Gary Muzsynski is a versatile percussionist and entrepreneur and this conversation delves into his experiences playing samba in Brazil, his discovery and exploration of the handpan, and some of his work as an educator in both community music projects and as an innovator using music in the corporate world. We also talked about his beautiful album "Roots and Wings - Medicine Music", which won the Gold Medal Best of Show in the 2021 Global Music Awards and features 25 master musicians from 8 countries. Gary plays several contrasting instruments in different styles during the episode, and timestamps are included below. Like every episode, this is available both as a video and podcast wherever you listen to podcasts, and the transcript is also linked here: https://www.leahroseman.com/episodes/gary-muszynski  

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Timestamps

(00:00) Intro

(01:31) Mbira music

(06:45) Gary’s mentors and training with Community Music: Babatunde Olatunji, David Darling

(09:21) Gary’s childhood and life-changing experience with music

(18:26) early career in St. Louis, going to Brazil and learning Samba

(24:10) Gary’s story about creatively getting a plane ticket to return to Brazil to perform in Carnaval

(28:36) Samba school experiences in Brazil

(38:44) demonstration of some samba rhythms on agogô and surdo

(46:02) Samba in the Midwest, community music making “Sambistas” band

(48:26) Handpan history, different types and demonstration

(01:09:57) about the “Roots and Wings, Medicine Music” album, Global Music Awards winner, Tito La Rosa, Yair Dalal, Varijashree Venugopal

(01:20:07) Gary’s executive and team coaching and how he pivoted to online during 2020

(01:23:14) Community music Babatunde Olatunji

(01:27:29) handpan improvisation

photo: Irene Young