Catch Some Sweet Jazz in Tangier

Jazz is a bit of a Marmite subject, but for fans it is the perfect time of year to take a late holiday to Tangier to listen to some sweet jazz on a warm North African evening. In fact, the 13th edition of Tanjazz was held last week at the Italian Palace and it attracted some top-class acts from all over the world.

Just some of the artists in attendance included the jazz fusion group M’Oud Swing Quartet and Gnawa Express, who both hail from Tangier. Three Moroccan friends Mustapha, Amine and Abdelhak presented a blend of “jazz, blues and tradition” for their act, Isslman, while Tawfik Ouldammar (the recognised pianist and composer) joined up with the Souissi brothers to play music based on traditional Moroccan folklore.

International artists included Chicago-born La Velle & Friends, the energetic accordion player Dwayne Dopsie & The Zydeco Hellraisers and West African guitarist-composer Bebey Prince Bissongo, who played traditional Burkinabe music. Singer Noam Vazana sang some original compositions and played the trombone, and the three singing ladies from Sweet System presented incredible covers ranging from the Beatles and Ray Charles to Cole Porter.

If you like the sound of enjoying a relaxing holiday in Morocco, listening to jazz in venues like the Tanjazz club at the Italian Palace might just hit the sweet spot! Consider booking a holiday to Morocco next autumn to catch the 14th edition of the popular Tanjazz festival.