The Virtual Maghreb by Jeffrey Callen
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M O R O C C A N R O L L The Virtual Maghreb By Jeffrey Callen he music industry has gone digital. Malih” on its Skyrock blog http://casacrew- Old news? Yes, but it leapt to mind 00.skyrock.com . Another solid release by this when I realize how few cds pass venerable crew from Casablanca. T through my hands these days. One Leaving the world of hip-hop, the nine-piece of the perks of being a music fusion group Zazz Band has some great songs on writer was all those free cds and dvds that passed their MySpace page. Sounding more seasoned through my mail slot. Then there was that moment than when I saw them last summer, Zazz Band of expectation as I tore open the envelope to carries on the rhythmically based fusion tradition behold its contents. But alas, the recordings still of Aba’raz, a seminal fusion band that made a big come, but more often than not, I’m given a code but short-lived splash in 2002-03. I particularly for a secure Web site to download the tracks and love the reed work of Mohamed Kendri, a classi- some high-res jpgs. All I need to do my job but I cally trained clarinetist who made his pop music miss the product that I held in my hand. Gone are debut with Aba’raz way back when. [http:// the little booklet (a pdf is just not the same), the www.myspace.com/zazzband ] hoba hoba spirit is shine of the disk, and the whir of the cd player. Finally, you gotta check out Haoussa. The the moroccan rock band. But there is an upside. The digital world has “bad boys” of alt music in Morocco produce the created greater access for artists, particularly those fans know you before you take the stage for the finest punk-ska-rock-reggae hardcore Moroccan from small markets whether due to geography, first time. And bands are starting to get access to fusion out there. And, they put on a hell of a live language or genre. Particularly good news for al- the major online music stores. Hoba Hoba Spirit show. Check it out! [http://www.myspace.com/ ternative artists in small countries and that brings is on iTunes (thanks to a good friend of the band haoussa ]. And, whatever you do, don’t miss the us to alternative music artists in Morocco. The who’s based in NYC) and I hope Darga, H-Kayne, video of Hoba Hoba Spirit’s performance at the virtual world has created a platform for alterna- Don Bigg, and others aren’t far behind. John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts tive artists in Morocco (hip-hop, fusion, rock, If you’re looking for a little guidance, here’s in Washington, DC on March 8. The whole con- electronica, singer-songwriters) that was hardly a short list of some of the more interesting new cert is on http://www.kennedycenter.org/pro- imaginable 10 years ago. Moroccan music out there in the digital world. grams/millennium/artist_detail.cfm?artist_id= If you wonder about it, just check out the First, check out the new single by Don Bigg, HBAHBASPRT# . They only let them play a MySpace pages of Hoba Hoba Spirit, Mazagan, “Itoub” (“God Bless”) from his yet-to-be-re- single set (50 minutes) but it’s enough to see why Fnaire, Darga, Haoussa, Amarg Fusion… and the leased album Byad O Kyal. “Itoub” presents a HHS is the Moroccan rock band. list goes on. Check out the audio and video clips, new image for Don Bigg that contradicts his the link to the band’s Web site if they’ve got one reputation for crude, too-rough lyrics. “Itoub” ❖ ❖ ❖ (but with all the social networking sites, a Web salutes Those who held me down since day one, To close out, here are a few recommendations site is less and less necessary and they seem to be man/Today, I wanna sing about them man/I from the new and relatively new releases that have “under maintenance” more and more these days). wanna stand up, salute them and say/God bless, landed in my analog or digital mailboxes over the Then hop over and check out the band sites and God bless, God bless, God bless/thank you, thank last few months. The Master Musicians of multiple fan sites for each band. Finally (all right, you, thank you, man. (Thanks to al Khasser for Jajouka are back with another album, The Mas- you pick the order), check out YouTube: What the translation). An image change for the Bigg ter Musicians of Jajouka with Bachir Attar: band or surfboarding bulldog hasn’t posted a man and it’s got a great flow. It’s also showing Live, Vol. One (Jajouka). It is the most memo- YouTube video? Last year, guitarist Anouar signs—radio and media play in the U.K. and rable recording the group has made since 1969’s Zehouani of Moroccan fusion rockers Hoba Hoba France—that it might break Bigg outside of Brian Jones Presents the Pipes of Pan at Jajouka Spirit told me, “success on YouTube does not nec- Morocco. [http://www.myspace.com/donbigg ] (Rolling Stones). That groundbreaking recording essarily mean true success!” Maybe not neces- Staying in the world of hip-hop, Casa Crew was a cut-and-paste studio manipulation of field sarily but it sure doesn’t hurt when a YouTube is showcasing its fine new single “Rap ando recordings by Rolling Stones’ guitarist Jones that search of Hoba Hoba Spirit gives you 406 hits Juldeh Camara and Justin Adams: presaged some of the best and worst world music with up to 45,000 views on some clips. Granted back with another border- productions that followed. The new cd is a whole not all the clips feature HHS—some are home- crossing effort. different animal, recorded live at the Centro Cul- made videos featuring their songs or covers of tural de Belem in Lisbon in March 2007. Defi- their songs or lessons on how to play their songs— nitely worth a listen. but doesn’t the plethora of Elvis memorabilia and While we’re speaking of “world music” pro- Elvis impersonators say something significant ductions, Justin Adams and Juldeh Camara are about Elvis’ status as a cultural icon? back with another border-crossing effort. Follow- In the last few years, alternative music has at- ing up on last year’s Soul Science (World Village tained an unprecedented level of success in Mo- 468076), British rock guitarist Adams and rocco and all this virtual exposure has been a major Gambian griot Camara’s new album Tell No Lies factor. It may not directly lead to cd or download (Real World) shows none of the hesitancy that kept sales—the marketplace is lagging behind—but it Soul Science from being a great album. Adams means more media time, more concerts and local Continued on page 59 THE BEAT VOL. 28 #1, 2009 47 reggae update Continued from page 16 artist releases focusing on one riddim that are to “Reggae Central” to hear or download last Eskenazi. The album also features a special guest producer and label-specific compilations. Time Sunday’s show. Or—if you’re feeling really ad- Paquito D’Rivera, whose soprano sax trades licks and space prohibit going into them all in depth venturous—visit myspace.com/reggaecentral and with Narell on the salsa-tinged “Pan in Har- this time around but some of my favorites include view photos and video clips of guests and more! mony.” [www.headsup.com ] Journey’s (SoBe) featuring Morgan Heritage, Going even farther back into the classic ca- Queen Ifrica and more, Obama Rhythm (Hard lypso bag is Sir Lancelot: Pinardymns + (Black Drive) with work from Turbulence, Lutan Fyah, technobeat Kettle) which offers 15 cuts from the very last Gyptian and others, Nylon: One Drop Rhythm Continued from page 19 sessions ever recorded by calypsonian Sir Number One (Greensleeves) featuring Tarrus an electric bass. Diabate’s impressive, big-voiced Lancelot Pinard. These are cleaned-up re-releases Riley, Richie Spice and more, Billion Riddim vocals sound as if subjects of great gravitas are of what were probably the original 45 rpm vi- (Lion Music) with top artists including Freddie being conveyed, though the majestically strident nyl. Lancelot must have experienced a religious McGregor and Fantan Mojah, Show Love Riddim style is often yoked to singing the praises of a conversion in his later years because pretty much (Itation) including Natty King and Ras Attitude local patron who supports the artist. Choice cut every cut bears a religious theme, be it the para- [www.itationrecords.com ], Those Guys, with a “Korossi” adds extra percussion to the swinging phrased “23 Psalm” or his own “Peace and Good- great track from John Mouse called “In New rhythm along with jazzy Fula Flute player will to All Men.” The artist had a clear voice and York” and Genesis (both on Cousins in the Ride Sylvain Leroux. “Foday” percolates along with accompanied himself on guitar, occasionally the Riddim series) [www.cousinsrecords.com ]. almost ominous urgency but is sweetened by breaking into a whistled solo. [www.black Also worth checking are the Prosper Riddim, tasty kora and guitar interplay. kettleproductions.com ] available as a series of hip 7" singles from Redbud [[email protected] ], Frontline Visit the Technobeat Web site at www.techno [Contact the author at [email protected] ] Riddim (Lion Sounds) with Prezident Brown, beat.com for Bob’s columns for The Beat since Khari Kill and others over a hip-hop drum-driven 1990, Dave Hucker’s columns since 1997, and reggae track, and Clutch Riddim (Truckback) a link to Bob’s pet book authorship Web site, African beat with contributions from Capleton, Buju Banton www.bobtarte.com .