The opening ceremony of this event, organized by the Essaouira-Mogador Association, which has become a prominent date in the city's cultural programming, attracted a wide audience of fans of this art form who came to discover jazz rhythms presented by a group of renowned international artists and rising talents.
The ceremony was attended by the Advisor to HM the King and Founding President of the Essaouira-Mogador Association, André Azoulay, the Governor of the Essaouira province, Adil El Maliki, the President of the Essaouira Communal Council, Tarik Ottmani, as well as other distinguished Moroccan and international personalities from various backgrounds.
Inside the "Dar Souiri" socio-cultural space, the ceremony began with an enjoyable performance by the Australian-Moroccan drummer Julian Bel Bachir, in which jazz art blended with the authentic rhythms of Gnaoua music in a pure Souiri tradition.
Accompanied by the Mâalem Abdesalam Benaddi and other local and international talents, the artist Bel Bachir managed to captivate the audience and take them on a musical journey rich in sensations, colours, and poignant melodies.
Following this, Aly Keita, one of the greatest balafonists in Africa and an ambassador of Afro-jazz music, took the stage and delighted the audience with his enchanting performance of distinctive musical pieces from his rich repertoire.
Keita shone remarkably while performing each musical piece alongside Dutch drummer Marcel Van Cleef and Italian bassist Roberto Badoglio, under the warm applause of the audience.
This evening concluded with a dazzling show dedicated to improvisation and musical fusion, where talents from Essaouira and abroad met to create exciting moments and offer the audience a series of improvised performances that blend jazz, Moroccan music, and modern influences.
In a statement to the Maghreb Arabe Presse (MAP) at the end of this ceremony, the festival's artistic director, Majid Bekkas, highlighted that this inaugural evening was an artistic success and a true moment of sharing and musical communication, noting that this 8th edition promises to be exceptional with the participation of renowned figures in jazz music from all over the world.
He said, "We are very happy to see the festival continue to attract a loyal and enthusiastic audience, and every year the turnout increases."
For his part, Julian Bel Bachir expressed his happiness to meet the audience of the City of the Trade Winds, "a city dear to his heart, which is considered a unique space for meeting between cultures and world music."
This edition, which runs until December 29, features about ten concerts, three midnight musical improvisation sessions, and two forums each morning, and will conclude with a tribute to the African-American pianist Randy Weston, a tribute that will be signed by the icon of Malian music, Cheick Tidiane Seck, accompanied by his best musician friends to celebrate this icon.
