Under the leadership of Majid Bekkasdirector of anthology of “ Jazz under the Argan tree », this edition is intended to be a trip to Africa, Europeau Moroccoin Asia and until Australia.
Over these 3 days and evenings, Essaouira will welcome, among other guest stars, Cheikh Tidiane Seckone of the greatest figures of the Malian music. Travel companion of Hank Jones, Salif Keita or Wayne Shorternominated 4 times for Grammy Awards and outstanding improviser, Cheikh will continue to Essaouira to feed the jazz and the blues of its irreplaceable Mandingo luxuriances.
Before him, around the great guitarist Nguyen Leethe trio « Saiyuki » will offer us a “chronicle of the journey to the west”, listening to subtle and inspired jazz. The east of Asia trades with the west, and the Japanembodied by Mieko Miyazaki au kotoflirts with theInde two virtuos Prabhu Edward to tables. This concert by the Saiyuki trio, unprecedented in every respect, will offer Essaouira a beyond-Asia where virtuosity breaks musical boundaries.
Another highlight of this edition: the concert of Jullian BelbachirAustralian-Moroccan drummer converted to luth angrycousin instrument of the Malian kora. Jullian fell in love with Essaouira, where he took up residence, mirroring and echoing the grooves gnaouis associated with Brazilian and Cuban reminiscences and a good dose of Mandinka strings. Other revelations of this edition: the “ Jazz Trio ” with Abdul Wahab au piano, Luis Jump Boy to the bass et Robin Hood to the battery for a mixture of Classical Jazz and of Jazz fusion more contemporary.
WhileAly Keitamaster of balafonthe xylophone African who carries high the torch ofafro-jazz the most subtle, will revisit the most emblematic pieces of his career alongside Pharoah Sanders or from Omar Sosa.
The luthist Alaa Zouitenbased in Berlinhas always dreamed of bringing together the music of his Moroccan-Andalusian roots with those of flamenco puro. In Essaouira, he will be accompanied by Naoufal Montasserre to the guitar et Antonio Moreno au cajon.
This edition will close in apotheosis with a tribute au African-American pianist Randy Weston. A tribute which will be orchestrated by the Grand Baobab of Malian music, Cheikh Tidiane Seckwith the best of his musician friends around him to celebrate the Jazz icon who gave the most to the African roots of Jazz and the centrality of the Gnaouis heritage and repertoire in this rooting at home in Essaouira.
