Irresistible North African grooves and catchy songs spurred on by singer/lute player Aziz Sahmaoui, who links Marrakesh with Senegal and the hip Parisian district Barbès.

Aziz Sahmaoui makes name from the Parisian suburb Barbès with strong, highly listenable songs. The charismatic singer/lute player was the founder of van l’Orchestre National de Barbès and has performed with, among others, Joe Zawinul en Ibrahim Maalouf.Aziz grew up in Marrakesh with gnawa, the mixture of Arabic music and African ‘desert blues’ from the Sahara. His melodies and vocal lines are perfectly embedded in the irresistible grooves of his mainly Senegalese band University of Gnawa.

‘With hypnotic question-and-answer vocals, exciting hand-clapped rhythms and droning rock guitars, Sahmaoui holds the tension from beginning to end’ (MixedWorldMusic).

‘Sahmaoui conjures a rocking, nuanced brand of gnawa trance. Updates of ancient tradition come no classier’ (The Guardian).

The Bimhuis restaurant is open prior to the concert from 6.30 til 8.30PM (reservations via 020-7882158). After the concert, the Bimhuis Café is open (free entrance).

AFTERWARDS DJ MOMBASA AT THE CAFE

Aziz Sahmaoui zang/ngoni/mandole, Cheikh Diallo kora/keyboards/zang, Adhil Mirghani percussie/zang, Hervé Samb gitaar/zang, Alioune Wade bas/zang