Hakmoun Brings His Unity to Joe’s Pub for CD Release Party on April 12^th

By Rich Monetti

Hassan Hakmoun’s musical origins derive from the African continent and the Gnawa music of his Moroccan homeland. It began when he witnessed a healing ceremony for his sister that involved the Gnawa singing, drumming and playing of instruments such as the Sintir. He would take up the latter, which is a three stringed lute made of camel skin. Mastering his musical surroundings, Hakmoun always knew reaching out to America was a requirement of realizing his ambitions. As such, Hassan immigrated to New York in 1987, and today his music encompasses the traditions he began with and fuses them to popular styles of Jazz, Pop and Classical Contemporary. Numerous awards later and collaboration with the likes of Peter Gabriel, David Sanborn and Don Cherry, it began with a lucky break, and he hasn’t looked back.

Hassan Hakmoun (HH): There was a show at Washington Square Church, and musicians were coming in from another country to play. They were late, and the Church needed somebody to sit in for about 20 minutes to play something so I said yes. The group then arrived, and the people said no, we want to hear him. The representative from the World Music Institute said let the other band perform, but I got his attention, and that’s how it started.

Times Square(TS): Tell me about America calling you?

HH: I always had a dream that was the place I wanted to go. I was a big fan of Stevie Wonder, Michael Jackson, James Brown and Milles Davis - that kind of music, but in Morocco, people like and see you for a flash and go. TV isn't really big either there's one channel, and it goes off at midnight.

TS: What is Gnawa music?

HH: It's not something you go and listen to for fun. People go there to heal themselves.

TS: How old were you when you came to America?

HH: 22

TS: Was it scary?

HH: The scary part is not leaving the country. I've been independent since I was 10 in a tough country. The only thing that scares me here is all the guns. In Morocco, it's different. We had kidnappings, which one of my brothers was kidnapped for three years. Now, it's different. But coming here at the time, I didn't have a lot of friends and had the language barrier. I spoke French, and promised myself that I would have to start communicating within six months. I met a great friend - a homeless guy in Washington Square Park who was also educated. I was working in a Moroccan Restaurant, and I offered to give him my dinner. In return, he taught me 10 words a day, and I had to learn them before the next day. After four or five months, I said to him in English, “I think I'm hungry. I need to eat my dinner today, and I don't think I need any more lessons”. That was it, and we remained friends.

TS: What would you call your genre of music?

HH: I call it music. It's like one family. There may be 15 members, but you all carry the last name of your father so to me all music is music. What I'm doing is just bringing it back together like a reunion.

TS: Where is your show in New York?

HH: It's a CD release party at Joe's Pub

TS: Does the Sintir intimidate other musicians when you bring it into the fold?

HH: No. It's very interesting because musicians tell me a lot times they just play for the money, but love playing with me. It makes them happy and takes them on a different journey. That’s what I do.

TS: Did they know you back in Morocco now?

HH: I inspired mostly the entire country that is playing what I do. They moved from the traditions into fusion, mixing it with rock, jazz and reggae.

TS: So you’re like Michael Jackson in your country.

HH: When I came back the first time in 1999 for a festival, I couldn’t walk down the street without people wanting to take my picture. It was a great feeling to see that and the appreciation.

TS: What kind of American music do you listen to today?

HH: Soul music, some R&B but I don’t like listening to shouting.

TS: And you’ve done some acting?

HH: I was in Jungle to Jungle with Tim Allen and Rollerball in 2002.

TS: How come actors seem to be able to slide into acting so easily?

HH: Everybody has a different vision of acting. I see every person on this planet as actors. Then one day we’re not here. So it depends on how you act in life. It might not seem that way, but this is the story of you.

TS: Finally, what does music mean to you?

HH: For me, I can’t imagine my life on this planet without it. It has done so much for me. It helped bring 32 members of my family here, and now there’s four generations. I have a new baby girl and just thank God for music.

TS: Congratulations. Nice talking to you

HH: Thank you.

4/12/2014, Sat New York, NY Joe's Pub, 425 Lafayette Street Tix: $20, Show: 7:00 pm

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