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Jayme Stone Brings African Banjo To TC

http://ipraudio.interlochen.org/Jayme_stone.mp3

By Brad Aspey

Everyone knows the banjo is an American instrument, right? Not so fast. The banjo actually originated in Africa. Once the Canadian banjo virtuoso Jayme Stone learned that, he just had to go to Africa and look for the instrument's roots. He performs in Traverse City tonight.

Jayme Stone didn't know what to expect when he first began playing the banjo to African rhythms with Mansa Sissoko, a West African musician who was visiting Canada. Sissoko's instrument is the kora, a 21-stringed harp from his hometown of Mali, West Africa. But listen to our audio story to hear the result!

Stone's new CD, "Africa to Appalachia," recently won a Juno Award - that's Canada's version of the Grammy. On his West African visit to research the CD, he didn't just hit the standard tourist spots. He wanted to be close to the music and the people, so he also slept on rooftops and roadsides. Homebase was shack adjacent to an African family's house.