Casablanca – Casablanca, Morocco’s economic capital, swayed to the rhythm and soul of New Orleans last weekend, thanks to CasaNola.
The three-night event celebrated jazz and its culture and lit up Bouskoura’s Automobile Club du Maroc with an astonishing fusion of Moroccan heritage and New Orleans groove, the birthplace of jazz.
From June 12 -14, the festival brought together music legends from both sides of the Atlantic, offering a cultural bridge between the Mississippi and the Maghreb.
As the final note faded and the crowd rose in applause, it was clear that jazz and Moroccan music are not separate genres, but shared language rooted in rhythm, spirit, and storytelling.
This celebration left behind echoes of brass, trumpet, karakeb (metal castanets), and nay (bamboo flute).
When asked about the connection and cohesion felt between Jazz and Moroccan music and culture, Kaleb Summers told Morocco World News (MWN) that this “stems in the rhythm 100% that’s all I can say, it’s in the rhythm. When I was walking with the Gnaoua musicians, my first thought was, it felt like New Orleans sped up a little bit.”
In its debut edition, the festival didn’t just bring music, it brought people together, people from all cultures and backgrounds.
Strangers became friends in minutes, dancing, laughing, and singing shoulder to shoulder under Casablanca stars. From artists to entrepreneurs to students and expats, the crowd was a melting pot of cultures united through music and soul. Even outsiders felt at home, greeted with warm smiles, dancing without thought as the energy was incredible and unforgettable from the artists, organizers, and most importantly, the crowd.
Moroccan virtuoso Adil Charfi played a solo that danced over the brass and shuffles of James Andrews and the Crescent City All Stars, while Mahmoud Chouki poured Maghreb soul into smooth, groovy, jazzy rhythms.
You could taste both cultures in those two hours, distinct yet perfectly blended, working in harmony to create what seemed to be a conversation between the Maghreb and New Orleans. Artists from both sides of the Atlantic jammed together like lifelong friends, dancing, laughing, and improvising with childlike joy. No egos, no show-stealing, just musicians lifting each other up, passing the spotlight like a gift. It was a masterclass in cultural exchange, a moving symphony of shared energy, and a celebration of connection through sound.
In an interesting take, Si Adil Absi, President of FolkArt Group, told MWN: “Our goal through this performance was to showcase Moroccan heritage and contribute to the growth of our folklore. We wanted to show that our music can thrive in different settings and merge seamlessly with other musical genres.”
He added, “We’ve noticed that Gnaoua often takes the spotlight when it comes to fusion with international music, so we thought, why not take this opportunity to fuse Dakka Marrakchia with jazz?”
Away from the music, the venue itself was one straight out of a James Bond movie. Vintage cars lined up all over the scenery, and everything from food to drinks seamlessly paid for with a quick and sleek, and cashless festival bracelet. Immaculately clean and gorgeously lit, the space mirrored the beauty of jazz and professionalism of the event.
