Innov Gnawa
Innov Gnawa is a Grammy-nominated musical collective dedicated to exploring Morocco’s venerable Gnawa music tradition in the heart of New York City. Formed in the summer of 2014, the group draws on the considerable talents and expertise of Hassan Ben Jaafer, a maâlem, or master Gnawa musician, originally from Fez, Morocco. Under the guidance of Ben Jaafer, Innov has delved deep into the roots and rituals of Gnawa music, and made a big splash in NYC, playing some of the city’s most prestigious rooms including Lincoln Center, Music Hall of Williamsburg, Brooklyn Bowl and the storied backroom of Brooklyn’s Barbès.
Hailed by Brooklyn magazine as one of the "5 bands you need to know in Brooklyn's Arabic music scene", Innov Gnawa make great use of this traditional repertoire, and add their own, contemporary spin with additional African and latin percussion. Taken as a whole, this exciting new outfit works hard to fuse a centuries old North African tradition with the pulse and attitude of New York City now.
Releases
Pique-nique Recordings are proud to present Innov Gnawa - 'Aicha', a limited 12-inch from the new label, featuring four traditional pieces, performed by Innov Gnawa and mixed and produced by Dave Harrington (Darkside).
There is perhaps no group that better illustrates the beauty of Gnawa music than Innov Gnawa. Having grown up and studied Gnawa music in Morocco individually, fate brought each musician separately to New York City, where they met and formed a band around the Master - Mâalem Hassan Ben Jaâfer. As Innov Gnawa, they began carrying the torch of this uniquely Moroccan music tradition with rich pan-African roots. All Gnawa music has a role to fulfil in the healing ritual called the "Lila", which means "Night" in Arabic.
A "Lila" can last for more than 12 hours, and is usually conducted in intimate gatherings, for the purpose of creating a safe place for people to reach a trance-like state, and connect with their ancestral spirits. Innov Gnawa are the only New York-based Gnawa band who play regularly and still remain true to the traditions of this ancient ritual.
Buy on Bandcamp
TRACKLISTING:
1. Chalaba
2. Baniya
3. Lalla - Aicha
4. Youbati - Boulila
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Released March 30, 2018
Produced by Dave Harrington
Hand-drawn artwork by Sophie Bass