Mtume returns with a special mixtape featuring Donald Byrd, Marvin Gaye, Billy Paul, Fred Wesley, Lauryn Hill, Seun Kuti, The Notations, Bohannan, Bill Frisell, War, Damond Moodie, Donny Hathaway, and The Dirty Dozen Brass Band. Additionally, we have a Donald Byrd mixtape and selections from a new release from Germany’s Till Bronner. A wonderful week of classic material and covers.

It’s th blues this week, starting with country blues from Mississippi John Hurt and Mississippi Fred McDowell. We then head down under to Australia and pick up on the music of Ash Grunwald and Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu. We close with live tracks from Isaac Hayes doing "Shaft" and "Ain’t No Sunshine." Hey, hey, the blues is alright!

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This week we focus on three artists. First we investigate an icon of the Philly Soul sound, Mr. Billy Paul. Second we hear from the new album of international artist, Ayo. We conclude with a mixtape of Isaac Hayes doing covers including two duets with Dionne Warwick. Enjoy.

What a week of music—14 versions of "St. Louis Blues" featuring (W.C. Handy, Furry Lewis, Carey Bell, Louis Armstrong, Joe Turner, Big Maybelle, Ella Fitzgerald, Duke Ellington, Dizzy Gillespie, Chuck Berry, The Isley Brothers, Oliver Nelson, Regina Carter, Herbie Hancock with Stevie Wonder). Plus Detroit’s Black Bottom Collective and Cape Verdean descendant Sara Tavares.