Moroccan Trance Music II: Sufi

VA - Moroccan Trance II: Sufi (Sub Rosa, 1996)

Gnoua Brotherhood Of Marrakesh
01 Sidi Musakar 6:19
02 Jilalay / Moulay Abdulah / Moulay Braihim 8:39
03 Hamasha Hamdushi 7:35
04 Seet Yumala Youmalay 5:09
05 Djemma El Fna, Marrakesh, November 8th 1994 11:45
Master Musicians Of Joujouka
06 Moulay Abdeslam 3:59
07 L'Hedera (The Music Of Sidi Ahmed Sheich) 6:58
08 L'Hedera 7:54

HERE

Moroccan Trance Music: Jilala-Gnaoua

VA - Moroccan Trance Music: Jilala/Gnaoua (Sub Rosa/La cœur du monde, 1990)

01-Unknown Artist  -  Jilala Wedding Procession 
02-Jilala De Tanger  -  Ouled Khalifa 
03-Jilala De Tanger  -  Darba Del Hameni 
04-Jilala De Tanger  -  Gnaoui 
05-Unknown Artist  -  Ghaitta And Drums (Part 1) / Blind Musician, Jemaa El Fna (Part 2) 
06-Gnaoua De Abdenbi Binizi  -  Jellaba Titara 
07-Gnaoua De Abdenbi Binizi  -  Yumala 
08-Gnaoua De Abdenbi Binizi  -  Neksma 
09-Gnaoua De Abdenbi Binizi  -  Baba Larabi 
Recorded by Paul Bowles and Randall Barnwell

This is a recording of Jilala and Gnoaua music from Morocco. The CD begins with what sounds like a celebration in the street and all of the ambient sound of the festival becomes part of the musicality of the performance, including loud voices and car horns. What follows is a group of recordings that truly capture this culture's musical genius. The evolving rhythms and melodies invite the listener to explore the musical aesthetics and flavors of Moroccan culture. This music can be disorienting at times. The name "trance music" is appropriate, the circulating and spiraling rhythms can be almost hypnotic. This music will suprise you. I have made a conscious effort to explore Moroccan music and this CD continues to be my favorite. It is an excellent collection of high quality field recordings. There are other CD's that are more popular and might have benefitted from smarter marketing etc. but this recording has to be one of the best. Anyone curious about world music stands a good chance of being converted to the rank of 'enthusiast' after hearing this.
R. G. Villalobos; February 7th, 2010 - Rating: 5/5

HERE

Ecstatic Music Of The Jemaa El Fna

VA - Ecstatic Music of the Jemaa El Fna (Sublime Frequencies, 2010)

01-Amal Saha  -  Daouini 
02-Troupe Majidi  -  Essiniya 
03-Mustapha Mahjoub  -  Tal Raibak Arzali 
04-Troupe Majidi  -  Khoudrini 
05-Amal Saha  -  Sabra And Shatilla 
06-Troupe Majidi  -  Khlili 
07-Amal Saha  -  Lahmami 
08-Troupe Majidi  -  Rsami 
09-Troupe Majidi  -  Afriquiya  
 Recorded by Hisham Mayet

For centuries, the Jemaa El Fna (Rendezvous of the Dead) has remained the stage for one of the most spectacular social forums on the planet. By day, this central square in the city of Marrakesh, one of Morocco's great imperial cities, fosters a kaleidoscope of entertainment for its local inhabitants; storytellers, acrobats, magicians and snake charmers all create intriguing displays of bewitching spectacle. As the sun sets, the evening grows frantic with the pulse of the crowd; it is then that the night musicians set up. Free from the restrictions and expectations of light entertainment for a tourist crowd, these musicians manifest ecstatic performances that animate the audience and players alike. The groups represented on this album; Troupe Majidi, Amal Saha, and Mustapha Mahjoub, are working and carrying the torch of their musical heroes nightly in the square. These songs come from the repertoire of Morocco's greatest musical exports: Nass El Ghiwane, Lemchaheb, Jil Jilala, Larssad and many others from the Chaabi (Moroccan popular music) canon and are given a raw, emotional and fiery interpretation. Instruments are powered by car batteries and blown out through megaphone speakers. These recordings represent a rare opportunity to hear this music at such close proximity taking in all the power and passion of the performances. The raw fidelity captures an unflinching immersion of what is simply some of the greatest street music on earth.

HERE
Many thanks to miskov from exp etc