Hassan Erraji

Hassan Erraji is a blind Moroccan Master Musician - a singer songwriter, multi instrumentalist, entertainer, arranger and composer with a highly respected international reputation.
Born in the village of Tazart, south of Marrakech, Hassan was introduced to the traditional music of the Atlas mountains from an early age by experiencing the many forms of the Berber music repertoire which is practised and taught by ear and passed on from generation to generation, from master to disciple. While a young boy he made his first instrument from a tin can and a piece of wood with bicycle brake cables for strings.
As a teenager he performed with local folk bands and classical musicians then later took up the Oud (a fretless Arab lute) and started studying Arab music theory at The Conservatoire Municipal de Casablanca. On graduating from the Conservatoire, Hassan moved to Brussels to study violin and piano at L`Academie de Music where he left with a distinction to begin his performing career.
As a solo performer and with his previous band Arabesque, Hassan has released six critically acclaimed albums worldwide including the titles "Nikriz" and "La Dunia" as well as playing and collaborating on a huge number of musical projects with other major artists from all genres of the musical spectrum. In this time he has performed live on stage at the worlds most prestigious music venues and festivals including The Royal Festival Hall, WOMAD and Glastonbury (UK), Teatro di Polverigi (Italy), In Roads Africa (USA), Frankfurt Guitar Festival (Germany), Tales of Graz (Austria) and Festival des Cerises (Belgium) to name but a few.
Hassan has written and produced music for film, radio, video, theatre and television as well as running highly sought after master classes at many of the top musical institutes around the world although for the past eight years Hassan has spent time out of the live international performing spotlight to concentrate on teaching and writing.

Internationally acclaimed blind multi-instrumentalist/singer-songwriter from Marrakesh introduces his latest incarnation of the Arabesque trio format, where his music flows from the place where ancient North African roots touch the contemporary jazz sensibility.

Best known for his eloquent and passionate singing and explosive oud playing on an extensive back-catalogue of immaculate CD releases over the years, Hassan has devoted his musical career to exploring the ripe potential for innovation that lies within North Africa’s folk traditions. His current solo performances often are produced in tandem with Hassan’s own customised digital Gnawa Beat Box, whilst live trio performances are always extraordinary and memorable events, with master musician Erraji switching effortlessly from the lush intricacy of oud (lute) to nay (bamboo flute), soaring violin lines, or to the intense colourings of qanun (zither). With Arabesque he recently played a stunning virtuoso set as part of the London African Music Festival 'sharing a program of exciting rhythms, solos & songs from the Chaabi and Gnawa Black Troubadours, to the haunting sounds of traditional Berber violin.'