bird Rufus Kasey
    Black Banjo Songsters of North Carolina & Virginia, Folkways
  • Take This Hammer Taj Mahal & Toumani Diabate
    Kulanjan, Rounder
  • SEGMENT: Lion Sleeps Tonight
  • Mbube Solomon Linda and the Evening Birds
    Secret Museum of Mankind Vol.4, Yazoo
  • Wimoweh The Weavers
    Best of the Decca Years, MCA
  • The Lion Sleeps Tonight The Tokens
    Folk Song America, Smithsonian
  • Table Mountain Miriam Makeba & The Skylarks
    Best Of, Camden
  • Instrumental: Observation Is No Crime Fela and Afrika 70
    Zombie, MCA
  • SEGMENT: Randy Weston

    Listen
  • Caravan Duke Ellington
    Centennial Edition: Complete RCA Victor Recordings, RCA
  • A Night In Tunisia June Christy
    Big Band Specials, Capitol

HOUR two

  • Keep Oil In Your Vessels Clouds of Heaven
    Saints' Paradise, Folkways
  • Oil In My Lamp The Ska Kings
    Roots of Reggae Vol.1: Ska, Rhino
  • Instrumental: Wheel and Turn Frank Anderson & Tommy McCook
    Ska Bonanza: The Studio One Ska Years, Heartbeat
  • SEGMENT: Jason Berry on Congo Square and Julita Berard, Sidney Bechet's sister's granddaughter

    Listen
  • Magic Island Sidney Bechet
    1938-40, Jazz Clasics
  • Glory, Glory / Jesus on the Mainline Rebirth Brass Band
    We Come To Party, Shanachie
  • Open Bed: Lazy Bones Herbie Mann
    Sultry Serenade, Jazz Classics
  • They Call Me Lazy Lazy Lester
    The Excello Story Vol.2, Hip-O
  • Lazybones Leon Redbone
    On the Track, Warner
  • Rockin' Chair Mills Brothers
    Their Original & Greatest Hits, Jasmine
  • Instrumental: Congo Mambo Guitar Gable & The Musical Kings
    The Excelo Story, Vol. 2 1955-1957, Hip-O
  • INTERVIEW: Lazy Lester

    Listen
  • Louisiana Blues Muddy Waters
    Rollin Stone, MCA
  • Red China Blues Miles Davis
    Get Up With It, Sony
  • Get Behind The Mule Tom Waits
    Mule Variations, Epitaph
  • Blues Hangover Slim Harpo
    The Best Of, Hip-O
  • Moody Blues Slim Harpo
    Sings Raining In My Heart, Hip-O
  • Un Autre Soir D'Ennui (another lonely night) Belton Richard
    The Essential Belton Richard Cajun Music Collection, Swallow
  • I'm so Lonesome I Could Cry Willie Nelson
    Classic & Unreleased, Rhino
  • Funny How Time Slips Away Al Green
    Call Me, Hi
  • Just a Little While to Stay Here Mahalia Jackson
    The Best Of, Sony
  • As Time Goes By Billie Holiday
    Complete Commodore Recordings, GRP
  • End Bed: As Time Goes By Erroll Garner
    Now Playing: A Night at the Movies, Telarc

THE LATEST STREAMS