Blog September 1, 2015
Aziz Sahmaoui and University of Gnawa Bring New Music to Joe's Pub
Aziz Sahmaoui is a talented singer and multi-instrumentalist from Marrakech, Morocco, who has steeped himself in Gnawa music. He has been based in Paris for decades, where he was part of the core of the North African fusion dance band Orchestre National de Barbès. His latest project, University of Gnawa, features three Senegalese musicians: bassist Alioune Wade, guitarist Hervé Sambe, and Cheikh Diallo on kora, keyboard and vocals. Adhil Mirghani from Tunisia on percussion and Jon Grandkamp from France on drums round out the ensemble. The fusion reaches deep into Gnawa music as well as into Senegalese pop music, reggae, jazz and beyond.
Sahmaoui and University of Gnawa are back with a new record, Mazal (World Village), and they're kicking off a 14-day U.S. tour with a show on Fri., Sept. 11, at Joe's Pub in NYC. Get your tickets here!
Check out this clip from a live show in the Netherlands:
