Playing For Change Foundation presents: “From Mississippi to the Saharan Desert.” This short film documents Grammy Award-nominated blues musician Vasti Jackson’s journey with percussionist Maya Kyles to the Joudour Sahara Music Program in M’hamid elGhizlane, Morocco fora music residency in the sand dunes of Taragalte Festival with local Saharan musicians. Two weeks, blues day and night, one massive sandstorm, powerful history lessons on the origin of blues music, and connections made across cultures that go beyond music.
Vasti then met the residency musicians at Visa For Music African and Middle Eastern music showcase in Rabat, Morocco to perform live with them and recorded a ten-track studio album fusing the Saharan and American styles of music. Vasti is producing the album and is expected to wrap up production in the coming months.
This project was supported by U.S. Embassy Rabat, Playing For Change Foundation, Taragalte Festival, and Vast Eye Music.
M'Hamid El Ghizlane, Morocco