音乐旅人

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.

The singer-songwriter embodies the unique and profitable symbiotic relationship between the stars of country music and the artists who work behind the scenes to create the words and melodies that power the industry. Some of most prolific and successful songwriters live in and around Nashville, Tennessee. Music Voyager invites four of the very best to trade songs in a "round" for an intimate and rare performance at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum. Revered singer-songwriters Buddy Miller, Darrel Scott, Elizabeth Cook and Guy Clark are featured in this first-ever Music Voyager special.

Nashville is known as “Music City” and this episode of Music Voyager reveals why. Famous as the capital of country music, Nashville is also home to some of the world’s top singer-songwriters, rock and pop bands. No visit to Nashville would be complete without checking out the Grand Ole Opry, and our host is non other then Vince Gill, one of the biggest names in country music. Elizabeth Miller performs for us at a funky bar in East Nashville, the bohemian district that is home to many of the city’s musicians. We check out Music Row, the epicenter of Nashville’s music business with a visit to Compass Records, and then tour Gruhn Guitars, which supplies vintage gear to the world’s top musicians. Virtuoso banjo player Alison Brown demonstrates her musical talents, then Music Voyager visits the legendary Bluebird Cafe where stars such as Garth Brooks and Taylor Swift got their start. We pass by the home of Jamie Johnson from the bluegrass band The Grascals for a moving performance of their hit song “I Am Strong”. Local songwriters Gabe Dixon and Casey Wasner, contemporary blues singer Keb Mo’ and indie rock band Those Darlins show us there is much more to the Nashville scene then country music.

Memphis has played an important role in the history of blues, rock and roll and soul music, not to mention being the hometown of one of popular music’s greatest icons: Elvis. We experience the meeting of young and old generations of the blues when veteran Bobby “Blue” Bland jams with young guitar wizard 17-year old Will Tucker. The elder statesman schools the young Tucker in the finer points of the blues, before a scorching performance at the B.B. King nightclub on Memphis’s famous Beale Street. Brandon Bailey shows us how blues is heading in new directions, with his unique blend of harmonica with beat boxing, and the North Mississippi All Stars give us a down and dirty blues-rock jam at one of Memphis’ hippest record stores. Music Voyager arrives in Memphis during “Elvis Week”, an annual remembrance of the King of Rock and Roll that takes place around the anniversary of his death. We visit Sun Studios, where Elvis made his first recordings, and discover that the studio’s current sound engineer has a great band himself, the Bluff City Backsliders. We attend the candlelight vigil in front of Graceland, and interview some of the thousands of Elvis fans that travel hear from around the world to find out why The King is so special to them, followed by a gospel tribute by the Spirit of Memphis Gospel Ensemble. Music Voyager also explores the sound of Memphis soul music with The Bo-Keys and a visit to the Stax Museum. Young singer-songwriter Amy Lavere demonstrates the diversity of the contemporary Memphis music scene, while up-and-coming hip-hop stars Freesol, who were just signed to Memphis-native Justin Timberlake’s label, discuss the local urban sound.

Music Voyager starts its Tennessee journey in Bristol, a city in the northeast corner of the state that proudly claims to be the Birthplace of Country Music. We visit Georgia Warren, who at 96 years young is the last surviving participant of the legendary “Bristol Sessions” of 1927, which introduced the sounds of Appalachia to a wide audience and set the foundation for the growing popularity of country music across the nation. While in Bristol, we catch a street performance by musical nomads Megan Jean & the KFB and check out the Knoxville band The Black Lillies performing at one of Bristol’s many outdoor concerts. We explore Bristol’s other sites, including the Bristol Motor Speedway, as our host Jacob Edgar tests out a pace car on one of NASCAR’s most exciting tracks. From Bristol, Music Voyager heads to Knoxville for a visit to the legendary “Blue Plate Special”, a live radio program that features the best in local music. Singer-songwriters Scott Miller and R.B. Morris show us around their hometown. We also learn how far Appalachian music has evolved with an unplugged performance by up-and-coming country stars The Roys. Finally, we pass through the revitalized city of Chattanooga, home to the New Binkley Brothers who reveal that old time music isn’t just for old folks. We also meet local dulcimer wizard Dan Landrum who performs with the country rock band Yarn.