"People who love and know music, poets and writers and musicians, it touches them. They understand it."

Bachir Attar: The Master Musician of Jajouka

Bachir Attar was born in Jajouka, Morocco, is the leader of Master Musicians of Jajouka led by Bachir Attar. He is the son of Hadj Abdesalam Attar who led the group Master Musicians of Jajouka at the time of their groundbreaking album produced by Brian Jones. Bachir Attar carries on his father's Attar family traditions with a new generation of Master Musicians descended from members of his father's group. The group recorded under the shorter and correct pronunciation of the Moghrebi name "The Master Musicians of Jajouka" on soundtracks for films including The Cell, "The Hand of Fatima" by Augusta Palmer, Bernardo Bertolucci's The Sheltering Sky, "William Burroughs: A Man Within", directed by Yoni Leyser, Naked Lunch, Ornette: Made in America, Nicolas Roeg's "Bad Timing". CDs include Bill Laswells' Apocalypse Across the Sky, Peter Gabriel's Jajouka Between the Mountains, appearances with the Rolling Stones on Steel Wheels, and the second album of the group from 1974 produced by Joel Rubiner entitled The Master Musicians of Jajouka.

Bachir Attar / Photo by © Cherie Nutting

In addition to his work with Master Musicians of Jajouka, Bachir Attar was granted a Music Composition Fellowship by "The New York Foundation for the Arts" in 1990 for his compositions "Memories of My Father" and "Sounds of New York". Attar has also has recorded a solo album entitled The Next Dream, which was produced in New York City by Bill Laswell. Attar was a guest performer on Nicky Skopelitis's album, Ekstasis. He also recorded with Debby Harry and Chris Stein on the "Cash Cow" CD entitled "The Best of Giorno Poetry Systems 1965-1993". Bachir Attar and The Master Musicians of Jajouka toured the USA in winter 2009. In June 2009 Bachir Attar and The Master Musicians of Jajouka performed with Ornette Coleman, Patti Smith and Flea from The Red Hot Chili Peppers at The Southbank Meltdown Festival in London. Bachir Attar has recorded toured with artists such as Elliott Sharp, Talvin Singh, Maceo Parker, Ginger Baker, Steve Lacy and Critters Buggin. The Beat writer William S. Burroughs said: “The primordial sounds of a 4000 year old rock ‘n’ roll band.”  and “...Bachir Attar is without any doubt, the sole rightful inheritor of the mantle of Leader of the Master Musicians of Jajouka, and his band of musicians, who are the only rightful ‘Master Musicians.’”

Interview by Michael Limnios           Photos by © Cherie Nutting

How do you describe Bachir Attar & The Master Musicians of Jajouka philosophy of music… and life?

My philosophy of life is first being a Muslim and also living in peace. The music is second. It is a gift from Allah given to me. It was my destiny. Each person when he is born has his own gift. For me it was the music.

"Because I start as a child with this deep music experience. I never went to school. I only studied the music and I was serious about it from the beginning. I felt the music deeply as a child and I was born into this family of musicians where my father was a Master and the venerated leader. My father taught me since I was a little child but mostly it was the deep feeling that I had for the music from the very beginning which makes me what I am as an artist." (Attar at the sanctuary of Saint Sidi Ahmed Sheikh, Photo by © Cherie Nutting)

Which is the most interesting period in your life and why?

There have been many periods in my life that have been interesting but one of my favorite memories is as a child riding on mules to other villages and moussems to play the music. I remember being on a mule sitting with my arms wrapped round my father traveling to a village with 4 other musicians. I was about 12 yrs old. As we travelled by mule it took 2 days to arrive to this festival. My father and the musicians played music without stopping as we travelled all the day. Sometimes we would take a break and rest near a well and we would then move on but almost all the time as we travelled music played. At night we stopped traveling and then we would all play music for a couple of hrs. Later we would sleep under the moon until sunrise. The next morning we moved on and we arrived at our destination by sunset. And I can still hear those same musical sounds which still run through my head from time to time. It is one of my favorite memories...on the road with my father and his best musicians, all of us playing as we rode on our mules.

From whom have you have learned the most secrets about the art and music?

From my father Hadj Abdesalam Attar who was leader of the Master Musicians of Jajouka until his death in 1982. I started studying with my father at the age of 4 and he taught me all that I know.

What experiences in your life make you a GOOD artist and musician?

Because I start as a child with this deep music experience. I never went to school. I only studied the music and I was serious about it from the beginning. I felt the music deeply as a child and I was born into this family of musicians where my father was a Master and the venerated leader. My father taught me since I was a little child but mostly it was the deep feeling that I had for the music from the very beginning which makes me what I am as an artist.

"The Beats and many others followed Paul Bowles to Morocco. Paul Bowles invited Brion Gysin to Tangier and together they travelled to a moussem in Sidi Kacem. It was there that they first heard the Jajouka music played by my father. Later Burroughs and Ornette Coleman came to the village along with Brian Jones who later visited Jajouka for only one night but he recorded what was later named "The Pipes of Pan". Others followed…I think that they liked the music because it is pure and human music as I said above." (The Master Musicians of Jajouka / Photo by © Cherie Nutting)

Why did you think that Master Musicians of Jajouka’s continued to generate such a devoted following?

Because this music is appreciated by deep artists. People who love and know music, poets and writers and musicians, it touches them. They understand it. They have to be around it. They know also the difference between the music played well by the real Masters and the music copied by others which lack the clarity and precision of the Jajouka Masters.

Some music styles can be fads but Jajouka’s is always with us.  Why do think that is?

Because it is pure and human music...that is why it survives!

Do you know why the sound of The Master Musicians of Jajouka is connected to the “avant-garde” literature, poetry and life?

The Beats and many others followed Paul Bowles to Morocco. Paul Bowles invited Brion Gysin to Tangier and together they travelled to a moussem in Sidi Kacem. It was there that they first heard the Jajouka music played by my father. Later Burroughs and Ornette Coleman came to the village along with Brian Jones who later visited Jajouka for only one night but he recorded what was later named "The Pipes of Pan". Others followed…I think that they liked the music because it is pure and human music as I said above.

Which memory from Rolling Stones, "Ginger" Baker and Maceo Parker makes you smile?

All these great artists play with us and we have high hopes for friendship and long success. We give great performances with them. Later we laugh. People come when they need you and people go when they don't. It is best to follow your own way. Our old innocence makes me smile...

"Because this music is appreciated by deep artists. People who love and know music, poets and writers and musicians, it touches them. They understand it. They have to be around it. They know also the difference between the music played well by the real Masters and the music copied by others which lack the clarity and precision of the Jajouka Masters." (Mohamed Attar, Bachr Attar and Ornette Coleman / Photo by © Cherie Nutting)

Are there any memories from Ornette Coleman and Bill Laswell, which you’d like to share with us?

I remember the dark night when we were carrying Bill Laswell's recording equipment up to the village by mule. The trail was lit by gas lanterns which made shadows of the ears of the mules on the dark earth below as we climbed the hill. Once there we unloaded all of the equipment and we recorded "Apocalypse Across the Sky" that night. I have a vision in my head of Bill standing close to the engineer Oz Fritz in the moonlight. We were in my father's house. That was a great night to remember.

I also think of Ornette Coleman in 1973 when he came to the village for a week. I was a just a child. It was the greatest time watching Ornette play with my father and the musicians. Each night for me was magic. Ornette's engineer recorded many hours of music. Bob Palmer was playing the clarinet. It was the most incredible time for me. I remember as it were yesterday. We hope this magical recording will be released one day and we can share it with the world.

In more recent times I have great memories of dinners with Ornette Coleman in NY. Only a few years ago we jammed together in his home in NYC and when we jammed in his apartment it brought me back to 1973 in Jajouka with my father. Ornette and I laughed and joked a lot during my last visit.In his soft spoken voice Ornette said "Come to see me anytime" ...so "Anytime with Ornette" will be our next song dedicated to the great friend who has often come through for us when in need.

What do you miss most nowadays from Paul Bowles and what advice was given to you?

Paul Bowles always treated me very well and he supported my music. He often helped us financially, to achieve artistic goals. He told me though, that I need not leave Morocco as people will follow me and my music as they did his work while living in Tangier. He is gone and I feel the loss but I am glad to have known him. I miss him every day.

"My big secret musical and visual dream is to make a... Hollywood movie…with the story that I hold...I will give it only to some great artist who can handle it. Until then I keep the story hidden. It is a secret right now but waiting to be told to the right person. I am here!" (Paul Bowles and Bachir Attar / Photo by © Cherie Nutting)

Which of historical personalities would you like to meet?

I would have liked to have met King Hassan II, the father of Mohamed VI who is the current King of Morocco.

From the musical point of view is there any difference and similarities between the 50s - 60s & nowadays sound of Jajouka?

Jajouka music is different from Western Music…Jajouka music stays the same for me. It is all recorded in my head and it remains the same.

Of all the people you’ve meeting with, who do you admire the most?

I admire a few people...but I can't say their names…some of them are very poor people and they live in Morocco.

If you go back to the past what things you would do better and what things you would a void to do again?

Nothing… everything is written… All is in the hand of Allah. I can’t change anything.

What are some of the most memorable shows you've had?

Many shows with Ornette Coleman have been incredible. The last one at The North Sea Jazz Festival with Ornette and Flea blew everyone away. It was magic. I jumped into his music and Ornette jumped into mine.

"All these great artists play with us and we have high hopes for friendship and long success. We give great performances with them. Later we laugh. People come when they need you and people go when they don't. It is best to follow your own way. Our old innocence makes me smile..." (Bachir Attar / Photos by © Cherie Nutting)

What is your “secret” music DREAM? 

My big secret musical and visual dream is to make a... Hollywood movie…with the story that I hold...I will give it only to some great artist who can handle it. Until then I keep the story hidden. It is a secret right now but waiting to be told to the right person. I am here!

What do you prefer to doing in your free time?

I like to cook, play my instruments and sing, compose music and play with my son Salahadin who is starting to play flute, drums, and guitar. This makes me feel peaceful and happy.

You have been traveling all around the crazy world. What are your conclusions?

I go in one door and come back through another. It is the same wind, the same earth, the same sky…I am here. 

What are the secrets of The Master Musicians of Jajouka?

We will tell our secrets in the future.

The Master Musicians of Jajouka led by Bachir Attar - Home

"Jajouka music is different from Western Music…Jajouka music stays the same for me. It is all recorded in my head and it remains the same." (Bachir Attar and Mustapha Attar, Woodstock, NY  / Photo by © Cherie Nutting)