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Special Benefit Event: Khalil Shaheed and the Mo'Rockin Project Bouchaib Abdelhadi, vocals/dembek; Yassir Chadly, vocals/gembre/oud; Richard Howell, saxophone; Khalil Shaheed, trumpet; Glen Pearson, piano; Ron Belcher, bass; Deszon Claiborne, drums Monday, July 19 | 7:30 PM | Dinkelspiel Auditorium The first time Bay Area trumpet master Khalil Shaheed listened to cassettes of North African melodies given to him by Moroccan singer and multi-instrumentalist Yassir Chadly, he had a sudden insight: "They ain't playin' nothin' but the blues!" This revelation showed Shaheed the common ground that his own roots in jazz and blues shared with the soulful, ancient musical traditions of North Africa. No matter where it comes from, great music can fortify the soul and bring people together. In the Mo'Rockin' Project, a septet co-led by Shaheed and Chadly, the excitement of a funky horn section and heartfelt jazz improvisation unite with the sublime sounds of Islamic devotional music and traditional Arabic and African instruments. The result is a remarkable fusion that captures the essence of two cultures and delivers the best of both worlds, conjuring up "how Marvin Gaye might have sounded fronting Abdullah Ibrahim's band" according to East Bay Express. Without being overtly political, the energetic, funky music they create dispels misconceptions about American and Islamic traditions, and exemplifies the beauty that can be created when two cultures come together in the spirit of celebration, communication, and love. Describing the Mo'Rockin' Project's sound, bluesman Taj Mahal said it best: "There isn't a vehicle made by man on Earth or space that can give you this beautiful a ride!" Read: LISTEN: Khalil Shaheed and
the Mo'Rockin Project – "Andalus" Khalil Shaheed and
the Mo'Rockin Project – "Tajine" Khalil Shaheed and the Mo'Rockin Project – "Blues
for Yusef" WATCH: Khalil Shaheed and the Mo'Rockin Project at Yoshi's, 2009 Khalil Shaheed and the Mo'Rockin Project's CD release party, 2006
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