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Hassan Hakmoun



Last Updated: 11/18/2009

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Status: Single
City: MARRAKECH MOROCCO/AFRICA
State: New York
Country: US
Signup Date: 11/10/2006

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Saturday, September 20, 2008 

Category: Life

To all my friends and fans, it is a very sad time in my life right now. My best friend, my brother, Said Hakmoun,42 years of age,has passed and he will be dearly missed. He was a wonderful musician, multi talented all around, and the best comedian. Even when he was down and out, his smile never disappeared. I can't imagine a life with out him, we had just shared so much together since childhood, the good, the bad, and the worst. After all that, he still came out strong and touched so many people around him.

 Please pray for him and his children. I will hold a fundrasier for his children (3yr. old and 1 yr. old),back in Morocco, in memory of Said. I will inform all of you through my blog as to time,date,and place. Anything you can do to help would be immensly appreciated. Thank you.

Saied, I miss you, rest in peace. I hope you are happy now, where you can't feel any pain. Your contribution to music in the world still lives on, the same way you will still live on in my heart, until we meet again. 

love and peace

Hassan Hakmoun



Sunday, April 20, 2008 

Current mood:  artistic
Category: Blogging
Hassan Hakmoun / DJ U-Cef

Upcoming Shows
$15.00 in advance; $18.00 at the door
9:30 PM - April 25
Show Description
U-cef always knew that at some point he wanted to go back to what he calls "halal" music, the Moroccan sounds he was brought up with, so naturally he named his first album "Halalium". A composer, producer and DJ, U-cef says "I try musically to bring things together so they don't feel alien to each other - traditional music with urban beat London or New York hip-hop. Maybe somebody who is from somewhere dedicated to one thing will say "This is rubbish", but my belief is that nobody is made of one stuff."

U-cef goes on, "I remember when live bands played, the whole youth would be there - whatever they played, it had the beat, and we just danced and had fun" and he reckons his first interest in performing himself came from dancing at parties and getting into beats. After a brief attempt at doing "a proper job", U-cef moved to New York to really try and make it as a musician, and moving to London 10 years ago was similarly all about the music.

Hassan Hakmoun resides in the U.S. The pentatonic scale and driving rhythms of the sintir, a three-stringed long-necked African bass lute, are instantly appealing to many Western ears, and Hakmoun, has succeeded in presenting this music outside of Morocco to widespread critical acclaim. He was the only world musician invited to play Woodstock '94, and has performed on the Tonight Show with Jay Leno and on the WOMAD '94 tour. Hakmoun became a regular fixture in New York's rock, jazz, and fusion scenes, and earned his following for spanning multiple genres with his spiritually charged voice and playing.
Featured Artists
DJ U-Cef
Hassan Hakmoun

Joe's Pub

425 LAFAYETTE STREET, NEW YORK, NY 10003

http://www.joespub.com/component/option,com_shows/task,view/Itemid,40/id,3892
Monday, January 14, 2008 

Current mood:  accomplished
Category: Blogging
support for Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Barack Obama,
Barack Obama can unite America


http://www.barackobama.com

one love
Saturday, December 08, 2007 

Current mood:  busy
Category: News and Politics
01/11/2008 08:00 PM - Hassan Hakmoun 10:30pm / dj Cheb i Sabbah 11:30pm / Rifat Sultana + Party 9:30pm / tba 8:30pm
214 Sullivan st
NY, New York
US
Cost:N/A
Description:FRI JAN 11 9pm Bassam Saba + Ensemble 10pm Rifat Sultana + Party 11pm Hassan Hakmoun + Universal Force (yes, we need a name for this bad) 12am dj Cheb i Sabbah + 1002 Nights 11pm concert, 45-min set HASSAN HAKMOUN SANTIR & vocals BRAHIM FRIBGANE GUITAR & percussion VOCALS ADAM RUDOLPH percussion & VOCALS Jamshied. Sharifi KEBOURD Paula Tchonga Drums, percussion, vocals Venue: http://www.sullivanhallnyc.com/
WWW.HASSANHAKMOUN.COM
Monday, July 02, 2007 
..> ..>
FRENCH TUTORING NEW YORK CITY IMMERSION PROGRAM
Body:

Sunday, July 01, 2007

FRENCH TUTORING NEW YORK CITY IMMERSION PROGRAM
Category: Blogging

Hi, this is Ria, Parisian young lady. I now live in New York and have been living and working in a few countries before. Previously a translator(boring!), I am now pursuing the career I enjoy the most: teaching. I am looking forward to sharing my beautiful culture by teaching French. I love languages, I speak 5 of them. If anybody is interested in learning French for any purpose (trip, business, personal knowledge), I will fit their needs perfectly. I am currently offering personal classes in tutoring and teaching. If you are interested, please contact me, I offer different tutoring packages.

For more information, click on this link

And add her as a friend

Thank you to all

one love Hassan Hakmoun

http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=208329960

Thursday, June 28, 2007 

Current mood:  artistic
Category: Blogging
ENTERTAINMENT: News
June 24, 2007

Music Without Borders

Acts lend foreign flair to festival

By RICK de YAMPERT
Entertainment Writer
Mick Jagger, Keith Richards and Brian Jones of the Rolling Stones journeyed to Morocco in 1969. Rock guitar god Jimi Hendrix also visited the North African country in 1969.

"They all hang out with the Gnawa musicians and learned some stuff," says musician Hassan Hakmoun, who, at the time of the Stones' visit, was a 4-year-old performing alongside snake charmers and fire-breathers on Marrakech streets.

In the 1990s, Jimmy Page and Robert Plant of Led Zeppelin "went to Morocco and did an album with Moroccan musicians," says Hakmoun, who by then had taken up residence in New York City.

When Hakmoun performs the music of the Gnawa people, during the Florida International Festival in July in Daytona Beach, he believes listeners may be as enchanted as those rock stars were by the music of his native Morocco -- even though no one likely will understand a single word of the Arabic-African dialect Hakmoun will be singing.

"I met a doctor in Chicago -- he said, 'Every time I perform a surgery, I use your music,' " Hassan says by phone from his home in Bay Ridge, N.Y. "You meet people and they say, 'We feel like we were in church Sunday morning.' Everybody has a different feeling regarding this music.

"The reason is it's a very pure, beautiful kind of spiritual love within the music. People feel that. Music is an international language. Feeling it is better than just understanding what the lyrics are all about."

Hakmoun won't be the only foreign-born performer during the Florida International Festival, which will feature more than 55 performances by more than 200 artists and groups. The festival, which once again will feature the London Symphony Orchestra, runs July 13 to 28 at venues throughout Volusia and Flagler counties. Besides the LSO, here's a glimpse at what will make the FIF truly "international."

rick.deyampert@news-jrnl.com

HEAR SOUNDCLIPS

You can hear music from all festival artists by logging onto fif-lso.org.

2007 Florida International Festival Schedule

Classical Series

LSO CLASSICAL I : 8 p.m. July 20, Peabody Auditorium. Violinist Nikolaj Znaider joins conductor Marin Alsop and the London Symphony Orchestra for a program including Igor Stravinsky's "The Firebird Suite," Felix Mendelssohn's "Violin Concerto in E minor, Op. 64" and Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov's "Scheherazade Symphonic Suite, Op. 35." $30-$72.

LSO CLASSICAL II: 8 p.m. July 21, Peabody Auditorium. Marin Alsop and the London Symphony Orchestra, joined by pianist Simon Trpceski and percussionist Dame Evelyn Glennie. American Composers' works to be highlighted include Aaron Copland's "Appalachian Spring" and "El Salon Mexico," George Gershwin's "Rhapsody in Blue," James Price Johnson's "Victory Stride" and Leonard Bernstein's "West Side Story Symphonic Dances." The concert will include the world premiere of an arrangement commissioned by the Deutsche Grammophon label for Glennie, marking the 50th anniversary of "West Side Story." $30-$72.

LSO CLASSICAL III: 4 p.m. July 22, Peabody Auditorium. Daniel Harding will conduct the London Symphony Orchestra, LSO leader Carmine Lauri and LSO Principal Cellist Tim Hugh in Johannes Brahms' "Double Concerto for Violin, Cello and Orchestra in A minor, Op. 102" and Hector Berlioz' "Symphonie Fantastique, Op. 14." $30-$72.

LSO FAMILY CONCERT: 11 a.m. July 26, Peabody Auditorium. Featuring the AT&T Youth Ensemble. Francois-Xavier Roth conducts this concert with themes from "The Incredibles," "James Bond" and "Harry Potter." $10; $6 children.

LSO CLASSICAL IV: 8 p.m. July 26, Peabody Auditorium. Yan Pascal Tortelier returns to direct the London Symphony Orchestra and pianist Barry Douglas. The program includes, "Prelude to Khovanshchina" by Modest Mussorgsky, "Piano Concerto No. 1 in B flat minor, Op. 23, Metaboles" by Henri Dutilleux and "Daphines et Chloe Suite No. 2" by Maurice Ravel. $30-$72.

LSO CLASSICAL V: 8 p.m. July 27, Peabody Auditorium. Francois-Xavier Roth will conduct the London Symphony Orchestra, joined by The Bach Festival Society of Winter Park Choir and vocalists Annalena Persson, soprano; Marie Lenormand, mezzo-soprano; Anthony Dean Griffey, tenor; and Neil Davies, bass. The performance will include Ludwig Van Beethoven's "Symphony No. 1 in C major, Op. 21" and "Symphony No. 9 'Choral' in D minor, Op. 125." $30-$72.

LSO POPS: 7:30 p.m. July 28, Ocean Center. Francois-Xavier Roth directs "Music of Hollywood II," which includes movie soundtracks such as "Star Wars," "The Godfather" and "Jaws." $29-$52.

Festival Stage Series

ROBY LAKATOS & ENSEMBLE: 8 p.m. July 13, Peabody Auditorium, Daytona Beach. Hungarian-Gypsy violinist Lakatos and his group perform a classical music repertoire combined with gypsy influences. $29-$49.

AHMAD JAMAL TRIO: 8 p.m. July 17, Ormond Beach Performing Arts Center. Jazz pianist-composer Ahmad Jamal performs with his trio. $55.

MARIZA: 8 p.m. July 19, Peabody Auditorium, Daytona Beach. Born in Mozambique but raised in Portugal, Mariza sings Fado, recognized as the oldest urban folk music in the world. $35-$55.

"DUEL" MUSIC, COMEDY & THEATRE: 8 p.m. July 23-24; 2 and 8 p.m., July 25; Mainland High School Performing Arts Center, Daytona beach. The American premiere of this standoff between two musicians who confront each other with musical instruments -- piano and cello. $25-$30; $8 children.

Jazz & Beyond Series

HESPERION XXI WITH DIRECTOR JORDI SAVALL : 8 p.m. July 14, Ormond Beach Performing Arts Center. Jordi Savall, the Catalan gambist, joins soprano Monserrat Figueras in this program of songs and dances from the Sephardic Jewish tradition. The Spanish ensemble has built a vast repertoire of pre-19th century West European music, with specific emphasis on Spanish pieces. Tickets: $39.

SOLAS: 8 p.m. July 14-15, Bank & Blues, Daytona Beach; 8 p.m., July 16, Ormond Beach Performing Arts Center; 8 p.m., July 17, Mainland High School Performing Arts Center, Daytona Beach. Traditional Irish folk music. $25-$39.

HASSAN HAKMOUN: 8 p.m. July 15, Ormond Beach Performing Arts Center. Sufi trance music immersed in Islamic mysticism and West African tempo. $36.

CHIARA CIVELLO: 8 p.m. July 18; 9:30 p.m. July 20-21, Bank & Blues. Italian singer, songwriter and pianist with her band. $25.

SIMON SHAHEEN & QANTARA: 4 p.m. July 21; 8 p.m., July 22, Ormond Beach Performing Arts Center. Oud and violin player Shaheen and his group perform traditional Arabic music, jazz and Latin American styles. $39.

INTI-ILLIMANI: 8 p.m. July 24-25, Ormond Beach Performing Arts Center. Members of this musical ensemble from Chile, celebrating its 40th year, play more than 30 wind, string and percussion instruments. $39.

HIROMI: 8 p.m. July 24-25, 9:30 p.m. July 26; Bank & Blues, Daytona Beach. Jazz piano trio from Japan. $25.

"JAZZ & DINE" SOIREES: 6-8 p.m. July 20-21, Bank & Blues, Daytona Beach. Music of jazz singer Chiara Civello, other jazz artists and a dinner buffet. Concert and dinner, $45; concert only, $25.

GLOBAL FEST BRUNCH: noon-3 p.m. July 22, Bank & Blues, Daytona Beach. Chiara Civello, Simon Shaheen and Inti-Illimani with brunch. Concert and brunch, $55; concert only, $30.

Family Fest Series

JAMES CAMPBELL: 7 p.m. July 19-20; 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. July 21, News-Journal Center. 4 p.m. July 22, Flagler Auditorium. Stand-up comedian for children. His G-rated material encompasses everything from parents to PlayStations. Suitable for children 5 years and older. $15; $8 children.

INTI-ILLIMANI: 11 a.m. July 25, Ormond Beach Performing Arts Center. Latin American ensemble with more than 30 wind, string and percussion instruments. $15; $8 children.

LSO SOUND EXPLORERS: Members of the London Symphony Orchestra are joined by an an educator (called an animateur) who leads children ages 3 to 8 in a storybook-style exploration of musical instruments. $15; $8 children.

· 3 p.m. July 19, Port Orange Presbyterian Church fellowship hall

· 3 p.m. July 20, Atlantic Center for the Arts -- Harris Theater, New Smyrna Beach

· 3 p.m. July 21, Our Lady of Lourdes Church community center, Daytona Beach

· 3 p.m. July 24, DeBary Hall

· 3 p.m. July 27, Ormond Memorial Art Museum

· 11 a.m. July 28, The Museum of Florida Art, DeLand

Tippen Davidson

Concert Series

QUARTETTO DI VENEZIA: The 2007 Florida International Festival String Quartet-in-Residence. Two programs will be performed: Program 1: Cherubini, Quartet No. 6 in A minor; Verdi, Quartet in E minor. Program 2: Respighi, Quartetto Dorico; Bazzini, Quartet in E flat major, Op. 76. $25.

· 4 p.m. July 14, program 1, Port Orange Presbyterian Church

· 2 p.m. July 15, program 2, Elizabeth Hall, Stetson University, DeLand

· 7 p.m. July 15, program 1, Our Lady of Lourdes Church, Daytona Beach

· 7 p.m. July 16, program 2, Palm Coast United Methodist Church

· 7 p.m. July 17, program 1, Westminster Presbyterian Church, Daytona Beach Shores

· 7 p.m. July 18, program 2, News-Journal Center, Gillespy Theater, Daytona Beach

Special Events

DAME EVELYN GLENNIE IN RECITAL: 7 p.m. July 23, Ormond Beach Performing Arts Center. The solo percussionist will present a diverse program. $30.

LSO Chamber Concerts

MUSIC FROM THE BRITISH ISLES: 7 p.m. July 19, Elizabeth Hall, Stetson University, DeLand.

The LSO's Gareth Davies (flute), Sarah Quinn (violin), Gillianne Haddow (viola), Rebecca Gilliver (cello), John Alley (piano) and Neil Percy (percussion) offer songs of love lost from Wales, ballads from Old England, jigs from Ireland and whirling ceilidh music from Scotland. LSO members will give readings from British writers such as Dylan Thomas and Shakespeare. $25.

LSO PRINCIPALS TRIO: 4 p.m. July 20, News-Journal Center, Daytona Beach. Carmine Lauri, violin (LSO Leader); Tim Hugh, cello; and John Alley, piano, present selections from Wieniawski, "Legende Op. 17" (violin and piano); De Falla-Kreisler, "Danse Espagnole"; Sarasate, "Introduction & Tarantella Op. 43"; Davidov "At the Fountain" (cello and piano); Paganini, "Variations on one string"; Handel-Halvorsen, "Passacaglia" (violin and cello); Haydn, "Gypsy Rondo from Piano Trio in G" (violin, cello and piano). $25.

FLUTE/PERCUSSIONS DUO: 4 p.m. July 21, Westminster Presbyterian Church, Daytona Beach Shores. LSO principals Neil Percy (percussion) and Gareth Davies (flute) give insight into the soundscapes their groups of instruments can create. $25.

VUILLAUME STRING QUARTET: 7 p.m. July 24, Our Lady of Lourdes Church, Daytona Beach. The quartet of LSO members Tom Norris (violin), Sarah Quinn (violin), Robert Turner (viola), and Alastair Blayden (cello), will execute a unique "Create a Concert" format in which each quartet member will seek to persuade the audience that their choice should be played. $25.

LSO BRASS: 7 p.m., July 24, Flagler Auditorium. 7 p.m., July 25, Our Lady of Hope Church, Daytona Beach. $25.

Workshops

IRISH MUSIC WORKSHOP: with Solas, 6 p.m., July 17, Mainland High School. $10.

ARABIC MUSIC WORKSHOP: with Simon Shaheen, 9:45 a.m., July 18, Ormond Beach Memorial Art Museum. 12:30 p.m. July 18, Atlantic Center for the Arts. $10.

SONGWRITING WORKSHOP: with Chiara Civello, 6 p.m., July 19, Bank and Blues. $10.

JAZZ PIANO WORKSHOP: with Hiromi, 6 p.m., July 23, Bank and Blues. $10.

Informances

HASSAN HAKMOUN: 7-8 p.m. July 13, Sunrise Park, Holly Hill; 2-3 p.m. July 14, Volusia Mall, Daytona Beach; 7-8 p.m. July 14, Bandshell, Daytona Beach. Free.

SIMON SHAHEEN: 7-8 p.m. July 19, Ormond Presbyterian Church; 2-3 p.m. July 20, Ponce Inlet City Hall; 6-7 p.m. July 14, Museum of Arts and Sciences, Daytona Beach. Free.

INTI-ILLIMANI: 12-1 p.m. July 20, DeLand City Hall; 7-8 p.m. July 20, Bandshell, Daytona Beach; 2-3 p.m. July 21, Trails Shopping Center, Ormond Beach; 7-8 p.m. July 22, Kenneth W. Parker Amphitheater, Port Orange. Free.

AT&T YOUTH ENSEMBLE: 2-3 p.m. July 22, Trails Shopping Center, Ormond Beach; 7-9 p.m. July 22, Bandshell, Daytona Beach; 6-7 p.m. July 23, Bishop's Glen, Holly Hill; 7:30-9:30 p.m. July 24, Stetson University, DeLand. Free.

Information on the festival is available by calling

(386) 257-7790, visiting

fif-lso.org or the box office at 212 S. Beach St., Daytona Beach.The FIF Venues

· Atlantic Center for the Arts, 1414 Art Center Ave., New Smyrna Beach

· Bandshell, behind Ocean Walk Shoppes, 250 N. Atlantic Ave., Daytona Beach

· Bank & Blues Club, 701 Main St., Daytona Beach

· Bishop's Glen, 900 LPGA Blvd., Holly Hill,

· DeBary Hall, 210 Sunrise Blvd. DeBary

· DeLand City Hall, 120 S. Florida Ave., DeLand

· Elizabeth Hall, Stetson University, 421 N. Woodland Blvd., DeLand

· Flagler Auditorium, 3265 E. S.R. 100, Palm Coast

· Kenneth W. Parker Amphitheater, 2001 City Center Circle, Port Orange

· Mainland High School Performing Arts Center, 1255 W. International Speedway Blvd., Daytona Beach

· Museum of Arts and Sciences, 352 S. Nova Road, Daytona Beach

· The Museum of Florida Art, 600 N. Woodland Blvd., DeLand

· News-Journal Center, 221 N. Beach St., Daytona Beach

· Ocean Center, 101 N. Atlantic Ave., Daytona Beach

· Ormond Beach Performing Arts Center, 399 N. U.S. 1, Ormond Beach

· Ormond Memorial Art Museum, 78 E. Granada Blvd., Ormond Beach

· Ormond Beach Presbyterian Church, 105 Amsden Road, Ormond Beach

· Our Lady of Lourdes Church, 201 University Blvd., Daytona Beach

· Our Lady of Hope Church, 4675 S. Clyde Morris Blvd., Port Orange

· Palm Coast United Methodist Church, 5200 Belle Terre Parkway, Palm Coast

· Peabody Auditorium, 600 Auditorium Blvd., Daytona Beach

· Ponce Inlet City Hall, 4300 S. Atlantic Ave., Ponce Inlet

· Port Orange Presbyterian Church, 4662 S. Clyde Morris, Port Orange

· Sunrise Park, 1135 Riverside Drive, Holly Hill

· Trails Shopping Center, 300 N. Nova Road, Ormond Beach

· Volusia Mall, 1700 W. International Speedway Blvd., Daytona Beach.

· Westminster By-The-Sea Presbyterian Church, 3221 S. Peninsula Drive, Daytona Beach Shores
Saturday, June 23, 2007 

Category: Parties and Nightlife
06-23-2007 MOROCCAN PARADE NEW YORK The international Immigrants Foundation is announcing that there will be a Moroccan parade with other countries in Manhatan the 23rd of june at 38th st & 6th avenue at 11am.
so please ,come and join the Moroccan community and bring whatever it takes to show the world that Morocco has an amazing cultre from traditional clothes,flags and music ...etc
Let's make this parade one of the best ,the more we are the better will be . See you there.
dress to empress,Moroccan TV will be there.
Saturday, June 23, 2007 

Category: Parties and Nightlife
Moroccan Parade and Gnawa Party this Saturday 06/23/07
NEW YORK NY


Moroccan Parade and Gnawa Party this Saturday


The Consulate General of the Kingdom of Morocco is pleased to inform all members of the Moroccan Community of the participation of our Country in the Immigrants annual parade that will take place in Manhattan New York June 23, 2007. Representatives of the Communities of more than 40 countries living in the USA will march along the 6th Ave (Ave of the Americas) beginning from 37th Street and ending at 57th Street.



The annual Immigrants Parade is a cultural event that takes place every year in New York and it is organized by the International Immigrants Foundation based in New York City. The parade is an opportunity for Immigrants from different countries of the world to show the cultural richness of their homeland through music, dance and traditional clothes.



Morocco is participating for the forth time this year and Moroccan music and traditional dresses as well as a bride will be present all along Ave the Americas.



Please come March with us to show our beloved country's colorful culture by dressing the Moroccan traditional way.



We will be meeting next to the Consulate General of the Kingdom of Morocco located at 10 East 40th Street New York NY 10016 (Between Madison Ave & 5th Ave) June 23rd 2007 at 10 am.



There will be PRIVATE PENTHOUSE AFTER PARTY where you can have the chance to win 2 round trip tickets to Morocco compliments of Royal Air Moroc.So,come and enjoy the music by HASSAN HAKMOUN & KHALID & BRAHIM FRIBGANE(GNAWA group),wine and dine Moroccan style.This will take place at 10 pm-2am 320 W.37th St. bet.8&9 Ave 14th Floor
New York, NY 10018
Only 100 Tickets are sold only in advance
Ticket fee is $35

For reservation & more Info please call:

Youssef:

Phone: 917-684-7630
917-332-8270
347-248-0791


Email: ytsouli@gmail.com
ONE LOVE
Wednesday, January 17, 2007 

Current mood:  loved
Category: Music
Music Review | Hassan Hakmoun
Stomping With Sintirs as a Route to Trance By SIA MICHEL
Published: January 15, 2007
In the highlight of the Hassan Hakmoun show at Symphony Space on Saturday night, the Moroccan-born Hakmoun brothers had a gnawa dance-off. AbderRahim Hakmoun, dressed in an orange tunic and a bejeweled, fezlike hat, spun its tassel like a helicopter propeller, smacking his bare feet on the stage in a complex pattern. Hassan Hakmoun, playing a sintir (a three-stringed, wood and camel-skin lute), matched his younger brother's furious rhythm, whipping around his long, reddish dreadlocks.


Jack Vartoogian/FrontRow Photos
Hassan Hakmoun on the sintir, playing music with African and Sufi Muslim influences, on Saturday night at Symphony Space.
Readers' Opinions
Forum: Popular Music
"This is a traditional African foot stomp," Hassan Hakmoun said, describing it as the root of American tap dance. As the duo got low to the ground and shook their hips and shoulders, their moves suggested a clear line to more modern styles, too, from stepping to krumping. The dance was mesmerizing, but it was also apparently painful.

"Next song," Hassan Hakmoun said, "we're going to wear shoes because living here in America for so long, we don't have African feet anymore." He laughed. "And medical care is too expensive."

His music, gnawa trance, is hypnotic devotional music with African and Sufi Muslim influences. Brought to the region by West African slaves and traders, it's heavily rhythmic, built around drums, qaraqebs (metal castanets), hand claps and the sintir, which is both thumped and strummed.

Gnawa is designed to bring listeners into a mystical, trancelike state; songs often start with a slow, mournful vocal and sintir introduction, then gradually speed up until they are frantically, heart-poundingly fast. In derdeba ceremonies, gnawa music and dancing are often used to drive out evil spirits (when someone is sick or troubled) or to honor beneficial spirits (when someone is exceptionally well).

Gnawa groups play at Marrakesh's Jamaa el F'Na, a large square where tourists flock for photo-ops with snake charmers and surly monkeys. That's where Hassan Hakmoun, the son of a Berber healer, started playing as a boy. Now he is a m'allem (a master musician or band leader) and a New Yorker, well known in the West for his work with Peter Gabriel, Kronos Quartet and Pharoah Sanders.

On Saturday, Mr. Hakmoun had the charisma of a rock star, theatrically thrusting around his sintir and singing huskily with an ecstatic expression. He sang call-and-response with his qaraqeb-shaking brother, who earned cheers for his acrobatic leaps during "Moussaoui."

The set included traditional derdeba songs, with stunningly complicated polyrhythms by the percussionists Brahim Fribgane and Ron McBee.

While introducing "Challaban," Mr. Hakmoun said: "This is a very, very spiritual and peaceful song. You have to follow the drums. You have to be the drums." The crowd clapped along as instructed, but the results weren't exactly rousing. Music this rapturous is better appreciated in a less formal setting, where people could try some (probably painfully awkward) trance-dancing and the band could feed off the energy. The show was simultaneously enthralling and academic.

Mr. Hakmoun ended it with "Maaboud Allah" and a sweaty dance of twirls and kicks. Then he dropped to his knees for a lengthy spotlight turn — like the Eddie Van Halen of the sintir.
Thursday, December 07, 2006 

Current mood:  peaceful
Category: Music
01/13/2007 08:00 PM - Hassan Hakomun at Symphony Space
95 ST on BROADWAY
NY,
US
Cost: N/A
Description: 1/13/2007 Symphony Space 8:00PM Accompanied by Brahim Fribgane (guitar, percussion) and Mohamed Bechar (qaraqab- castanets, dance) New York, NY (212) 545-7536 www.worldmusicinstitute.org

04/21/2007 08:00 PM - Hassan Hakmoun at Troy Savings
www.troymusichall.org
Troy, New York
US
Cost: N/A
Description: 4/21/2007Troy Savings Troy, NY (518) 273-8945 www.troymusichall.org

OR GO TO WWW.HASSANHAKMOUN.COM