Morrocon Music, to the largely uninitiated, will possibly mean trance like music namely Sufi’s or the community based village music known locally as Berber music. Less known is the music originating from the roots of Gnawa. 

This music has roots in the sub saharan origin but remarkably blends well with jazz, rock and funk to bring this ancient music to the current generation. The songs will seem long but on reading about the music, it seems to be a series of chants that invoke various kinds of spirits. 

While, I may not be able to comment on that, but at the Clearwater Music Festival, where I had a chance to hear Hassan Hakmoun first hand, he sure got everone’s spirits up….. And believe me, he could Pump it Up for sure. 

Morrocon Music, to the largely uninitiated, will possibly mean trance like music namely Sufi’s or the community based village music known locally as Berber music. Less known is the music originating from the roots of Gnawa. This music has roots in the sub saharan origin but remarlably blends well with jazz, rock and funk to bring this ancient music to the current generation. The songs will seem long but on reading about the music, it seems to be a series of chants that invoke various kinds of spirits. 

While, I may not be able to comment on that, but at the Clearwater Music Festival, where I had a chance to hear Hassan Hakmoun first hand, he sure got everone’s spirits up….. And believe me, he could Pump it Up for sure. 

He is known for propogating this Gnawa kind of music in the United States.

Along with vocal singing he plays a 3 string instrumenet called the Sinter, which seems perfectly suited for musical rhythmic explorations. 

Another interesting Gnawa originated instrument is the Qrareb. This is similar to Cymbals, and are made in such a way to form 4 cymbals.

He had a great team of musicians, and I particularly resonated very well with the sounds Sylvain Leroux, playing the African Flute. The serenity of the sounds that came out mixed with the beats and morrocon flavors had us all immersed and intoxicated.

What a performance, what a band.