Making Something Out of Nothing My grandmother Carrie Thomas frequently said to me whenever she was unsure of the outcome of a project, “Theda baby,... Read More
Our regular readers know this already: we started a podcast to celebrate the rich African-American culture. Every month, we feature one legend from our rich... Read More
The Seasoned Woman Speaks, Part Two
1 min read
A sweet and salty narrative from the honest heart of a Black woman with her take on January 6, 2021.... Read More
ROUTES is fortunate to get this chance to interview the new Artistic Director of the New Federal Theatre in New York, Elizabeth Van Dyke. Meet... Read More
Actress Cicely Louise Tyson’s Higher Ground
6 min read
Ms. Cicely Louise Tyson (December 19, 1924 – January 28, 2021) We waited in long lines — along streets and avenues in the village of... Read More
Our regular readers know, we started a podcast to celebrate the rich African-American culture. Every month, we feature one legend from our rich history. The... Read More
It’s African-American History Month 2021!
8 min read
We planned to publish a list of notable African-Americans to celebrate. There are so many — most of them unknown to the general public and... Read More
An African-American Role Model
1 min read
Hey Friends, Do you have an African-American person in your life that really has made a difference in your life? Well known or not. Would... Read More

Musicians Launch “Dear American Orchestras” Campaign
Pianist Kenny Barron is an exceptionally creative musician
A Night of Jazz, Legacy, and the Unexpected at Unterfahrt
Cultural Wrap-Up May 23, 2025 | Patti LaBelle …
✨Cultural Wrap-Up: James Brown, Friday, May 2, 2025
✨ Cultural Wrap-Up: Duke Ellington, Aretha Franklin, Muddy Waters – April 29, 2025
February 28: Sarah Vaughan
February 25: Paul Robeson
February 23: Marian Anderson
February 22: Berry Gordy
February 20: Duke Ellington
February 19: Nina Simone: The Power of Protest Through Music
February 18: Bessie Smith: Jazz’s First Superstar
February 17: Thomas A. Dorsey
February 16: Ma Rainey
February 15: John Coltrane
February 14: Scott Joplin
February 12: Art Tatum
Fatoumata Diawara: A Fusion of Tradition and Modernity
February 11. Ella Fitzgerald
February 8: Louis Armstrong
February 2: Mahalia Jackson
Sylvester: Beyond the Gimmick | 1980-1-1
The Ntu Sound Chamber: A Spiritual Jazz Journey with WDR Big Band and Nduduzo Makhathini
Music: WRVR-FM JAZZ RADIO | 8/1978
Part 3. – Miles Davis and the Evolution of Jazz Fusion from Classical Roots
Part 2. — How the Modern Jazz Quartet Blended Jazz and Classical Music to Create Something Timeless
Part I. Blending Jazz and Classical Music: Schuller, Davis, and MJQ
Introducing the Series: Jazz at the Crossroads of Innovation
🎉 Happy Birthday to the Legendary James Mtume! 🎶
February 26: Sidney Poitier
February 25: Paul Robeson
February 6: Lorraine Hansberry
George C. Wolfe: Shaping American Theater with Unapologetic Truth
James Augustus Van Der Zee — Harlem Renaissance Historian
February 4: Augusta Savage
February 1: Jacob Lawrence
✨ Sneak Peek Alert! ✨— Jacob Lawrence
New ROUTES Podcast Episode featuring Joe Louis is out!