The eighth edition of the "Jazz under the Argan Tree" festival kicked off on Friday night, an artistic event that is an important annual appointment for jazz lovers in the city of Essaouira. It comes under the supervision of the Essaouira-Mogador Association, offering exceptional musical performances at Dar Souiri from 7:00 PM until after midnight, characterized by a blend of the city's authentic cultural heritage and diverse modern musical creativity.
André Azoulay, Advisor to King Mohammed VI, revealed in a statement to the electronic newspaper Hespress on the sidelines of his attendance at the opening ceremony that this year's edition can be described as "on the air," as it was a "magical start and a brilliant opening night full of talent and creativity present among the young musicians and their Australian partners."
Azoulay continued that "the artistic residency that lasted a few weeks gave more than expected in this distinctive genre of Australian jazz, which blended with the intangible cultural heritage of Gnawa art," highlighting that "this added a special touch to this exceptional edition of the festival, rich in talent that makes the impossible a tangible reality amidst the presence of hundreds of people who enjoyed the musical moments."
The Royal Advisor explained in his statement to Hespress that "Morocco, including the city of Essaouira, welcomes all types of music and loves all musicians, and it is a mutual love between it and the musicians as well who adore the country," adding that "this event, which comes to conclude the year 2024, will go down in history."
For his part, Majid Bekkas, the festival's artistic director, said in a statement to Hespress that the event "represents more than just a musical event; it is an opportunity to promote cultural tourism and highlight the city's cultural and artistic legacy," adding that "the festival in its eighth edition aims to create a platform for dialogue between artists and the audience, while presenting jazz in various styles as a means of opening up to other cultures, with the presence of musicians from all over the world."
The same speaker continued that "the common denominator among all the festival's guests is that they speak one unified language, which is the language of art and jazz that unites peoples," noting that "the city of Essaouira hosts several artistic events throughout the year, but the jazz festival comes to bid farewell to the artistic and cultural season, as it is the last artistic event organized before the curtain falls on the year."
The first evening of the "Jazz under the Argan Tree" festival witnessed the presence of a group of artistic and political figures, led by Lahcen Saadi, Secretary of State in charge of Handicrafts and Social and Solidarity Economy; it also featured musical performances signed by Julien Belbachir and Abdel Benaadi, in addition to Ismail Benaadi and Amine El Oukki; before the evening continued until after midnight with Moroccan performances from the Issawa heritage.
The festival's program this year includes a variety of musical concerts, with performances by artists from all over the world, interspersed with three musical improvisation sessions after midnight, and two forums each morning. Over the course of three evenings, heavy-weight guests will be welcomed, most notably Cheick Tidiane Seck, one of the most prominent stars of Malian music, who is considered "a companion of Hank Jones, Salif Keita, as well as Wayne Shorter, who won 4 Grammy Awards."
The Sayuki trio will also present an artistic night through which borders melt; in addition to the concert of Julien Belbachir, the Australian-Moroccan drummer, who fell in love with Essaouira and decided to settle there.
This "exceptional edition" will conclude its evenings by honoring the African-American jazz 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.
The post Azoulay praises creativity in Essaouira appeared first on Hespress - Moroccan electronic newspaper.
