Maâlem Hassan BOUSSOU

• country:
  Morocco
• style(s):
  Fusion Gnawa
• label:
  not signed
• gender:
  male
• instrumentation:
  instrumental, vocal
• artist submitted by:
  Tour'n'sol Prod.

Hassan Boussou is one of the best Gnawa Master of his generation.

Between "Séwaryé" and "Boussou Ganga"... between the traditional repertoire and his compositions Hassan Boussou, son of the regreted Maalem Hmida Boussou is always going back and forth from tradition to modernity,

Hassan BOUSSOU was born in Casablanca, and grew up in the respect of the Gnawa traditions. His dad was the Maâlem (Master) Hmida Boussou, with whom he toured around Europe (Italy, Switzerland, Belgium, Netherlands, France) since 1990.

During work-shops in Belgium, in 1996, he met Belgian musicians and formed with them the group 'Gnawa Fusion'

The traditional repertoire stays Hassan Boussou principal inspiration source, but his music, in the fusion experience, is enriched by western tones, brought by the other musicians of the group.

Hassan Boussou participated in all his dad troops tours while he was touring with his own group "Gnawa Fusion". He toured in Europe, in the USA and in Morocco until the year 2001 when he went to live in Belgium.

Settled down, in France, since the year 2002 he created the group Séwaryé with whom he decided to renew the experience of melting pot and fusion music which is so important to him.

Hassan Boussou worked, since, on various projects : for the Jazz quartet "N'Jawazz" ( 2006) ; La compagnie du Tire-Laine for the "Bal des Beaux dimanches"(2004-2006), an Arabo-Andalusian group called "Chem's" (from 2006) ; Louis Bertignac called him for his Parisian tour (2005) ; Laurent Dehors with the "Trio Gnawa" (2003-2004) ; the Compagnie Kadencée for a contemporary dance creation called "Frémissements" (2004), the ARA for Gnawa and Moroccan music work-shops (since 2004) and he is a member of "Band of Gnawa with Loy Ehrlich, Louis Bertignac and Cyril Atef (since 2009!.

Hassan Boussou proposes, today, 2 projects :

One more traditional called "Boussou Ganga" (with the musicians of his father and/or Gnawa musicians settled in France )

And "Séwaryé", a fusion experience of different musical worlds, with him as a singer and playing the gumbri, accompanied by Manuel Paris (bluesy-guitar-player) Mehdi Bennadji, (multicolour-sounds-drummer) Aboubacar Kouyaté (guitar player, singer and Mandingue traditional drummer, Meddhy Ziouche (piano) Areski Dries (multi-percussionist) Abdelhak Kchimi Gnawi singer, Pierre-Eric Rakatoarivony (bass) and Jessy Blondeel (saxophonist with Jazz and Gypsy influences)

Between tradition and modernity, between traditional repertoire and compositions…Hassan is always on the road.. He has spend, lately, lots of time in Morocco working with gnawa musicians and taking part in the important events of the Gnawa community. His new project was recorded,in Morocco, during the Summer 2010.

Links

• Booker's website
• Sewarye
• Hassan Boussou personal website