Will The Circle Be Unbroken: Country Strings and Jazz Vibes
We'll re-visit the moment when the "California long-hairs" took over a Nashville studio to pay tribute to aging country heroes. American Routes look back at the 1972 LP Will The Circle Be Unbroken with John McEuen of the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band and his memories of those historic sessions. Then, a conversation with another musician familiar with Nashville - jazz vibraphone master Gary Burton. Plus a visit with Jake Shimabukuro, for whom any genre is a fine match for the ukelele.
From Backroads to Backatown: Drive-By Truckers and Trombone Shorty
Follow American Routes as we travel the back roads for some new Southern sounds. The Drive-By Truckers have been up and down the highways since the mid-90s, delivering their unique mix of social commentary, old-fashioned storytelling and rock n’ roll, between stops in their hometowns of Muscle Shoals, AL and Athens, GA. We sit down with the band in uptown New Orleans to learn more about their journey in music and fascination with the South. Then we head backatown to catch up with New Orleans’ own Troy Andrews, a.k.a. Trombone Shorty, to hear about how he mixes trad jazz, rock and hip-hop to create ‘Superfunkrock.’
Chuck Leavell & Jon Cleary
Meet two piano professors from the South with two differing styles. First up, from Macon, GA,
Chuck Leavell
has played in more than a few of Rock's most iconic bands, from the Allman Brothers to the Rolling Stones. And while piano might be his day job, he's also a keeper of a Georgia forest and an honorary forest ranger! We talk to Chuck about his love of the keys and the trees. Then, it's a lesson in New Orleans funk a la keyboard with
Jon Cleary
, who breaks down the elements and reveals the Latin tinge to New Orleans piano favorites.