American Routes is blues and jazz, gospel and soul, rockabilly and country, Cajun and swamp pop, Tejano, Latin… and beyond. Songs and stories from musicians describe a deep and diverse nation with sounds and styles shared by all Americans. From the bayous to the beltways, from crossroads to crosstown, on interstates and city streets, turn up your radio for the sonic journey!
American Routes—produced in New Orleans since 1998
Reimagining Kentucky Country Music & New Orleans Jazz with Kelsey Waldon and Aurora Nealand
July 22, 2026
Country singer Kelsey Waldon grew up in the Ohio River bottoms of Ballard County Kentucky– a place called “Monkey’s Eyebrow” where her family has farmed for generations. She tells us about her journey as a songwriter, and her friendship with another hero of Kentucky, John Prine. Then, a live set of New Orleans jazz and its Caribbean cousins with the widely acclaimed multi-instrumentalist, Aurora Nealand and her quartet at Artisound Studios in New Orleans 9th Ward.
NEXT WEEK
Summer Sounds—Being & Staying Cool
This summer we try to be and stay...cool. Leading our in-crowd is the late pianist and jazz radio host Ramsey Lewis in conversation about blending the blues he heard on the Chicago streets with gospel music from home to create a cool version of jazz. We'll also hear cool words and music from Tom Waits, Dr. John, Aretha Franklin, Albert Murray, and Oscar Brown, Jr. Plus a visit to North Carolina’s historic Black Seabreeze Beach.
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, the late 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, recorded in his 80s with Elvis Costello and toured with Nick Lowe. Plus, music from Nina Simone, Johnny Cash, Little Richard and Marcia Ball.
Remembering Sonny Rollins
Saxophone colossus Sonny Rollins passed away Monday afternoon at his Woodstock, N.Y. home at the age of 95. We spoke with Rollins about his work with Miles and Monk among others, and his improvisatory explorations. You can find that interview here.