Aziz Sahmaoui is a celebrated Moroccan-French musician renowned for his masterful fusion of Maghreb rhythms, Gnawa music, and diverse world music styles. A versatile artist and instrumentalist, Aziz is deeply rooted in the rich traditions of North African music, which he modernizes with contemporary influences, creating a vibrant, rhythmically complex soundscape. As the co-founder and a former member of the iconic music group Orchestre National de Barbès, Sahmaoui gained a reputation for musical innovation. He later established his own band, Aziz Sahmaoui & University of Gnawa, further exploring the spiritual Gnawa music, which serves as the heartbeat of much of his work.

Aziz Sahmaoui's body of work, including albums like "Poetic Trance" and "Aziz Sahmaoui & University of Gnawa," showcases his prowess in blending traditional instruments like the lute-like Guembri with guitar, kora, and a wide array of percussion, representative of his musical philosophy that transcends geographical and cultural barriers. His songs like "Il fera beau demain matin jusqu'à midi" and "Mazal" resonate with an evocative lyricism and a call for unity, often tackling themes of spirituality and human condition, reflecting his role not just as a musician but as a cultural ambassador. His collaborations and reworks, such as "Morning Has Broken (Eric Longsworth Remix)" and "Lawah Lawah (Rework)," reflect an artist ever open to reinvention and cross-genre dialogue, cementing his place as a visionary in the global music scene.

Genres

Gnawa

Reggae Maghreb

Latest Release

Il fera beau demain matin jusqu'à midi

Aziz Sahmaoui

Album - 12 Tracks - Released February 3, 2023