European jazz festival to resonate next September in old palaces and mansions of Fez

The first festival of European jazz will be held in Fez, next September 10 through 12, under the theme "Jazz in Riads."

The word "Riad" standing for older private mansions and palaces of this Moroccan central city as well as those of other cities like Meknes and Marrakech.

Organizers said the purpose of the jazz festival is to diversify cultural shows and performances and make known the architectural heritage of the houses of the old town of Fez.

The festival will feature international singers in the like of Biffaud and Lionel Rascle, who will present a "Guitar Mania" concert, Laurent Dehors, Michel Massot and Tuba Michel Debrunnes, who will play their "Laurent Dehors Trio" piece, and Jean Pierre Fouquey, Ludovic Murat, Philippe Euvrard and Yvan Oukrid in "JPF Réunion" quartet.

The three jazz bands that will perform six concerts in the afternoons and evenings will wander through the alleys of the old town and play in the various riads such as "la Maison Bleue," "Riad Fes," "le Riad Mabrouka," "Dar Al Ghalia," "le Riad Zamane" and "Dar Andalous."

The event is sponsored by the "Centre regional du Tourisme" (CRT) and the "Association des Maisons d'H™tes de Fes."

Driss Faceh, of the CRT, told the Moroccan news agency MAP, the festival will bring together European and Moroccan singers, the latter expected to sing traditional music of the Andalusi, Malhoun and Taktouka Jablia genres.

The Andalusi and Malhoun have been inherited from the Moslems that emigrated to Morocco from Spain in the 6th century, while Taktouka Jablia is a local music of the Rif mountains, northern Morocco.

The Moroccan and European singers will close the festival in a general public performance that will try to produce a fusion of their different genres.

The festival is a prelude to the grand international jazz festival scheduled in Fez March 7 through 13, Faceh said.