Essaouira 2006, Gnaoua Festival, closing day. Rachid Taha.

www.thisfabtrek.com > journey > africa > morocco > 20060625-essaouira

Rachid Taha.

Algerian Rachid Taha, lives in Paris, cannot go visit his country. The Moroccans are more then happy to stage him. Well I have to make the next point, I know of groups that perform in Algeria but not in Morocco. Though reasons for that are less driven by fundamental religiouse believes.

I go into this last concert with a lot of expectations. Much have I heard of Rai this Algerian pop-rebel music. From Taha records I know he can be be rolling and rocking, speeding and stampeding.

But what is Rai? This one is good. So is this: Rebel music from Algeria. But is Taha Rai? Who cares.

Rachid Taha.

Rachid Taha, face detail.

Rachid Taha, Essaouira 06.

Rachid Taha, eccentricity.

Bad guitar, unsophisticated, annoying bass.

Strangely Taha's records feature a much better guitar. This one is sleepy and too simple, others would say the guy can't play ... The bass is just annoying. But maybe it is just me having got used to the phenomena Pat Metheny and Christian Mc Bride the night before.

In general I like Rachid Taha's music, I have bought the Medina and Diwan records. Taha has a great many melodious pop songs interpreted by great musicians, fusion of Rai and Rock music, some say.

I as I don't speak Arabic can only guess what his songs are all about. The rebel is obvious, and I remember me saying to Hasna a while ago that "what you lack in your (Arab) countries, is a real rebel culture!" I have to concede there is more around than I thought.

And Taha makes a point (makes many), - my musician friends are Christians, Jews, "He is a Jew!" he repeats, shouts, wants to say "and I like him, and he is my friend" and Muslims and ...

More on Rachid Taha, The Globalist, BBC world music, official site.

Barry, earlier in the day.

Another rebel, that I enjoy listening. Reggae, Gnaoua, Latino whatever mix with direct lyrics, - that I don't understand. But it's good to know they're there.

Moroccan Barry, Reggae rebel.

Barry chanteuse.

Barry Gnaoua.

Gnaouas on closing day.

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www.thisfabtrek.com > journey > africa > morocco > 20060625-essaouira