Hassan Hakmoun
Life Around the World
Alula

One of 1998's most important (forgive me) "World Music" releases is actually a reissue of an overlooked CD from 1996 by Hassan Hakmoun, Brooklyn's own adopted Moroccan musical genius. We owe a debt of thanks to small determined labels tucked away off the beaten paths of America's music business; labels like Tinder Records in California and Alula of Durham, NC. They do a great job of bringing music to the attention of listeners not well served by the multinationals who would rather stake everything on the latest pretentious Paul Simon exercise in multiculturalism than support a musician as dedicated to his musical vision as is Hakmoun.

Hassan Hakmoun's axe of choice is the "sintir," a three-stringed long-necked rectangular lute (If Bo Diddley had an oud it might look like this), and he rocks out with it backed by his talented band Zahar. Life Around the World also features an appearance by Don Cherry on melodica rather than pocket trumpet and the album is dedicated to his memory. The melodica intensifies the trance atmosphere of the music on the opening track "Live."

Hakmoun is an adept of Gnawa, the trance music of Morocco, preserved and practiced by families or guilds of musicians. The driving, percussive insistence of the sintir can be felt of tracks like "Danya Balmal" and "Chabakouni 2," and if these performances don't induce a trance, at the very least the listener comes away with a feeling of well-being that is as body-oriented as it is mental (not to insist on the separation of the two). On several numbers, Hakmoun engages in concentrated instrumental crosstalk with Radwane Laktib, who plays the oud. Hear this especially on the rich, intricate "Bakitini."

This is music like nothing you'll hear anywhere else. At the same time Hassan Hakmoun provides some of the most satisfying of today's new hybrid sounds.

-Jim Winders

P.O. Box 60243, Durham, N.C. 27715-2043
Call (800) 932-5852 or email alula@aol.com
http://www.alula.com