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Morocco World
2 days ago
- 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
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Yahoo
Only on 19: Son of Ronald Dumas Jr. gets special birthday surprise
HUNTSVILLE, Ala (WHNT) — For the past 6 months, when you've heard the name 'Dumas,' it's been about the abducted Huntsville realtor who is still missing, but Wednesday night, it was all about his son, Kai, who turned 13 years. As Kai walked out of the Lego store, he heard a loud combination of horns honking, police sirens, and engines revving. Monrovia Volunteer Fire & Rescue sees large uptick in volunteers after changing application process 'At first, I'm thinking, 'What is this?' that's when everyone yelled surprise,' Kai Dumas said. 'I'm like, 'Wait a minute, did I pass out?'' It's no secret Kaia and his siblings have had a hard year since their father went missing and is yet to be found, but that shouldn't stop the celebration he deserves. 'They don't deserve the situation they've been put into,' said James Andrews. Andrews is the Dumas family's private investigator. 'Some bad people put Ronnie and his family in a bad situation and the kids are having to pay for it,' he said. 'So, anything that we can do to help them at least find a few moments of happiness this summer…we're trying to do that.' THANK YOU! Wishes Can't Wait Telethon reaches $50,000 goal to help grant North Alabama kids wishes Because Kai is a car lover, his mom Shakeria s=Samples, wanted to come up with a special way to surprise him, so she invited anyone in the community with a sweet ride to roll up and rev their engines to celebrate Kai's13th. 'It was even better than I could have envisioned,' she said. 'I pictured you know, just a few cars and him walking up, but it was amazing.' Friends, police officers, and even strangers lined the parking lot. 'I saw the post for Kai's birthday,' Delvin Cooper said. He brought one of the cars to the show today. 'I myself am a new dad, and I had followed the story in terms of what had happened to his father,' he said. 'What happened to Kai is not his fault. It's still nevertheless important for him to have a great day. A kid's birthday without a dad being there death definitely is a deep void, so if I can contribute some love, that makes me happy, and I hope that makes him happy too.' Samples said that while it won't replace the feeling of having his father there, it will remind Kai that the community has his family's back in the meantime. 'I just want to say thank you from the bottom of our hearts,' she said. 'We appreciate you all so much.' It is safe to say it was a 13th birthday Kai will never forget, and the family said it wouldn't have been possible without the generosity of the community. If you would like to continue helping this family, they have a Gofundme. The fundraiser is run by James Andrews, and he says 100% of the proceeds go towards the kids. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
