Night Spirit Masters: Gnawa Music of Marrakesh

Various Artist (Artist) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (September 24, 1991)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Axiom
• ASIN: B000000GAI
• Also Available in: Audio Cassette
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #170,536 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #20 in Music > World Music > Africa > Morocco

Track Listings

1. Baba L'Rouami - Mustapha Baqbou, Abdelhak Bou Naam, Said Oughassal, Mahjoub El Khalmouss, Ahmed Hamzaoui

2. Mimoun Mamrba - Said Oughassal, Abdelqader Oughassal, Abelmar Bou Naam, Abderrahim Oughassal, Abdel Kbir Msolom, ...

3. Tramin - Brahim El Belkani, Abbes Larfaoui, Mahjoub Jaffer

4. Chabako - Abdelqader Oughassal, Said Oughassal, Abdelhak Bou Naam, Abderrahim Oughassal, Abdellatif Oughassal

5. Moulay Abdellah Ben Hassaine/Moulay Brahim - Mustapha Baqbou, Ahmed Mamzaoi

6. Toura Toura Tour Kelilah - Mustapha Baqbou, Abdel Kbir Mershan, Mahjoub El Khalmouss, Mbarrek Ben Othane

7. Baniya - Abdelqader Oughassal, Said Oughassal Abdelhak Bou Naam, Aberrahim Oughassal, Samir Zougari, Abdel...

8. Jillala - Mustapha Baqbou, Abdel Kbir Mershan, Mahjoub El Khalmouss, Mohammed Qrifli

9. Said Fafy Drum Solo - Said Fafy, Said Oughassal

10. Toura Toura Tour Kelilah #2 - Brahim El Belkani, Mahjoub Methoum, Rachid El Belkani

11. Hamouda - Abdelqader Oughassal, Said Oughassal, Abdelhak Bou Naam, Aberrahim Oughassal, Samir Zougari, Abdel..

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Probably one of the finest CD's I own, March 21, 2006

By 

Example: Mark Twain "optional" (optional) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Night Spirit Masters: Gnawa Music of Marrakesh (Audio CD)

If you like Gnawa music, I highly recommend this CD. It's a shame that it's out of print, but finding & purchasing a good used copy is well worth the trouble. I'm surprised that one reviwer said the music was tainted with "western"-ization; that's often one of my own complaints, but in this case I really don't see it as appropriate. Granted, I've never been to Morocco & heard the music 1st hand, but based on the other Gnawa albums I've heard, this seems quite authentic, not to mention superbly done. The songs are wonderfully performed, and the sound quality is excellent, way above par: the instruments and vocals sound clear and distinct, but not phoney or stiff -- there's no artificial reverb or compressed-sounding stuff going on. It just sounds like master Gnawa musicians performing traditional Gnawa music. This is certainly a gem in my CD collection, I'm really glad to have it.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Must Have, October 6, 2002

By 

Walter New (LA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Night Spirit Masters: Gnawa Music of Marrakesh (Audio CD)

Don't listen to what the other reviewer said, this CD is amazing, it received 4 stars in Rolling Stone when it came out in '91. I've purchased multiple copies of this disc, it is the most likely CD I have along with Abbey Road and Tango Zero Hour to get stolen at parties. The recording is very clean by Hollywood audiofile Biily Yodelman . Just buy it, you'll love it.

6 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Mystical, Timeless, and Heavy Duty!, May 8, 2003

By 

"ideas102" (Appalachia, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Night Spirit Masters: Gnawa Music of Marrakesh (Audio CD)

... Perhaps he is right. REAL Gnawa is played by peasants in huts in Morrocco with goats in the background. So if you can't go to Morrocco, I guess you're going to have to settle for an actual RECORDING of some Gnawa music.

If you are some kind of Touareg/"Berber" snob then this might disappoint you, unless you enjoy something called "dancing" or perhaps even "immersive musical experiences."

With tribal topics (such as ritualized circumcision) and masterful polyrhythms, you can feel the embers leaping around you as this album progresses. ...I've been crawling the net for months looking for this album. Up till now it was out of stock ... GET IT WHILE IT LASTS.