Brazil and Morocco

Marrocos - dromedários

Brazil and Morocco

The Brazilian ensemble formed by the pianist Benjamim Taubkin, the percussionist Ari Colares, the bassist João Taubkin and the accordionist Lula Alencar, traveled in the end of July to Morocco to perform at Timitar Festival, on the 1st July, in Agadir.

The quartet arrived a few days before at the festival to rehearse with four Moroccan musicians. Their names were suggested by Brahim El Mazned, the festival’s director, to promote this meeting with the Brazilian music. Each one came from a different area of the country: Hussein (percussion) and Ferid (Oud) are Berbers, the first inhabitants of Morocco; the young Mehdi (voice and gumbri), is Gnawa, who descended from Sub-Saharan Africa; and Hashid (Ney), is Arabic that derived from the people who arrived in Morocco in the VII century.

Thus, the intention of promoting an encounter was beyond of Morocco and Brazil, when also different areas and cultures of Morocco were meeting. So, the adventure for all of them – Brazilians and Moroccans – was truly deep and inspirational.

Despite the differences of musical language, the two groups got along really well and started to understand more about each culture and to discover some similarities in their music. Part of the experience was enhanced through the time they spent together.

The concert was beautiful and very much appreciated by the audience. For the eight musicians it was a journey very intense in which they truly believe will still reverberate beyond their hearts. Hopefully, they will at some point perform again together or maybe do a record. Let’s wait for it.

Photos

Rehearsal

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Concert

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