Tangiers: A Haven for Jazz Finds Solace in International Jazz Day Spotlight

Tangiers, Morocco, a city steeped in artistic allure, takes center stage as UNESCO's International Jazz Day host for the first time in 2024. The North African port city, known for its historic draw for American jazz musicians, celebrates its rich jazz legacy with a four-day festival culminating in an All-Star Global Concert featuring Herbie Hancock, Marcus Miller, Richard Bona, and Romero Lubambo.

Tangiers: Crossroads of Culture and Music

Tangiers' unique location at the meeting point of Africa and Europe, along with its colonial past, fostered a cosmopolitan atmosphere. The city's magnetism extended to writers and poets, including the Beat Generation, and African American musicians seeking a connection to their African roots. As Philippe Lorin, founder of a Tangiers jazz festival, remarks, "Tangiers was a haven of freedom – just like jazz music."

A Legacy of Collaboration: American Jazz Meets Moroccan Gnawa

A pivotal moment arrived in 1959 when a teenage jazz promoter recorded a session with American musicians in Tangier. This recording, released decades later as "The 4 American Jazzmen in Tangier," cemented the city's significance in jazz history.

Furthermore, American diplomacy played a role in fostering cultural exchange. Pianist Randy Weston, captivated by his 1967 U.S. State Department-organized African tour, settled in Tangiers for five years.  Weston's impact is undeniable, with his 1973 album "Tanjah" a testament to his love for the city.

A unique musical bridge was built through the collaboration between Weston and Abdellah El Gourd, a legend of gnawa music, a Moroccan genre with roots in West African rituals.  "The language barrier was never a problem," El Gourd recalls, "Our language was music."  Their collaborative efforts yielded the acclaimed 1992 album "The Splendid Master Gnawa Musicians of Morocco" and even birthed the city's first jazz festival in 1972, featuring jazz luminaries.

A Lasting Legacy

While Weston and El Gourd's festival was short-lived, it inspired the creation of the Tanjazz festival, which continues to celebrate Tangiers' vibrant jazz scene every September.  As Tangiers basks in the global spotlight of International Jazz Day 2024, the city's enduring love affair with jazz and its role in fostering intercultural dialogue is undeniable.