the ancient Sufi trance music of Morocco

While living in Tangier, Brion Gysin, through his friend Mohamed Hamri (painter and folkloreist), discovered the ancient Sufi trance music of the village of Jajouka. He later opened and ran the 1001 Nights restaurant, employeeing the Master Musicians as house band, so that he could hear them play every night. When Rolling Stones lead guitarist Brian Jones came to Morocco, Gysin and Hamri introduced him; Brian Jones wanted to incorporate the sound into the Stones' future recordings, eventually releasing instead the solo record 'Brian Jones Presents the Pipes of Pan at Jajouka' (1968). Other artists followed the trail to Jajouka, creating a rich inter- or meta-cultural music (Ornette Coleman's 'Dancing in Your Head', 1973, among others).

Visit the Official Website of the Master Musicians of Joujouka for more information.

"Pan, Bou Jeloud, the Father of Skins, dances through the moonlight nights in his village, Joujouka, to the wailing of his hundred Master Musicians. Down in the town, far away by the seaside, you can hear the wild whimper of his oboe-like raitas; a faint breath of panic borne on the wind."