Jazz at Berlin Philharmonic XVII: Gnawa World Blues

Featuring

Majid Bekkas
Nguyên Lê
Hamid Drake
Anonymous (Traditional)
John Lee Hooker
Jimi Hendrix

Did you know?

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Instruments

The album features Majid Bekkas on guembri (bass lute), oud, and vocals; Nguyên Lê on electric guitar and backing vocals; and Hamid Drake on drums.

Interpretation

The album features a captivating live concert program that combines desert blues, Gnawa trance, Middle Eastern jazz, sixties rock, and Far Eastern serenity.

Performer Biography

Majid Bekkas, a Moroccan-born musician, has innovated the music and culture of the Gnawa minority in Morocco and collaborated with jazz greats like Joachim Kühn and Archie Shepp.

Performer Biography

Hamid Drake, an American drummer from Chicago, provides a wide range of rhythmic impulses with his intuitive feel for many of the world's percussion traditions.

Album & Artwork

The album's cover art is an untitled piece from 1969 by Mohamed Melehi, associated with the Casablanca Art School.

Recording & Production

This album was recorded live at the Philharmonie Berlin on November 10, 2024, and produced by Siggi Loch.

Performer Biography

Nguyên Lê, a Franco-Vietnamese guitarist, has developed a unique style that blends Southeast Asian melodies, complex jazz harmonies, and virtuoso rock excursions.