SHEFFIELD: University Firth Hall

TUE 19TH OCT, 2010 19:30

Hassan Erraji is a blind Moroccan Master Musician - a singer songwriter, multi instrumentalist, entertainer, arranger and composer with a highly respected international reputation.

Born south of Marrakech, Hassan was introduced to the traditional music of the Atlas mountains by experiencing the many forms of the Berber music which is taught by ear and passed on from generation to generation, from master to disciple. While a young boy he made his first instrument from a tin can and a piece of wood with bicycle brake cables for strings. He performed with local folk bands and classical musicians then later took up the Oud (a fretless Arab lute) and studied at the Conservatoire Municipal de Casablanca.

Since then Hassan has released six critically acclaimed albums worldwide as well as playing and collaborating on a huge number of musical projects with other major artists from all genres of the musical spectrum. He has performed live on stage at the world’s most prestigious music venues and festivals including The Royal Festival Hall, WOMAD and Glastonbury (UK), Teatro di Polverigi (Italy), In Roads Africa (USA), Frankfurt Guitar Festival (Germany), Tales of Graz (Austria) and Festival des Cerises (Belgium) to name but a few.
Expect to see a danceable contemporary global sound re-igniting the ancient & magical fire of stately bass & derbuka-driven Berber rhythms, and move effortlessly across a glamorous mosaic of lush Arabic oud & qanun power-chords and soaring taarab-style strings.