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
Family Harmony
November 26, 2025
Join us around the piano for a good helping of family harmonies, led by the Haden Triplets and their father, the late jazz bassist Charlie Haden. Then, get down to the sounds of Tupelo, Mississippi’s Homemade Jamz Blues Band, featuring the Perry brothers and their sister Taya on drums. Plus, music from famous family bands and songs about grandmas, cousins and long lost relatives — all of whom we expect to hear from at Thanksgiving dinner.
NEXT WEEK
Breaking Out: British Blues To New Orleans Bounce
From Great Britain to the Big Easy, we explore the sounds of musical and social breakouts. First, we hear how British blues pioneer John Mayall broke out of England with his band the Bluesbreakers, bringing British blues to a larger audience. We’ll hear some of Mayall’s sources and contemporaries, like Big Maceo and Eric Clapton. Then, it’s butt shakes and backbeats with Big Freedia, the Queen Diva of New Orleans Bounce, a rhythmic dance music with sources in hip hop and rap, as well as much earlier jazz and R&B. We’ll explore some of those sources, and strut with Kermit Ruffins and Sam Morgan, head “Down Yonder” with Smiley Lewis, and “Take it to the Street” with Rebirth Brass Band.
Memphis’ Hi Records – Stories and Music from Al Green, Willie Mitchell, Don Bryant, Rev. Charles Hodges and Archie “Hubbie” Turner
We’ll go up the Mississippi to another great river city of music: Memphis. Known for rhythm & blues, gospel, soul and roots, rock n roll-- and landmark record labels: Sun, Stax and Hi Records. On this visit, we’ll listen to the work of Hi Records producer/arranger/trumpeter Willie Mitchell and talk to members of the Hi Rhythm section: Rev. Charles Hodges and Archie “Hubbie” Turner, plus an archival conversation with the man with the most hits for Hi Records, Al Green. Then more memories of those days with old school singer and prolific songwriter Don Bryant, who got his start with Willie Mitchell and, in his ‘70s, returned to the studio, cutting records with lots of soul.
Remembering Jimmy Cliff
Jimmy Cliff, the global reggae star whose career was launched by the iconic film and soundtrack, The Harder They Come, passed away at age 81 On November 24, 2025.