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EASTER WITH DONALD HARRISON, JR. AND HOLMES BROTHERS

Easter weekend is a time for reflection and family, and our guests certainly fit the bill. Donald Harrison, Jr. is a saxophone player and New Orleans native. Harrison’s ties to New Orleans run deep, musically and culturally. Wendell and Sherman Holmes, plus longtime friend Popsy Dixon made up the Holmes Brothers, a vocal group best known for putting their personal stamp on blues, gospel, country, pop and more. We revisit our conversation with the brothers about the transition from Christ Church, Virginia to New York and back again to home and family.

DR. LONNIE SMITH AND TERRANCE SIMIEN: KEYS AND SQUEEZE

From the heart of French Louisiana to the streets of New York, American Routes is mixing it up this week with two giants of their genres. We visit with the late jazz great Dr. Lonnie Smith, whose mastery of the music is synonymous with his ever-present Hammond B3 organ. We drop down deep in the pocket with Lonnie, and get keyed in to the past and present of soul and jazz. And out on the Cajun and Creole prairies we drop in on Zydeco accordionist and Grammy award winner Terrance Simien. Plus jazz, blues and country tunes from keyboard masters of all kinds.

ST. PATRICK'S SINGERS, FIDDLERS AND PICKERS FROM IRELAND TO AMERICA

For St Patrick’s, it’s old and new cultural connections of singers, fiddlers and pickers from Ireland to rural and urban America. Reels and jigs for dancing, jazz takes on Irish tunes and songs about love, immigration and drinking from Hank Locklin, The Clancy Brothers and Louis Armstrong. Then a live set from the 80th National Folk Festival exploring the musical connections of Ireland and Appalachia with Irish musicians John Doyle and Seamus Egan and bluegrassers Rob and Ronnie McCoury.

BLUES ROUTES THEN & NOW: WITH A CREOLE & CAJUN LIVE SET FROM CEDRIC WATSON & CHRIS STAFFORD

The blues carry us from back roads to city streets, with heartache and hope in jazz, country and folk music. We’ll hear old field recordings and new commentaries in blues from Cedell Davis, Guitar Slim, Christone “Kingfish” Ingram, Irma Thomas and Lucinda Williams. Then, it’s Cajun, zydeco, waltzes, two-steps and swamp pop soul from Beau Jocque, Clifton Chenier and Carol Fran. Plus an interview and live performance from younger traditionalists Cedric Watson and Chris Stafford on French Louisiana accordion and fiddle in Creole zydeco and Cajun music.