Arabs and Jews in Jazz and Blues – and beyond

This American Routes focuses on Jewish, Arab-American, Middle Eastern and Islamic influences on African-American music and culture. Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller talk about how “two young Jewish guys” from the East Coast wrote some of our most memorable songs, like “Hound Dog,” “Yakety Yak” and “I’m a Woman.” Plus: music portraying Old Testament tales in gospel and reggae; Middle Eastern images in jazz and pop; and the impact of Islam on the blues. Also, Atlantic Records founder and Turkish ambassador’s son Ahmet Ertegun looks back on over a half-century producing blues, jazz, R&B, soul and rock.

HOUR ONE

Open Bed: Begin the Beguine Artie Shaw
Battle of the Bands, BMG

Bei Mir Bist du Schon (To Me You Are Beautiful) Klezmer Plus and Michael White
live recording for Folkmasters

Utt-Da-Zay (That's the Way) Cab Calloway and His Orchestra
From Avenue A to the Great White Way, Columbia/Legacy

My Little Cousin Benny Goodman & His Orchestra
From Avenue A to the Great White Way, Columbia/Legacy

Chusen Kalah Mazel Tov Steven Bernstein
Diaspora Soul, Tzadik

Instrumental: Let My People Go Steven Bernstein
Diaspora Soul, Tzadik

Kansas City Wilbert Harrison
The R&B Box: 30 Years of Rhythm & Blues, Rhino

SEGMENT: Leiber & Stoller Part 1

Instrumental: On Broadway Tito Puente
50 Years of Swing, RMM

SEGMENT: Leiber & Stoller Part 2

Moses Smote the Water Golden Gate Quartet
Swing Down, Chariot, Columbia/Legacy

Israel Want Be Free The Ethiopians
Reggae Hit The Town, Trojan

It Ain't Necessarily So Aretha Franklin
The Great Songs of George Gershwin, Columbia

Dixie Flyer Randy Newman
original recording for American Routes

HOUR TWO

Open Bed: Amad Duke Ellington
The Centennial Edition, RCA

Zulu Randy Weston
Uhuru Afrika/Highlife, Roulette

Caravan Ella Fitzgerald
Ella Fitzgerald Sings The Duke Ellington Song Book, Verve

Peculiar Don Vappie & the Creole Jazz Serenaders
Creole Blues, Vapielle

The Sheik of Araby Smiley Lewis
Shame, Shame, Shame, Bear Family

SEGMENT: Ahmet Ertegun

Instrumental: Riders In The Sky Dick Dale
Better Shred Than Dead: The Dick Dale Anthology, Rhino

Chem Ooh Chem John Berberian & The Rock East Ensemble
Middle Eastern Rock, Verve

Miserlou Dick Dale
Better Shred Than Dead: The Dick Dale Anthology, Rhino

Nawiye Ali Farka Toure
Ali Farka Toure, Mango

All Night Long Junior Kimbrough
You Better Run: The Essential Junior Kimbrough, Fat Possum

Lonely Road To Damascus Milt Rogers
Revenge of the Surf Instrumentals, MCA

John Walker's Blues Steve Earle
Jerusalem, Artemis

I Shall Be Released Bob Dylan
Bob Dylan's Greatest Hits Vol.2, Columbia