Ghiwale Jazz

A quick blurb on the show I saw on friday, to put me up to speed. They were a Moroccan jazz ensemble, and played a mix of classic jazz and traditional Moroccan music, with a guitar, drums, standup bass, keys, two singers/hand-drum players, a guy on two clay tom-toms, and a wind instrumentalist alternating between sax, flute, and a brassy clarinet-type thing. The music was quite good, though it was a litle bipolar in that it usually sounded really jazzy or really Moroccan rather than a fusion. I also found the constitution of the band quite interesting. The guitarist, who was the most charismatic of them, was in a wheelchair but played some pretty excellent guitar, which I really respect. There were several white guys among the mainly Moroccan band, which was good. And one of the singers/drummers looked like the stereotypical shoarma chef - balding, moustached, with a white shirt and black pants/shoes - which was highly endearing. It was an enjoyable show all in all.