Morocco

Maalem Hamid EL KASRI

Scène Moulay Hassan,Scène Borj Bab Marrakech

Hamid El Kasri was born in in 1961 in Ksar El Kebir, in northern Morocco. He began training as early as 7 years of age, taught by the maâlems Alouane and Abdelouahed Stitou, but it was the husband of his grandmother – a former Sudanese slave – who inspired his true passion. His talent brought together the Gnaoua rhythms from the north and the south of Morocco. He owes his reputation to his deep and intense voice. This same voice has made him one of the most appreciated and solicited maâlems of his time. He is a familiar face at the Gnaoua and World Music Festival, where he created a sensation in en 2004 with the late Joe Zawinul, the distinguished Austrian pianist, in presenting one of the most memorable fusions of the Festival. During the 2010 edition, Hamid El Kasri presented the fusion album Yobadi, the fruit of a close collaboration with Karim Ziad. And in 2011 in Essaouira, he cast a spell over the Borj audience during an exceptional concert with Hamayun Kahn and Shahin Shahida.