Hassan Hakmoun

Infobox musical artist
Name = Hassan Hakmoun

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Img_capt = Hassan Hakmoun during Jam Night at the Ottawa Jazz Festival 2003.
Background = group_or_band
Birth_name = حسن حكمون
Alias =
Born = 1963
Died =
Origin = Marrakech
Instrument = castanets
vocals
sintir
Genre = world fusion
Gnawa music
Occupation = musician
Years_active = 1980's - present
Label =
Associated_acts =
URL = http://www.hassanhakmoun.com/

Hassan Hakmoun ( _ar. حسن حكمون) (b. 1963 in Marrakech) is a Los Angeles-based Moroccan Gnawa musician.

Early life

Hakmoun was born to a family of musicians [http://www.culturebase.net/artist.php?285 "The gnawa-globetrotter"] - culturebase.net] who introduced him to the musical world of the Gnawa. By age four, he performed alongside snake charmers and fire-breathers on Marrakech streets. His mother is known throughout the city as a mystic healer. At the age of fourteen he left school to concentrate on music. [ [http://www.worldmusiccentral.org/artists/artist_page.php?id=1201 "Biography of Hassan Hakmoun"] - worldmusiccentral.org]

Career

Hakmoun's U.S. debut was in 1987 at Lincoln Center with the band "Trio Gna & Nomadas Dance Group". He later resided in New York City before moving to Los Angeles. The composer and producer Richard Horowitz helped Hakmoun to adapt to his new life.

In 1993, Peter Gabriel introduced him to Real World Records where he will publish his "Trance" album produced by Simon Emmerson. All this influenced Hakmoun's Gnawa music by fusing with new styles such as Jazz and psychedelic music. He also performed with musicians such as Paula Cole, Don Cherry and Jamshied Sharifi.

One year later, in 1994, he performed at WOMAD'94 tour and Woodstock '94 along with Peter Gabriel.

In August 2008, he performed at the American Folk Festival in Bangor, Maine.

Discography

* "Gift of the Gnawa" with Adam Rudolph (September 1992) - Flying Fish Records
* "Trance" with Zahar (November 1993) - Real World Records/Virgin Records
* "Fire Within" (August 1995)
* "Black Mud Sound" (November 1995) with Cornelius Claudio Kreusch
* "Life Around the World" (June 1999)
* "Gift of the Gnawa" with Adam Rudolph (March 2000)

External links

* [http://www.hassanhakmoun.com/ Official website]
* [http://arts.enotes.com/contemporary-musicians/hakmoun-hassan-biography "Hassan Hakmoun - Sintir player, singer"]
* [http://www.wholeearthfestival.net/wefhakmoun.htm "Hassan Hakmoun with special guest Paula cole"]

Notes and references