Wypr: The Signal Podcast

The banjo has been on a long, strange musical trip since its first appearance in America.  The instrument was first fashioned by enslaved Africans during Colonial times, a musical descendent of their native kora.  From there, the banjo rang out through the hills and hollers of Appalachia, a mournful accompaniment to mountain balladeers.  Meanwhile, the strumming of the plectrum banjo found its way onto early jazz recordings.  Then along came the fast-picking Bluegrass style of Bill Monroe.  Recently, the banjo has been enjoying a warm embrace in the world of contemporary rock music, from Modest Mouse to Mumford & Sons.  Now, local singer / songwriter Jacob Panic is stretching the banjo’s boundaries one step further, and he visits with Signal producer Aaron Henkin… Check out Jacob Panic at: www.facebook.com/jacobpanicmusic and www.jacobpanic.bandcamp.com