Malika Zarra is an inspiring woman. Born in Morocco, raised in France, she uses her roots as an emerging Jazz singer in New York like no other. I have seen her countless times, but I can never get enough of her music.
Malika Zarra
Malika Zarra is an inspiring woman. Born in Morocco, raised in France, she uses her roots as an emerging Jazz singer in New York like no other. I have seen her countless times, but I can never get enough of her music.
In the packed hall of Joe's Pub's she recently described how the smells, colours, rhythms and hospitality of Morocco are part of her. The women she says are hard workers, keep things going and as if it were nothing they also make beautiful music. For example, she starts one of her songs with a rhythm that she remembers from her youth. One of the women always tapped it on a Coca-Cola bottle.
Tapping the same rhythm with a similar stick, Mailka starts the song. When the band enters, a true spectacle of music begins. You soon imagine yourself at one of those hospitable, colorful Moroccan weddings with an abundance of fantastically delicious dishes and rhythms that spontaneously loosen many a stiff hip.
My favorite song is Pouvoir. It is an Arabic song where she asks the audience to sing along. I still don't know the words but the rhythm is etched in my head.
A month or so ago she was asked by CNN for an interview. I felt flattered that she also invited me to go to a Moroccan restaurant in Brooklyn with some friends. There is a small part of it in the recordings. The drummer, Harvey Wirht , originally from Suriname, is clearly visible a few times. He is also our new blogger.
As a drummer he has traveled the world with Angelique Kidjo among others. He is currently in Brazil and if he can find his cable to connect his camera to his mac he will upload pictures. Stay tuned. Click here for Harvey's blog.