New York-based Hassan Hakmoun, one of contemporary Moroccan music’s most notable figures, was born in Marrakesh in 1963. At age seven he began to study tagnawit, the traditional arts, folklore, and rituals of the Gnawa tribes, former slaves originating from the Sudan whose arrival in Morocco was marked by their conversion to Islam.
The Gnawa people act as intermediaries in the spirit world and also as entertainers; Hakmoun initially studied their dances and songs, later graduating to drumming, litanies, and chants. He left school at the age of 14 to travel in the pursuit of other Gnawa masters, eventually ending up in France; upon returning to Marrakesh, Hakmoun’s repertoire continued to grow — later including songs of Arab and Berber descent — and he performed as a m’allem, or master musician of the derdeba, a trance ritual held to placate the spirits. Hassan became a Master of the Santir (a three string,long necked lute).
In 1987 he made his U.S. debut, at Lincoln Center and remained in New York, absorbing the sounds of the city’s urban music into his own style. Hassan formed his own fusion band, Zahar.
Since then, Hassan and his music have been selected by Rolling Stone as one of the “Hot Picks of ..94”, topped the charts with his albums “The Fire Within”, “Gift of the Gnawa”, and “Trance” on the World Music Albums, World Music Charts Europe, New World,and CMJ Radio Top 150 and more. He won “The Album of the Year” in 2003 from the AFIM Indie Awards for the album, “The Gift”.
He performed at WOODSTOCK 94, played at WOMAD 94 with Peter Gabriel. Recorded and collaborated also with Randy Weston, Don Cherry, Richard Horowitz, Adam Rudolph, Paula Cole, Bob Telson, Ittal Shore, and many more. He has appeared on the Tonight Show and David Sanborn’s NBC Sunday Night Music.
Hassan is currently working on his new album which will be a new riviting and sensational collaboration between inspirational singers around the world.
Overall, Hassan Hakmoun has truely shined to many people around the world bringing them together, and intertwining the diversity of music. Hassan can hold a crowd in a constant motion of enthusiasm with both him and his bands energy. ” I love his extraordinary voice. He has a fantastic way of blending his Moroccan roots with a variety of western and african styles to produce music that is very fresh,modern yet familiar. As a performer,he is charismatic,energetic and a spectacular dancer. I’m very happy to be able to work with him.” -Peter Gabriel in Rolling Stone
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