Kasba
The group creates a musical Kasba dish, wherein Moroccan Western ingredients and herbs are combined into a tasty musical mix. Kasba mixes rai with rock, adds some reggae to it and finishes it with some gnawa. The roots of the members of Kasba are located in the Netherlands and Morocco. The band from Brabant plays selfmade songs and traditional Moroccan songs and mixes rai with, among other styles, reggae and funk.
The instrumental cast:
Cajon, darbouka / Gallal, Acoustic Guitar, Acoustic Bass, Piano, Trumpet, Saxophone and Vocals.
Kasba enjoys a growing reputation in the Netherlands but also abroad. In 2002 the band performed at the wedding of Willem-Alexander and Maxima, in 2004 for the Dutch royal family and the Prince of Morocco on the occasion of his visit to the Netherlands. In 2007 the band was nominated by Beyond Dutch World Magazine for Best Group and in 2009 for the Global MCN Act Award: for the Dutch world music artist or band who was for a longer period leading and successful.
Theaterprogram 'Darna'
On its latest album Kasba returns to the acoustic roots of North African music. With Darna ('my house') Kasba brings out new and existing compositions in a fresh, acoustic way. Compared to previous recordings, the compositions on existing Darna are played with more dynamic, and there is more attention to improvisation. For members of Kasba making music with only acoustic instruments is a whole new experience. Despite of the new setting, the unique and energetic 'tagine' sound that the music of Kasba always emerges, is completely intact.
Biography
In 2001 the group performs in Paradiso Amsterdam for the first time under the name Kasba. Kasba plays the club circuit in 2002 (including major venues such as 013, Paradiso, Melkweg). The group is invited to attend the wedding of Prince Willem Alexander and Princess Maxima in the Amsterdam Arena. In the summer the debut album Sidi Yahya is released. For promotion Kasba went to Morocco in July for performances at the Rawafid Festival in Casablanca, Rabat Festival and the Festival de Berkane Rai. The Moroccan television channel 2M makes a live recording, and the national television channel RTM pays attention to the Dutch group. In autumn, Kasba performed five evenings in a row at Theater Carré during the festival Made In Holland. In October they played in Paradiso with Faudel and in November they provide several concerts at the Concerthall in Amsterdam.
The second album Chouf Chouf is released in 2004 in the Netherlands, Belgium and Morocco. The video accompanying the song Yama Bomba is on June 27th at number one in the charts of the Moroccan TV channel Noujoum AlHijra TV. At the opening of the celebration of 400 years of trade relations between Morocco and the Netherlands Kasba plays in the Nieuwe Kerk in Amsterdam for both the Prince of Morocco as members of the Dutch royal family. Kasba performes at Noorderslag in 2005. Under the cultural exchangeprogram Netherlands / Morocco 2005 Kasba goes on tour in Morocco.
The band is the subject of the documentary "Kasba in de Polder" wich is broadcasted in 2006. Documentary makers Martin Maat and Hans Hermans followed the band for a year and a half at various shows with Blof and The Lau and during their tour through Morocco.
Discography:
Chouf Chouf 2004, Fassi Phone Label, CD FES 068
Zigzag 2007, Salhi Label Sound, CD SASO 01
Darna 2009, Music Label LC, CDKA02
Musicians:
Khalid Jakhlal percussion, vocals
Roel Denteneer guitar, vocal
Sami El Ghousli percussion, vocals
Dieter van der Westen bass, guitar, vocals
Mohammed Ezzaher backing vocals, keyboards, vocals
