Join us this week for an exploration of the guitar in jazz, blues and country music. We’ll visit with modern jazz guitarist Pat Martino at his home in Philadelphia and find out more about his formulas for playing jazz solos. Then it’s a conversation with up and coming thumbpicking guitarist Ben Hall, who walks us through the Merle Travis songbook.

Celebrate the holiday week as American Routes turns 15! It’s a live show from New Orleans’s legendary Rock N Bowl club, including soul, funk, and R&B heroes Irma Thomas, Ivan Neville, James Rivers, Robert “Barefootin’” Parker, Walter “Wolfman” Washington, and James Andrews all backed by pianist Jon Cleary and band. Also, the new Cajun rock sound from Lost Bayou Ramblers, and the venerable traditional jazz of the Treme Brass Band. Feel free to dance along with the radio!