Martin Scorsese on Nass El Ghiwane

Scorsese got interested in Nass El Ghiwane when he saw Ahmed El Maânouni's 1981 film about the group, called Transes. Scorsese used their song, "Ya Sah," in his film 1989 The Passion of Christ. And Transes was the first film he restored when he got his World Cinema Foundation up and running in 2007.

You can watch the entire film here, but unfortunately, without subtitles. If you want those, you could watch it on Hulu Plus. Or buy it.

Hassan Wargui, Berber banjo from Morocco

I am completely blown away by the playing of this guy, which I learned about courtesy dj/rupture. Rupture has not written about him on his blog, so I know nothing about him. Based on his playing, it would be very cool to organize a tour for him of bluegrass venues, no? Love to see him doing his stuff on the Fayetteville town square during farmers market...

Oh, and the song comes with a translation of the Tamazight lyrics into Arabic!

UPDATE (May 9): See comments from dj/rupture with links and more info. Thanks, rupture, don't know why I couldn't find anything previously!

Rabbi Haim Louk sings piyyutim and Andalousian

Recorded in Los Angeles, where Haim Louk formerly served, and backed by the Orchestre Andalou de Rabat. Presently Haim Louk resides in Israel. He was a protegé and pupil of the celebrated Moroccan Andalousian master, Abdessadeq Cheqara.



Here, Haim Louk doing Andalousian, backed by the same orchestra, but on a later occasion. I guess recorded in Morocco?



More great concert footage of Haim Louk can be found here.

Bawdy Moroccan Music: Taixor and Berkaniya

I found this by reading some comments on 'Aqoul. Check out this uploaded telecast of Moroccan artists Taixor and Berkaniya singing "Khalli babak mahloul" (Leave your door open). Here's the translation of the lyrics, courtesy of Faycal:

Taixor (the guy) : Leave your door open; I am planning on spending the night. You know I am crazy. I am wild about girls.

Berkaniya (the girl) : Consider it your home. Do come, you are very welcome. If the door’s locked just knock and I’ll open it.

Taixor : I am afraid of the neighbors ! If they tell my wife, she’s going to make a scene.

Berkaniya : Come at midnight when everyone’s asleep. Don’t bring the car. That way you don’t make any noise.

Taixor : I will take the bus and walk the rest of the way. If the police catch us, tell them that I am your husband.

Berkaniya: Don’t worry about the cops or the gendarmes. My uncle is a superintendent. He’ll settle the situation.

Taixor : I will bring a Coke or some juices, and if I can maybe some beers too.

Berkaniya : I don’t want to drink. Just bring enough for you. I just crave some bread and some kefta (ground meat)

And Faycal comments: "what really struck me while translating was the last line. A girl saying: I just want some bread and meat. It's shocking not only because I don't see a western girl saying that, I don't see a bourgeois arab girl saying it either. This rabelaisian gluttony is really only acceptable within the innards of popular culture (culture populaire)."