Sheikhs Shikhats & B’net Chaabi – Sheikhs Shikhats & B’net Chaabi

Description

The Sheikhs Shikhats & B’net Chaabi is a colorful and exuberant extra large ensemble led by Laïla Amezian. With this ensemble, Laïla pays tribute to the shikhats and ghanayats, singers who fought for freedom of expression in 19th-century Morocco through popular ‘chaabi’ songs.

Original music offering an exciting mix of jazz, urban ethno and traditional Moroccan songs. To accompany her in this extraordinary creation, Laïla called on Laurent Blondiau. Together they take us on a journey into their very own/personal universe where one can also sense/recognise unique and timeless elements of the traditional chaabi repertoire such as repetition, lament or rhythms evoking trance.

To carry these arrangements and bring this musical universe to life, Laïla and Laurent have called on top vocalists and musicians with very diverse backgrounds. To name but a few: members of the Mâäk collective, such as Michel Massot and Grégoire Tirtiaux. But also the trumpeter Pauline Leblond, the trombonist Nabou Claerhout or the saxophonist Toine Thys. And to get as close as possible to the power and energy of Moroccan chaabi songs, Laïla invites the singer-percussionists of B’net Chaabi.

“Beautiful warm voices, infectious percussion and a tight horn section.
The whole is overwhelming and sucks you into a colorful vibe.” – Luminous Dash