It is incredible what an energy the men of Manar can generate. These six - dressed in djellabas - percussionists play Dekka al Marrakchia: an insanely rousing form of traditional Moroccan drum 'n bass party music and religious Gnawa. After a solemn, almost ritualistic beginning - in which the band comes jogging onto the stage of the Theater aan het Spui in a goose-step, accompanied by the menacing sounds of two huge horns - the drums erupt and the dance floor is full of swinging visitors.
Complex, ferociously syncopated, Sufia-like rhythms flow together freestyled question-and-answer-like vocal lines between the cantor and the chorus of percussionists. Think a mix of Capoeira Regional and Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan. Admittedly: takes a while to understand do the huge noise. But is after that is irresistible.
Listen to Manar's sonic whirlwind on Winter Night 1 (click here!)
And then Zoumana Diarra On Winter Night 2. It is a very strange thing, such a kora. An African harp with a kind of huge gourd as a sound box and a long wooden neck with two rows of strings - allowing the player to play two melody lines at the same time. The kola is played by Malian Zoumana Diarr. He is descended from a family of musical poets/storytellers/troubadours, the so-called griots, who still play a major role in transmitting oral tradition and African cultural memory. He is joined by multi instrumentalist Basile Maneka - hailing from Congo, grounded in Friesland. Together, the two men create an amazingly subtle, dreamy atmosphere. Very carefully constructed with beautiful dynamics. Like stepping into a warm sound bath.
English (UK) 
Nederlands 
Français 
Comments are closed.