Introducing Wavelengths: Exclusive Music Playlists

Jacob Edgar.

In 2012 our founder, Sven Lindblad, a fan of Putumayo World Music, engaged ethnomusicologist, Jacob Edgar, to curate a music program for a 35-day trip up the coast of West Africa. Founder of the record label Cumbancha, host of the TV program Music Voyager, and chief curator of Putumayo, Jacob has a wealth of music knowledge and a passionate conviction about music’s power to enhance the travel experience. “Obviously, there’s the entertainment factor, but it’s more about meeting the people from the country; hearing the music they listen to. You’re hearing music that’s in the local language or that comes from local traditions and history and you can use it as a starting point for all kinds of understanding.” Guests on that expedition enjoyed extraordinary experiences—from front-row seats at a Freshlyground concert in Cape Town with 5,000 local fans in attendance, to an intimate performance in a Dakar nightclub by Senegal’s legendary Orchestra Baobab.

Since then, Jacob has been aboard nearly 50 Lindblad Expeditions voyages worldwide, arranging hundreds of musical performances by world-class local artists and presenting them in unique settings. Last spring when the pandemic halted our travels, Jacob curated a weekly series of Lindblad Virtual Expedition performances presented live on Facebook, by superb musicians from across the globe—lighting up our social media channels with comments from grateful listeners worldwide. This October Jacob will be on our Wild South America: The Guianas To Brazil expedition, bringing aboard a vibrant slate of musicians and offering insights into what local music reveals about the history and culture of the region.

Now, our Wavelengths Expedition Music is available to you anytime, in carefullycurated Spotify and Apple Music playlists. Just remember what Jacob says of the world’s music, “It’s like eating French bread in France: it just tastes better when you are there.” So be sure to join us on an expedition and experience for yourself the magic of music in its natural setting.

Learn more at expeditions.com/wavelengths

Find all Wavelengths playlists on our Spotify and Apple Music channels.