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Aziz Sahmaoui عزيز السحماوي | |
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 Sahmaoui performing with University of Gnawa in 2012 | |
| Background information | |
| Born | 1962 (age 63–64) Marrakesh, Morocco |
| Genres | |
| Occupation | Musician |
| Instruments | |
| Years active | 1995–present |
Aziz Sahmaoui (in Arabic: عزيز السحماوي) (born 1962) is a Moroccan musician who specializes in a modern version of Gnawa music.
Aziz Sahmaoui was born in 1962 in Marrakesh, Morocco. He listened to Gnawa music from a young age, influenced by his father. After finishing his studies, in the 1990s, he moved to Paris, where he co-founded l'Orchestre National de Barbès (ONB), which mixed reggae and raï with North African influences.
After releasing two albums with ONB, he joined the Austrian jazz keyboardist and composer Joe Zawinul and collaborated with him on a number of songs as well as joining his Zawinul Syndicate. In 2010, Sahmaoui founded his own band, University of Gnawa, which boasted an international membership and blended a variety of genres, including jazz fusion, raï, chaabi, and traditional West African music.
with the Zawinul Syndicate
with University of Gnawa
Other albums
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