Jim Hartel minstrel banjo & Rhiannon Giddens, MUSIC episode 

Rhiannon Giddens' music is the MEDICINE that America needs to cure all her racial strife, and finally be able to embrace the god-granted cultural diversity that has made us unique among all the nations of the world. Folk music, Jazz, Rock and Roll, Levis jeans, the list goes on regarding how the rest of the world has wanted to emulate American art, style and culture. We are in kind of a 'doldrums' period right now, but it could be turned around quick enough with the right people running things, and we could truly be inspiring the world again. ;)

The inclusion of, “no more the moon shines on Lorena,” jig at the beginning is immaculate!

You guys are both National treasures! Love your work.

"Merrywhang / Merry-Whang" - what a brilliant name! Rhiannon Giddens is a musical genius. Look after her, America! Who are those 18 soulless, miserable, benighted oafs who gave this clip the thumbs down?

Wow,you have opened my eyes, mmm, ears,to a beautiful music, such a cool banjo sound and beautiful voice

Wow, that's a crazy good sound ma'am fershur.....u play that boat paddle earnestly.

I had the pleasure of meeting Rhiannon years ago in Montreal at a Carolina Chocolate Drops show. Such an amazingly talented person and super nice and down to earth. Got to meet Don Flemmons too, that guy is rad!

It blows my mind at least once a day when i look at my little washburn and re-realize what an absolute taproot the banjo is in so much of this country's history, and how much of a living allegory it is for so many seemingly-unrelated things.

Hey Yeah !! I am so glad somehow Rhionna's videos showed up in my feed . History, songs, jammin' banjo licks , beautiful voice !!! Blessed we are !!And she's really got it going on !! 😍👏💜

I love the banjo! Americana is a very interesting story. It's also impossible to ignore the tragedies as they show up in subtle ways. I saw Snoop Dogg doing a native American dance at the super bowl half time show. That show was a peice of Americana that could take you down a whole rabbit hole. Just like Ms Gidden's "Julie"

History, the good and the bad, is just that, history. It's important to remember as it was, learn from it, celebrate the good, improve on the bad. Remembering can be painful, but shouldn't be a source of hate for any race of people. None of us are our ancestors. We should be able to talk about the past without it affecting how we treat each other now. No two people are alike, differences can be celebrated along with our similarity. We all humans, we all can be good and bad. We need to love one another. Music should definitely be a part of that!

Thank you so much. It was both beautiful music and educational.

Thanks, beautiful music that’s healing the world. So right on so many levels.

We have a group of old style music players who hold one foot forward to signal the near end of a song. I saw Mrs. Rhiannon doing this near her playing out. Maybe I can get as good one day!!! Skill and talent !! She is the best.

incredible love of music, respect of the history and talent beyond measure

Mr. Hartel, thank you for being part of this a very well done piece. Rhiannon .... 💓🎶〰

Beautiful Lady , brilliant player , awesome instruments :-)

Rhiannon is beautiful and a great musician no doubt.

Ms. Giddens' matter-of-fact view of history without editorializing is especially refreshing. I would bet her feelings run deep about the issues of slavery and mimicking black people, abut she is able to rein it in and talk matter-of-factly about the subject, all the while so coolly and beautifully performing a period piece music art.

Outstanding! Thank you for posting this wonderful early African/American musical fusion story and it’s ongoing evolution. Love Rhiannon Giddens too! 👍🏼💫

she's beautiful! cool picking technique

Lovely video

Well, I learned a lot today.

Amazing - thank you!

Rhiannon ❤️✊🏽🙏🏽

Beautiful

Wow.🖤

Giddens is wonderful

My banjo is number 74. Love it. Wish I could get better playing it. Bruce

I think it is interesting that the CiTonga word for guitar is Banjo

Man we appropriated banjo music too

What she said about people immediately ask: What is that? I want to have that! is 100% true for me. I have to get one.

Does anyone know the title of the banjo piece at the beginning?

is that the leg of the duck at the start?

This video provides some great history and music lessons. It's kind of a shame that we have made "minstrel" into a suspect word, due to its use for and association with these blackface banjo shows and the cartoon images of black people that went along with that. Because Rhiannon Giddens herself exemplifies the original and full sense of that word. A traveller who bears with her, from one place to another, songs, stories, and poems.

Yep, that's really getting close in sound to the Akonting!

❤️

👍👍👍

Evolves me to do your research because the banjo originates from Japan it was modified by the Scott Scott Cyrus and Irish in Celtic clans then it was very popular during the slave days of early America

What are the strings used on the banjo she was playing at 6:18? Can anybody confirm please? Are these the Aquila minstrel 7B or some classical guitar strings?

Rumble do u on Netflix brought me here

Is the guy still alive and how do I contact him for a Banjo Build?

@02:44 the guy on the far right is President W Bush's great times 3 grandpappy.

Slavery wasn't outlawed until mechanization of the early industrial revolution made it unnecessary. It wasn't a big change of heart. Humans always knew slavery was cruel and unfair, a horrible fate. From before the Sumerians to the dawn of mechanization... people kept slaves all over the world. America isn't unique, or especially at fault. The whole human race was morally bankrupt. And it's happening now, in North Korea, and Saudi Arabia, and elsewhere. Slavery isn't dead. Have a nice day.

She better solo

Is that dude playing the chopstick?

These musical instuments used in middle asia and in Turkey before you firstly knew it. You are Poor.

@02:43 Is that President W Bush on the far right? Hmm.

One way she elevates the instrument is by not playing it in the minstrel style, which is pretty boring and inarticulate. The two-finger style she uses for "Julie" brings out the character much better.

I didn't think it was Minstrelsy that set up the American character --- I thought it was the U.S. Constitution, and the struggle to refine our culture in order to manifest to the best of our abilities the principles articulated within it. Which we have probably done better than any nation in the world.

There were never any banjos in Africa; the ancestors of the banjo were there. The İndian tabla descended from the Arabic naqara, the Chinese erhu descended from the Persian kamanchah, the lute/oud, etc. but none of these "came" from the ancestor countries.

I thought they were giving the banjo because they took the drums away because they notice when the slaves beat the drums that they were getting motivated to revolt by the beat motivating them.. so they banned drums and Congo's

"We're not very good at [talking about race in this country]". I don't see why we need to talk about it at all. Why does race matter? It doesn't. Music. Music matters. Just play the music.

It's not "problematic." We're talking about history. Is it "Problematic" that Alexander the Great conquered half the known world? Of course not. It's simply what happened. Move on.