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Morocco World
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Morocco World
CasaNola 2025: Jazz, Joy, and Cultural Harmony under Casablanca's Stars
Casablanca – Casablanca, Morocco's economic capital, swayed to the rhythm and soul of New Orleans last weekend, thanks to CasaNola. The three-night event celebrated jazz and its culture and lit up Bouskoura's Automobile Club du Maroc with an astonishing fusion of Moroccan heritage and New Orleans groove, the birthplace of jazz. From June 12 -14, the festival brought together music legends from both sides of the Atlantic, offering a cultural bridge between the Mississippi and the Maghreb. As the final note faded and the crowd rose in applause, it was clear that jazz and Moroccan music are not separate genres, but shared language rooted in rhythm, spirit, and storytelling. This celebration left behind echoes of brass, trumpet, karakeb (metal castanets), and nay (bamboo flute). When asked about the connection and cohesion felt between Jazz and Moroccan music and culture, Kaleb Summers told Morocco World News (MWN) that this 'stems in the rhythm 100% that's all I can say, it's in the rhythm. When I was walking with the Gnaoua musicians, my first thought was, it felt like New Orleans sped up a little bit.' In its debut edition, the festival didn't just bring music, it brought people together, people from all cultures and backgrounds. Strangers became friends in minutes, dancing, laughing, and singing shoulder to shoulder under Casablanca stars. From artists to entrepreneurs to students and expats, the crowd was a melting pot of cultures united through music and soul. Even outsiders felt at home, greeted with warm smiles, dancing without thought as the energy was incredible and unforgettable from the artists, organizers, and most importantly, the crowd. Moroccan virtuoso Adil Charfi played a solo that danced over the brass and shuffles of James Andrews and the Crescent City All Stars, while Mahmoud Chouki poured Maghreb soul into smooth, groovy, jazzy rhythms. You could taste both cultures in those two hours, distinct yet perfectly blended, working in harmony to create what seemed to be a conversation between the Maghreb and New Orleans. Artists from both sides of the Atlantic jammed together like lifelong friends, dancing, laughing, and improvising with childlike joy. No egos, no show-stealing, just musicians lifting each other up, passing the spotlight like a gift. It was a masterclass in cultural exchange, a moving symphony of shared energy, and a celebration of connection through sound. In an interesting take, Si Adil Absi, President of FolkArt Group, told MWN: ' Our goal through this performance was to showcase Moroccan heritage and contribute to the growth of our folklore. We wanted to show that our music can thrive in different settings and merge seamlessly with other musical genres.' He added, 'We've noticed that Gnaoua often takes the spotlight when it comes to fusion with international music, so we thought, why not take this opportunity to fuse Dakka Marrakchia with jazz?' Away from the music, the venue itself was one straight out of a James Bond movie. Vintage cars lined up all over the scenery, and everything from food to drinks seamlessly paid for with a quick and sleek, and cashless festival bracelet. Immaculately clean and gorgeously lit, the space mirrored the beauty of jazz and professionalism of the event.
Morocco World
12-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Morocco World
From New Orleans to Casablanca: There's No Borders to Jazz at CasaNola
Casablanca – Casablanca will emulate the music-filled streets of New Orleans this weekend for CasaNola, a dreamy and soulful jazz festival which opens its doors tonight, June 12, at 7 p.m. local time. Co-organized by Avempace and the New Orleans Jazz Museum, the event is running through June 14 at the Automobile Club du Maroc in Bouskoura, bringing together Jazz musicians from Morocco and New Orleans for three unforgettable nights. CasaNola, a cultural bridge powered by the Jazz International initiative of the New Orleans Jazz Museum, brings music legends to move your soul. Designed to promote the spirit of New Orleans across the world, the program honors the city's rich musical heritage through a moving celebration in Casablanca. CasaNola's lineup The festival opens with a back-and-forth groovy conversation on the world of jazz between James Andrews & Crescent City All Stars and flutist Adil Chrafi tonight. Micheal Withe & New Orleans All Stars will then lead audiences on a musical journey across time, driving us through rhythmic universes with Moroccan Oud master Alaa Zouiten on Friday, June 13. CasaNola is set to conclude on Saturday, June 14 with one last blissful night led by Mahmoud Chouki & New Orleans Fusion, merging New Orleans rhythms with North African melodies. How do we get tickets? CasaNola tickets now available on You can choose a single-day pass for 400 MAD ($44) or immerse yourself in the full jazz experience with your three-day festival pass for 950 MAD ($104). This is a rare musical exchange you would not want to miss. The soulful interplay between African melodies and jazz New to the origin story of this eclectic and world renowned genre? Jazz, the musical child of blues and parent of countless genres, originated in African-American communities in New Orleans, in the late 19th century and early 20th century. The American military introduced jazz to Morocco during World War II, and its soulful melodies started flowing in and out of military bases and venues across Casablanca. In 1969, Jacques Muyal produced and released the album 'The 4 American Jazzmen in Tangier,' based on recordings in Morocco in 1959. The Moroccan-born die-hard jazz fanatic hosted an influential radio show as a teenager in Tangier , giving worldwide exposure to jazz musicians at the time. The complexity of jazz and its ability to break through musical norms while adhering to strict mathematical rules was like a match made in heaven with Moroccan and greater African music. The unusual time signatures and singular notes that intentionally touch specific nerves seemed to go hand in hand with Gnaoua and other African genres. Jazz further made its way into the Gnaoua scene in 2018, with a debut performance between renowned Maalem Hamid El Kasri and Jacob Collier & Friends at the BBC Proms. Both pioneers in their respective genres, the show was a striking example of how these worlds could work in harmony and create absolute beauty. Jazz artists now regularly frequent the lineups of Essaouria's Gnaoua and World Festival, which takes place every year in the Moroccan coastal town. Tags: Casablanca festivalCasablanca jazzCasaNolagnawa musicjazz music
