Arts
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