Ozan Baysal is a Turkish bağlama (saz) player, composer and performer, specializing in şelpe – an Anatolian bağlama performance technique that dispenses with a plectrum. Having played the instrument from a very early age, much of his music is a synthesis of traditional bağlama şelpe performance practices and harmonic practices in tonal and jazz music. After first studying at Istanbul Technical University, Centre for Advanced Studies in Music (MIAM), Ozan is now a visiting scholar at SOAS, University of London. Find out more about Ozan, the bağlama, and all things Anatolian music at our website Rootsmusicpod.com.  Thanks for listening!

On this week's episode, we dive into the mysterious and spiritual world of Gnawa music. Born and raised in Agadir, Morocco, Samir Langus learned how to play Gnawa music from the Gnawa masters and is now paving a musical path for himself in New York City. He is a grammy nominated artist who has collaborated across a variety of genres from electronic to rock to jazz.  To find out more about Samir and Gnawa music visit our website https://www.rootsmusicpod.com/.  Thanks for listening!

On today's episode, we speak with Julia Kozáková - a Slovakian singer specializing in musics of the Roma people. She speaks with us about her history with the musical culture, how Roma music differs based on geographical location, and she even teaches Alex a bit of singing!    Learn more about Julia and all of her amazing projects at our website Rootsmusicpod.com.

Happy New Year! This week, Yangqin player, Reylon Yount, discusses Chinese musics and how the Yangqin has evolved in the 21st century. His transcultural musicality guides listeners into a space beyond familiar boundaries of genre, geography, and even gender identity.  Find out more about Reylon and all of their incredible work at our website Rootsmusicpod.com.

To end the first season of "Roots," we were lucky enough to speak with Tony Overwater, an award winning bass player from the Netherlands whose sound blends jazz and music from the Middle East. What transpires is an enlightening conversation about hope, acceptance, and the transformative power of music. Thank you for listening to the first season and please check back in the new year for new episodes!

Welcome back! This week, banjo virtuoso Hilary Hawke takes us into the Appalachian Mountains to talk about the history of the banjo and the musical traditions that surround it.  Find out more about Hilary, the banjo, and the musical traditions discussed in this week's episode at our website Rootsmusicpod.com. Thanks for listening!

Ethnomusicologist and expert tabla player, Mohanish Jaju, talks to us about the tabla and Northern Indian musical traditions.    For more information about Mohanish, the tabla, or the traditions we discussed in the episode, check out our website Rootsmusicpod.com.

This week, "Roots" travels to Serbia where multi-genre musician Aleksandra Denda speaks with us about Serbian Women's Songs and her traditional music group, ROSA.    Head to our website, www.rootsmusicpod.com, for more information about Aleksandra, ROSA, and to listen to more examples of this musical tradition.

Episode 1! We are joined by Kadialy Kouyate - a multifaceted musician born into the great line of Kouyate Griots in southern Senegal. In this episode, you will learn all about the griot tradition, the kora, and Kadialy's musical journey.

Trailer for "Roots: A Music Podcast."