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New Majid Bekkas album celebrating the 20th anniversary of African Gnaoua Blues.
Album Release : 04/11/2022
℗ & © 2022 IGLOO Records
Majid Bekkas • composition, gembri, oud, guitar, Ngoni, kalimba, balafon, bouzouki, chant
Manuel Hermia • saxophones, bansuri
Michael Hornek • piano
Childo Tomas • bass
Karim Ziad • drums
Khalid Kouhen • percussions
Bouhssine Foulane • ribab
Adil Chorfi • nei
Mustafa Antari • derbouka, rik
Biboul Darwiche • congas
Mbemba Diabate • kora
Gnaoua Chaouki • choir
Marylène Ingremeau • choir
Creator of "The African Gnaoua Blues", Majid Bekkas is the ambassador of this form of musical expression resulting from spiritual music of Gnaoui trance, mixed with jazz and blues from African sources.
Originally from Zagora at the gates of the Sahara where the music of the desert, the rhythms of Aqallal or Roukba cradled his childhood,
Majid Bekkas has carefully kept a spirit of authenticity regarding the preservation and safeguarding of Gnaoui music whose secrets he has pierced, and the intrinsic vision of its universality.
With this new project, he is celebrating the 20th anniversary of his eponymous album "African gnaoua blues". A return to basics in the company of musicians and friends accustomed to this kind of musical and human adventure, for a journey to the gates of the desert.
Manuel Hermia, Belgian saxophonist & flutist, passionate about encounters with other musical cultures (Indians, Africans….), partner of Majid on the album “Al Qantara” (Igloo 2015) Coup de cœur of the Charles Cros academy.
Childo Tomas, bassist from Mozambique who shares the stage with pianist Omar Sosa in the “Afro Cubano” quartet.
Karim Ziad, Algerian drummer, great specialist in Maghreb rhythms, Gnaoua and world music alongside Jo Zawinul, Cheb Khaled or Nguyen Lee.
Michael Hornek, Austrian pianist, nicknamed the new "Zawinul", member of the group "Passport" of German saxophonist Klaus Doldinguer and "Soleil Bantu" of the Cameroonian singer percussionist Biboul Darwich.
Guests
Khalid Kouhen, Moroccan percussionist, masters of Indian, African and Brazilian percussions, faithful companion of Majid since the recording of African Gnaoua Blues in 2001.
Bouhssine Foulane, Amazigh musician, virtuoso of the Ribab (Berber monochord violin) who had the courage and the privilege to integrate it into the music of the world.
Adil Chorfi, young Moroccan musician, talented player of Nei and Kawala, and violin.
Mustapha Antari, specialist in oriental percussions and their integration into world music.
- Genre
- African Gnaoua Blues