The Master Musicians Of Jajouka, Bachir Attar - Apocalypse Across The Sky (1992)

review
The Master Musicians of Jajouka are an ensemble of full-time Moroccan musicians who live in the small rural village of Jajouka, which is in the Jibala hills south of Tangier. For them, music isn't a part-time interest or a mere hobby; it's an integral part of their day-to-day lives. Their passionate music was documented in 1991, when Apocalypse Across the Sky was recorded using a digital 12-track recorder. Some of the songs on this CD favor chanting vocals and use of the call-and-response technique, while the instrumentals make extensive use of percussion and the ghaita, an African wind instrument with a high pitch and an oboe-ish quality. The ghaita has been heard as a solo instrument on many African recordings, but on Sky (for which ghaita player/singer Bachir Attar serves as leader), listeners are given the chance to hear several ghaitas in unison. This is enriching music that shouldn't be overlooked.

© Alex Henderson

Tracklist:
1 Gabahay
2 A Habibi Ouajee T'Allel Allaiya
3 El Medahey
4 Bujloudia (Bujloudia Dancing With Aisha Qandisha)
5 Alalilla 'About The Night'
6 The Middle Of The Night
7 Bujloudia
8 Jajouka Between The Mountains
9 Memories Of My Father
10 Mohamed Diha Utalla Fiha (Take Care Of Her Or Leave Her)
11 Sbar Yagelbi Sbar
12 On Horseback
13 Talaha L'Badro Alaina