音乐旅人

From bedazzling Tokyo we journey to the region of Tohoku, an area rich with tradition that was devastated by the earthquake and tsunami of 2011. We are invited by Yoshihide Otomo and Riuchi Sakamoto, two of Japan’s most respected and cutting-edge composers, to experience first hand a concert for healing and hope they are leading with an ensemble of local high school students. We explore the coastline near Sendai, visiting with fisherman, students, musicians and even local surfers, whose words of resilience and optimism offers inspiration and confirms the indomitable spirit of the Japanese people.

When visiting Tokyo, it does not take long to realize “you're not in Kansas anymore”. The massive metropolis offer a feast for the senses: blinding neon, the bleeps and blips of Pachinko parlors, adventurous cuisine and music that is experimental, animated, and sometimes, just plain unusual. On this episode of Music Voyager we get a taste of the cultural umami that is Tokyo, and it is voyage of discovery filled with surprises you will never forget. From the outlandish fashion of J-Pop, the surprising pastime of a Japanese jazz giant, Tokyo’s rock guitar superstar and a humorous hip-hop freestyler, we meet the colorful characters that make Tokyo one of the world’s greatest cities. Our journey is powered by ample bowls of delicious ramen noodles, first-class shots of sake and the occasional octopus ball.

Miami is a city that everyone recognizes but few truly know. We’re familiar with its neon glow and beaches lined with golden sands and art deco hotels, but the heartbeat of the city lies in the vibrant multi-cultural communities that call this city home. We explore the fiery sounds of Miami’s electronic dance music scene as well as its Latin and Haitian grooves, with Afrobeta, The Spam All Stars, T-Vice and Locos Por Juana. We get buzzed on Cuban coffee, tour the colorful mural district by bike and take on the daunting Colombian hot dog, enjoying the spontaneous creativity and color that keeps the city pulsing day and night. This is Miami like you have never seen, or heard, before.

Music Voyager heads to Hollywood. Not the one with movie stars and film studios, we're exploring the other city called Hollywood...in Florida. Hollywood, Florida is often overshadowed by its flashier neighbor to the south, Miami Beach. Yet this Hollywood has been letting the world know that it has something special to offer visitors and it is using music to tell its story…and build a stronger community at the same time. We've always been fascinated by the ways in which you can visit almost anyplace in the world and with a little digging find a harvest of musical riches. Our adventures in Hollywood, Florida include a conversation and performance with Spanish superstar Antonio Carmona who is in town for the Viva Florida 500 concert commemorating the arrival of Spanish explorer Ponce de Leon, a chat with renowned music-inspired muralist and painter Lebo, a Cuban cigar bar escapade with local musician Eddie Balzola and a visit to Resurrection Drums, one of the country’s premier drum shops. Along the way we discover Hollywood’s cuisine, beaches and thriving nightlife.

There are lots of places in the world to spend some quality time at the beach.  But there are few that combine natural beauty, local cuisine, dynamic culture and nightlife with a history that goes back thousands of years.  We’re not in the Caribbean, the south of France, Rio or even the Greek Isles - we’re in Izmir, Turkey - a beach resort region on the eastern end of the Aegean Sea that is a popular summer hotspot. And with major music venues in Istanbul setting up summer stages here, this is where you need to come in the summer to hear live Turkish music and dance to top DJs. We meet Can Bonomo, Turkey’s recent entry to the Eurovision Song Contest and a teen heartthrob, who takes us to his favorite street food and pickle juice stand. After giving windsurfing a try and exploring the ancient ruins of Ephesus, we connect with Huseyin Karadayi, one of Turkey’s most popular DJs. Karadayi reveals the secrets of Turkish techno and shows us his favorite Istanbul restaurant and music store.

On this episode of Music Voyager we explore Turkey’s mystical side, from trance-inducing whirling dervishes and surreal landscapes to trippy Turkish Psychedelic Rock. Murat Ertel of the band Baba Zula describes their sound as “modern Istanbul space music” and he takes us on a road trip up the Bosphorus and back to the group’s explosively colorful studio located in a quirky artist’s community. Inspired by the influential Turkish Psych Rock sound of the 1960s, Baba Zula’s electric folk grooves underlay a visit to an Istanbul hookah bar and a trip down the rabbit hole to Cappadocia, home to some of the world’s most unusual geological formations. There we meet innovative clarinet player Serkan Çagri, experience a sensual belly dance demonstration, and dine on delicious local cuisine. We end our mind-altering journey soaring above Cappadocia’s legendary “fairy chimneys” in a hot air balloon.

The crossroads of the Bosphorous strait has cultivated civilizations for thousands of years, giving rise to a sprawling metropolis that has nurtured a variety of religions, cultures, languages, cuisine … and has a rhythm that is all its own. This is Istanbul -  The City of the World’s Desire, and we’ll be checking out its sights...and sounds on this episode of Music Voyager. Creative pop star Nil Karaibrahimgil takes us to her favorite trendy boutique, treats us to unplugged performances of some her best-known songs and gives us an exclusive invitation to her private residence where we see firsthand how Turkish pop stars live. And famed clarinetist Hüsnü Şenlendirici invites us to picturesque Maiden’s Island for a jam session by the sea. We toast our exploration of Istanbul’s past and future with a hearty glass of raki, the famed Turkish liqueur, as we are serenaded by street musicians at a traditional Istanbul cafe.

Tel Aviv, Israel’s biggest city, is a vibrant and striking blend of old and new. From the ancient port of Jaffa to modern skyscrapers and trendy nightclubs, Tel Aviv is the epicenter of Israel’s arts scene and most of the country’s top musicians live in and around the city. Music Voyager meets Ehud Banai, the revered singer-songwriter who comes from one of Israel’s most important musical families. Ehud invites us to a mountaintop park overlooking the Tel Aviv skyline where he performs his song “Caananite Blues”. We then meet Karolina, a hip and popular singer with an outstanding head of a hair and a voice to match. Karolina takes us around the artistic and picturesque Neve Tzedek neighborhood ending up with an intimate performance in her living room. We visit musician, producer and remixer Kutiman, who reveals the secrets of his famous YouTube mashups. Music Voyager host Jacob Edgar’s quest for the best hummus in Israel is finally rewarded at Tel Aviv’s legendary Abu Hassan restaurant, where hungry throngs assemble for a taste of their beguiling garbanzos. Finally, we join quirky Balkan surf-rock band Boom Pam in the recording studio before hitting the clubs of Tel Aviv as they take us to some of their favorite nightlife spots.

Music Voyager travels to Jerusalem and northern Israel to discover the sights and sounds of a region rich with ancient history and religious significance. Israel is a land of contrasts and conflicts: between tradition and modernity, war and peace, spirituality and secularism. The popular band Hadag Nahash blends hip-hop, funk and soul with politically expedient Hebrew lyrics to draw attention to the complex issues facing Israeli society. The band gives Music Voyager a stripped down performance at the picturesque Mahane Yehuda market in Jersualem, then invites us for drinks and conversation at the lead singer’s pub. We visit leading Shephardic singer Yasmin Levy at her home on the outskirts of the city, where she performs songs in the Spanish-derived Ladino language. Leading singer-songwriter David Broza invites to visit a village devoted to peace between Arabs and Jews that was founded by his grandfather. Broza performs amidst the vines of his family winery, then takes us to an informal jam session with Palestinian musicians in East Jerusalem. We travel to the Galilee region of northern Israel for a visit to Tzfat, an epicenter of the mystical Kaballah and the world’s largest klezmer music festival. Music Voyager journeys to the ancient and scenic port of Akko, before meeting up with Israeli star Mosh Ben-Ari for an unplugged performance in the magnificent Roman Theater at Caesarea. Mosh takes us to his home and farm where we learn of his love for the land and the importance of agriculture in the history and identity of Israelis.

Music Voyager travels to Israel to attend a once-in-a-lifetime concert of The Idan Raichel Project at the foot of the magnificent “Solomon’s Pillars”, a natural rock formation in the Negev Desert near the Red Sea resort city of Eilat. Our guide is Idan Raichel, an internationally renowned star of the Israeli music scene. At the technical rehearsals and sound check for the desert concert we are introduced to the artists featured on stage. Idan performs with Cape Verdean singer Mayra Andrade on the edge of a stunning cliff. Ravid Kahalani performs in an unplugged session with members of his side project Yemen Blues and tells us about the unique history and music of the Yemenite community. Cabra Casey, another lead voice in the Idan Raichel Project, introduces us to the fascinating story of Israel’s Ethiopian immigrants. 

Idan takes us to the Dead Sea, where host Jacob Edgar interviews Idan while they are floating in the salty waters. Idan and Music Voyager travel to Jerusalem for a visit to the Wailing Wall and a magnificent private home overlooking the Old City. The episode culminates with a song featuring the full project from the live concert in the desert.