Jajouka at 2009 Meltdown Festival With Ornette Coleman

05.19.09 – Bachir Attar and the Master Musicians of Jajouka are pleased to announce that they will be performing with Ornette Coleman at Southbank's 2009 Meltdown Festival in London, England June 13th through June 21st. As the musical "master of ceremony," Jajouka will be opening each night of music with a special half-hour performance on the Royal Festival Hall Level 2 Terrace. On Friday June 19th and Sunday June 21st, Bachir Attar and the Jajouka Masters will headline with Ornette Coleman and special guests. LondonJazz reports additional guests Bill Frisell on June 19th and Charlie Haden + Flea on June 21st. Other confirmed Meltdown 2009 artists include: The Roots, Baaba Maal, Moby, David Murry, Yoko Ono with Sean Lennon, Mark Ribot, Evan Parker, Han Bennink, Yo La Tengo, James Blood Ulmer, Bobby McFerrin, Patty Smith and more. For complete listings and ticketing information, please visit: http://meltdown.southbankcentre.co.uk/

These performances mark the first live collaboration between Jajouka and Ornette Coleman in more than ten years and also illustrate the continuation of a deep friendship and musical relationship between the two artists, spanning more than 4 decades. Beginning in 1974, Ornette Coleman released Dancing In Your Head on which the epic "Midnight Sunrise", recorded in Jajouka, features the musical collision between the Master Musicians of Jajouka, Ornette Coleman and the late Robert Palmer. In the mid to late 1990s, Ornette joined Bachir Attar and the Master Musicians of Jajouka on stage for several highly acclaimed European performances. And just recently while on tour in the US, Bachir Attar and the Master Musicians of Jajouka reconnected with Ornette for some impromptu recording sessions at Ornette's New York City studio. You can view tour date details here and below.

6.13.09Meltdown Festival 2009Royal Festival Hall
6.14.09Meltdown Festival 2009Royal Festival Hall
6.15.09Meltdown Festival 2009Royal Festival Hall
6.16.09Meltdown Festival 2009Royal Festival Hall
6.17.09Meltdown Festival 2009Royal Festival Hall
6.18.09Meltdown Festival 2009Royal Festival Hall
6.19.09Meltdown Festival 2009Royal Festival Hall
6.20.09Meltdown Festival 2009Royal Festival Hall
6.21.09Meltdown Festival 2009Royal Festival Hall
7.03.09Festival RotasSão Jorge Theater

Stay tuned for information regarding MMoJ performances in 2009.

New Record! Jajouka Live Volume 1

01.05.09 – Bachir Attar and The Master Musicians of Jajouka are pleased to announce the release of their new record, Jajouka Live Vol. 1. Recorded at the Centro Cultural de Belém in Lisbon, Portugal on the final night of a weeklong tribute to Paul Bowles, Live Vol. 1 is the debut release on Jajouka Records, owned and operated by Bachir Attar and the Master Musicians. Produced by Bachir Attar and Michael Gassert, the album contains several new and never before released tracks, capturing the group at the height of their powers.

Currently, Jajouka Live Vol. 1 is available for secure download in MP3, FLAC, and Apple Lossless formats through jajoukarecords.com. All Files are 100% DRM free and include album artwork by Kate Diamond. US physical and world–wide digital release date: January 27th, 2009. Physical release in Europe and Japan: Spring 2009. Stay tuned for Jajouka Live Vol. 1 updates and extras.

Jajouka Documentary: The Hand of Fatima

12.23.08 – Bachir Attar and The Master Musicians of Jajouka will appear in the eagerly awaited documentary film The Hand of Fatima, which travels from Mississippi to Morocco to examine the long friendship between the Master Musicians of Jajouka and legendary New York Times music critic Robert Palmer. The Hand of Fatima features exclusive footage of the village of Jajouka as well as interviews with Yoko Ono, Donovan, Genesis P. Orridge, Anthony DeCurtis, and Stephen Davis.

Directed by Palmer’s daughter, Augusta, the film has received grants from NYSCA, the Lucius and Eva Eastman Fund, LMCC, and the Wellspring Foundation. The Hand of Fatima was selected for IFP’s prestigious Rough Cut Lab in May 2008 and showcased at Independent Film Week in September 2008. A festival premiere is expected in 2009, with DVD and theatrical release to follow. Support the film’s completion by clicking here.

Jajouka Summer Tour 2008

12.01.08 – The Master Musicians of Jajouka with Bachir Attar completed a highly acclaimed 2008 Summer Tour of Canada where they traveled coast to coast performing before crowds of thousands and were honored by receiving the Prix Minor award for their performance at Le Festival D’ete in Québec.

7.04.08ZaragozaAuditorio Expo 2008
7.11.08QuébecFestival D’été International de Québec
7.13.08OttawaCisco Ottawa Bluesfest
7.15.08TorontoPhoenix Concert Theatre
7.19.08VancouverVancouver Folk Festival
7.20.08VancouverVancouver Folk Festival
7.24.08CalgaryCalgary Folk Festival
7.25.08CalgaryCalgary Folk Festival
7.26.08CalgaryCalgary Folk Festival

Stay tuned for information regarding MMoJ performances in 2009.