By Cynthia Gross
On Tuesday, April 12, at 7:30 p.m., acclaimed world music collective Chalaban will deliver a one-of-a-kind performance at the Creative Alliance in Baltimore, Maryland. Tickets start at $23 and can be purchased here.
Founded in Budapest, Hungary in 1999 and fronted by Moroccan musician Saïd Tichiti, of Berber origin on his mother’s side and black African on his father’s side, Chalaban’s beginnings are anything but ordinary, which is reflected beautifully in the group’s diverse, eclectic sound defined by Afro-Arab roots and enhanced with elements of Carpathian Basin, Roma, and Balkan music.
“I don’t just play music and greet my audience before I disappear,” Tichiti explained in reference to their live shows. “I create a conversation with this audience; I talk to them about the origins of my music, my hometown.” He describes Chalaban’s performances as “music with mini-conferences.”
Chalaban’s Creative Alliance lineup includes Saïd Tichiti (lute, Guembri, percussion, and lead vocals), El Hassane Lahjari (percussion and vocals), Izsák Vidákovich (saxophone and flute), and Dávid Torják (bass guitar). All of Chalaban’s lyrics are sung in Arabic, and the captivating nature of their sound regardless of whether you speak Arabic serves as a reminder of the power of music to transcend language and geographical boundaries.
The collective’s music is spiritual, elemental, and mesmerizing, and it’s refreshing to encounter a sound that retains its historical grounding in the face of a deluge of contemporary music. Melodies of the South, North, East, and West converge to create Chalaban’s signature technique that is influenced by the musical styles of Tichiti’s paternal and maternal origins: Gnawa, Ganga, Hassani, and Guedra.
Chalaban performs regularly throughout Europe, Africa, and beyond, and it’s a treat to welcome them to the States for a string of shows. Their music, which spans six albums, is featured in the 2018 documentary film, “Échos du Sahara,” that chronicles Tichiti’s more than 20-year tenure as leader of the band.
“Today, music becomes adapted to the Western stages, where the band is separated from the audience,” Tichiti explained when asked what audiences can expect from their Creative Alliance show. “In Moroccan traditions, the space is shared in a kind of Salon or Patio. The music is interactive, where the audience can participate by clapping, singing, or dancing. Both in sacred rituals and profane ceremonies, this interactivity is a very important element.” He hopes that audiences – or better yet participants – in the States will be “an active part of this experience.”
Consider that your invitation. Purchase your tickets here for Chalaban’s April 12 show at the Creative Alliance, which promises to be an unforgettable community experience that you don’t want to miss.
Check out Chalaban’s 2018 single “Gleimim” below and on the Alchemical Records Multigenre Mixture playlist on Spotify and YouTube.
Cynthia Gross is a freelance writer and award-winning spiritual pop artist based in Maryland. With more than a decade of experience as an executive ghostwriter, she understands the power of each individual’s voice to create positive, meaningful change.
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Alchemical Records is a Washington, D.C. based music publication. We cover the Washington, D.C., Baltimore and Richmond, VA metro area music scenes, including band interviews, articles about your favorite musicians, new music and concert dates.
