“In the history of American radio, no series has come close to Nick Spitzer’s American Routes in exploring the many streams of this nation’s music.”
— Nat Hentoff, Wall Street Journal
American Routes is a weekly two-hour public radio program produced in New Orleans, presenting a broad range of American music — blues and jazz, gospel and soul, old-time country and rockabilly, Cajun and zydeco, Tejano and Latin, roots rock and pop, avant-garde and classical. Now in our 15th year on the air, American Routes explores the shared musical and cultural threads in these American styles and genres of music — and how they are distinguished.
The program also presents documentary features and artist interviews. Our conversations include Willie Nelson, Tom Waits, B.B. King, Dr. John, Dave Brubeck, Abbey Lincoln, Elvis Costello, Ray Charles, Randy Newman, McCoy Tyner, Lucinda Williams, Rufus Thomas, Jerry Lee Lewis and many others. Join us as we ride legendary trains, or visit street parades, instrument-makers, roadside attractions and juke joints, and meet tap dancers, fishermen, fortunetellers and more.
The songs and stories on American Routes describe both the community origins of our music, musicians and cultures — the “roots”— and the many directions they take over time — the “routes.”
Rebroadcast of first hour every Saturday at 7:00am.
Upcoming Episodes
February 8, 2025 Americana/Roots, Music
American Routes: New Orleans Jazz Clarinet, Mande Songs & Louisiana Zydeco Live
It’s New Orleans jazz clarinet in street parades and clubs. We’ll hear clarinet in the hands of past and present legends: George Lewis, Sidney Bechet, Dr. Michael White and Aurora Nealand, plus a conversation with a sometime New Orleans clarinet virtuoso, Evan Christopher. Then, a live cultural exchange between French Louisiana and West Africa with singer, percussionist and dancer Sidiki Conde from Guinea and zydeco accordionist, cultural historian and sometime alligator wrangler, Bruce “Sunpie” Barnes.
Read MoreFebruary 1, 2025 Americana/Roots, Music
American Routes: Eclectic Excellence – Pittsburgh Guitarist George Benson & New Orleans Clarinetist Aurora Nealand
We explore eclectic excellence with African American jazz guitar elder George Benson, who started with guitar/organ trios and has a signature sound for the ages. Then young clarinet/sax virtuoso Aurora Nealand plays traditional and modern jazz, and more, crediting Stravinsky, New Orleans Sidney Bechet and “hippie parents” for inspiration. Plus music from BB King, Louis Prima, Ella Fitzgerald and Chet Atkins.
ListenJanuary 25, 2025 Americana/Roots, Music
American Routes: True Believers and Hardworking Troubadours: Post-Punk Folksinger, Lee Bains, & Swamp Pop Hero, Tommy McLain
It’s true believers and hardworking troubadours. First, Lee Bains, Birmingham, Alabama’s post-punk folk singer whose songs seek social justice, inclusive humanity and protection of the environs as a sacred quest. Then, octogenarian Louisiana Swamp Pop hero Tommy McLain, who brought his classic ‘60s songs and music mix of country, blues, rock, and gospel to clubs and casinos, now recording with Elvis Costello and touring with Nick Lowe. Plus music from Nina Simone, Johnny Cash, Little Richard and Marcia Ball.
ListenJanuary 18, 2025 Americana/Roots, Music
American Routes: MLK Day with the Gullah Geechee Ring Shouters
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s dream was first shared in words. We’ll hear it in music from the Staple Singers, Stevie Wonder, Nina Simone and Bob Dylan, plus classic jazz, reggae and a new generation of singers: the Carolina Chocolate Drops, Norah Jones and Questlove. Then, songs, rhythms and histories from the Georgia Sea Islands Gullah Geechee Ring Shouters.
Read MoreJanuary 11, 2025 Americana/Roots, Music
American Routes: New Orleans Traditional Jazz Live with Dr. Michael White and the Original Liberty Jazz Band–Jazz Manouche from Christine Tassan et les Imposteures
It’s an American Routes Live session of New Orleans Traditional Jazz with Dr. Michael White, the beloved clarinetist leading the Original Liberty Jazz Band, in concert and conversation. Then, we explore the world of Jazz Manouche and its late leading influence, guitarist Django Reinhardt and his historic recordings with violinist Stepháne Grapelli from the Quintette du Hot Club de France. We also visit with a contemporary women's Jazz Manouche band from Quebec: Christine Tassan et les Imposteures. Plus music influenced by Django Reinhardt from Willie Nelson, Bob Wills, the Modern Jazz Quartet, and the Hot Club of Cowtown.
Read MoreJanuary 4, 2025 Americana/Roots, Music
American Routes: A Grateful Journey: Remembering Kris Kristofferson
A conversation with a man of many talents: songwriter, actor, boxer, military man, among many titles, the late Kris Kristofferson, reflecting on his life in music, his songwriting craft, and the nature of gratitude for his life’s adventures.
Read MoreDecember 28, 2024 Americana/Roots, Music
American Routes: Remembering Allen Toussaint: A Saint for All Seasons
We celebrate the songmaker, piano “professor” and producer from New Orleans who passed away suddenly in November, 2015. A beloved Creole gentleman, Allen Toussaint was a hometown hero and giant on the American music scene. He wrote over 800 songs and produced regional and national hit records such as “Java” (Al Hirt), “Mother-in-Law” (Ernie KDoe), “I Like it Like That” (Chris Kenner), “It’s Raining” (Irma Thomas), “Yes We Can” (Lee Dorsey) among others. Toussaint worked closely with the Meters, Neville Brothers, Dr. John, Paul McCartney and Elvis Costello. He is in the Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Fame and received the National Medal of Arts. Allen Toussaint’s famed autobiographical song is “Southern Nights.”
Read MoreDecember 21, 2024 Americana/Roots, Music
American Routes: Sounds of Winter Solstice and the Holidays
Read MoreDecember 14, 2024 Americana/Roots, Music
American Routes: New Orleans Tunes and Talk with Wendell Brunious & Comedy and Critique from Susan Werner
We go where the music leads us, first live at home with trumpeter Wendell Brunious and his New Orleans All Stars. Wendell is from a famed New Orleans Creole jazz family and is now the music director of Preservation Hall. Then we visit with the eccentric and witty songmaker and multi-instrumentalist Susan Werner with roots in rural Iowa. Susan’s stories in song are comedic and serious takes on religion, queerness, climate change and social responsibility. Plus words and music from Big Mama Thornton, Ella Fitzgerald, Johnny Cash and the Five Satins.
Read MoreDecember 7, 2024 Americana/Roots, Music
American Routes: North American Routes from South Louisiana to Cape Breton with the Savoy-Doucet Cajun Band and Beòlach
We’re rolling out New Orleans Creole and Cajun Francité and soul. We’ll hear music from The Meters, Kid Ory, and Carol Fran… plus the Savoy-Doucet Cajun Band live at the French Market in New Orleans. Then, we head to Cape Breton Island in Maritime Canada for a visit with fiddler Wendy MacIsaac of the band Beòlach, along with other Nova Scotia Scots Gaelic classics… and finally some down home American folks.
Read MoreNovember 30, 2024 Americana/Roots, Music
American Routes: Thanksgiving with the 2024 National Heritage Fellows
This Thanksgiving, we celebrate the 2024 National Endowment for the Arts National Heritage Fellows. Each year since 1982, the program has recognized artistic excellence, lifetime achievement, and contributions to the nation's traditional arts heritage. This year’s fellows include rockabilly country musician, Rosie Flores; carousel restorationist, Todd Goings; Cambodian dancer and costume maker, Sochietah Ung; Chicago tap dancer, Bril Barrett; Arkansas community activist, Pat Johnson; Navajo/Diné quilter, Susan Hudson; Gwich’in fiddler, Trimble Gilbert; Zuni dancers and singers, the Zuni Olla Maidens; Chicano muralist from Los Angeles, Fabian Debora; and koto player, June Kuramoto. Plus, music from past fellows, including live sets from New Orleans’ clarinetist, Dr. Michael White, Cajun fiddler Michael Doucet and his band, Beausoleil, and sacred steel masters, the Campbell Brothers.
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