When people think of Morocco they don’t always think of jazz but the music scene is big here.
Blended with the heady smell of spices, exotic bars and colorful souks, jazz takes on a whole new meaning. Here’s how to enjoy the jazz scene in Morocco.
Several Moroccan towns have a jazz festival each year and these attract local as well as international artists.
Tangier’s Jazz festival is one of the biggest in Morocco and attracts visitors and artists from all over the world to the famous “White City.” Tannjazz is usually held each September.
Another jazz destination is the Chellah Festival in Rabat which has a vibrant mix of European and Moroccan music on a jazzy theme.
This attracts crowds and really brings the city to life. Jazz artists also join the Gnaoua World Music Festival in Essaouira which has all kinds of styles.
Morocco also has a number of lovely bars where listening to jazz over a drink or a good meal is all part of the experience.
Casablanca is one of the best destinations to head to for an evening of good music.Rick’s café comes from inspiration on the famous Casablanca movie but is a relaxing place to hear some music late into the evening.
La Cigale is another late night bar with jazz some evenings.
In Marrakech the KosyBar is a wonderful place to listen to the call to evening prayer as the sun goes down and enjoy jazz on the balmy terrace.
Le Bar Churchill was a 1920’s and 1930’s bar and is another place to take in a few beats of jazz whilst enjoying a drink.
TanJazz
There are lots of famous jazz festivals all over the world by TanJazz is one of the best in North Africa. It has been in existence since 2000 and attracts capacity crowds to Tangier each year.
Renowned for its vibrant and lively atmosphere, this is one of the best times to visit the area in and around Tangier and join in the fun. Each September jazz bands and their fans come to Tangier to enjoy the city and listen to some fabulous music.
TanJazz attracts musicians from all five continents and there is an excellent programme for visitors. Tickets can be booked via the official website.
Several hotels are within easy reach of the main venues at the Italian Palace but there is nothing quite like exploring tangier and coming across an impromptu bar performance.
At TanJazz some of the top performers include the Marabout orchestra, Roberto Gatto, and Ivan Melon Lewis. There are dance masterclasses too as well as the concerts and street performances.
This year,TanJazz is from September 15-22nd 2019. Check the Festival website: www.tanjazz.org
TanJazz is also renowned for the way in which it inspires young people to play music. TanJazz des Enfants gets kids together to create music and join together with the beat and harmony.
With Tangier close to beautiful beaches and some great shopping, a holiday at TanJazz could encompass lots of elements as well as the music. For the jazz fan this is one of the best destinations in Africa to hear good music and to soak up the atmosphere.
Chellah Festival
Just outside Rabat lie the ruins of Chellah. This is a ruined medieval necropolis that is now a famous visitor attraction but the original site has been in existence since pre Islamic times. It is also the site of the Roman town Sala Colonia.
Much of the ruins were destroyed as a consequence of the 1755 Lisbon Earthquake and the complex became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2012.
Today Chellah is associated with Jazz and each year there is a festival held in the atmospheric ruins.
For five days each year Chellah is transformed into a concert stadium with local and internationally renowned artists playing music amongst the ruins
. Most musicians are from Europe along with Moroccan bands and there are some eclectic performances on the ancient site.
Most concerts begin in the evening and take place under the stars.
With the site just outside Rabat there are a number of hotels in the capital and also in the town of Sale. Getting to the site is easy by taxi.
Chellah is very atmospheric and the open air jazz is the ideal time to sit outside and dance to the beat. Generally the event takes place each September and is increasingly popular with the Moroccan jazz scene.
The festival began in 1996 and has grown ever since. Artists in recent festivals have included Nicolas Simion, Samira, Qadiri Quartet, and many more.
This is a great place that is informal and quite a unique location for a jazz and swing event.
With interesting cities nearby there are good opportunities to combine a musical visit with some sightseeing in Morocco’s capital Rabat.
Listen out when you visit Morocco because the jazz beat is everywhere and is rapidly becoming popular in traditional towns and cities.
Whether it is a quiet drink or a full on festival there will be something to get you tapping your toes to the beat in Morocco.