Search - Hassan Hakmoun :: Life Around the World

Hakmoun comes from a family of Moroccan musicians who practiced Gnawa, a religious and art form involving trance and purification via rhythm and movement. After coming to America in the mid-1980s, he established himself not only as a master of the tradition, but a ready innovator who broke the rules, found constants between his music and rock, jazz, and even pop. These recordings, made in 1990 and 1995 show how all of these things can be brought together in an honest and exciting way. Accompanied by long time friends Don Cherry, Hamid Drake, Adam Rudolph, and a cast of jazz and Gnawa musicians, he searches for a new sound for the ancient music, using his sintir (a three string lute) for both ancient effect and modern ambiance. Good vocals, an interesting variety of sounds and a willingness to both honor the roots and ignore the rules give this album high marks. --Louis Gibson