Paul Giess - The Mirage of Ceuta (2026) [Hi-Res]

The album The Mirage of Ceuta emerged from a spontaneous creative union formed during the Gnaoua Festival in Essaouira, Morocco. American trumpeter and producer Paul Giess, Danish experimental vocalist Randi Pontoppidan, and legend of avant-garde bass Jamaaladeen Tacuma joined forces with local Gnawa tradition bearers Mohamed Wakrim and Maryam Bouzid, alongside drummer Matthew Jernigan.

Grounded in the hypnotic, earthy pulse of the traditional guembri, deep basslines, and fluid trumpet improvisations, the ensemble constructs a dynamic cross-cultural bridge. The project explores the intersection of ancient North African ritual music, spiritual blues, avant-garde jazz, and electroacoustic improvisation, capturing a live collaborative dialogue that transforms into an immersive, dreamlike soundscape.

Tracklist:
1-1 Paul Giess, Randi Pontoppidan - The Mirage of Ceuta (feat. Randi Pontoppidan) [3:46]
1-2 Paul Giess, Randi Pontoppidan, Matthew Jernigan, Jamaaladeen Tacuma - The Traveling Caravan (feat. Randi Pontoppidan, Matthew Jernigan & Jamaaladeen Tacuma) [2:15]
1-3 Paul Giess, Randi Pontoppidan, Matthew Jernigan, Mohamed Wakrim, Jamaaladeen Tacuma - Desair (feat. Randi Pontoppidan, Matthew Jernigan, Mohamed Wakrim & Jamaaladeen Tacuma) [1:51]
1-4 Paul Giess, Mohamed Wakrim - The Kind Craftsman Appears (feat. Mohamed Wakrim) [2:44]
1-5 Paul Giess, Randi Pontoppidan, Jamaaladeen Tacuma, Mohamed Wakrim - Once Inside (feat. Randi Pontoppidan, Jamaaladeen Tacuma & Mohamed Wakrim) [3:33]
1-6 Paul Giess, Randi Pontoppidan - Welookadis (feat. Randi Pontoppidan) [1:40]
1-7 Paul Giess, Randi Pontoppidan, Matthew Jernigan, Jamaaladeen Tacuma - Le Marché (feat. Randi Pontoppidan, Matthew Jernigan & Jamaaladeen Tacuma) [3:21]
1-8 Paul Giess, Maryam Bouzid - The Soul of the Guembri (feat. Maryam Bouzid) [2:18]
1-9 Paul Giess, Randi Pontoppidan, Mohamed Wakrim, Jamaaladeen Tacuma - Simoon (feat. Randi Pontoppidan, Mohamed Wakrim & Jamaaladeen Tacuma) [2:44]
1-10 Paul Giess, Randi Pontoppidan - Slo Ruev (feat. Randi Pontoppidan) [3:02]
1-11 Paul Giess, Mohamed Wakrim - The Kind Craftsman Passing By (feat. Mohamed Wakrim) [2:04]
1-12 Paul Giess, Randi Pontoppidan, Matthew Jernigan, Jamaaladeen Tacuma - Medina Mystique (feat. Randi Pontoppidan, Matthew Jernigan & Jamaaladeen Tacuma) [3:32]
1-13 Paul Giess, Maryam Bouzid - The Soul of the Guembri Floats On (feat. Maryam Bouzid) [2:13]
1-14 Paul Giess, Randi Pontoppidan, Jamaaladeen Tacuma, Mohamed Wakrim - Nothing Beats Cash (feat. Randi Pontoppidan, Jamaaladeen Tacuma & Mohamed Wakrim) [3:05]
1-15 Paul Giess, Randi Pontoppidan - Goet (feat. Randi Pontoppidan) [1:36]
1-16 Paul Giess, Mohamed Wakrim - The Kind Craftsman Evaporates (feat. Mohamed Wakrim) [2:56]