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Jawad Bohsina. Photo: by Kian KamyabJawad Bohsina
Jawad Bohsina. Photo: by Kian Kamyab
From Casablanca, Morocco, Bohsina bought his first keyboard at age 12, and – as he recounts – it grew with him. Today he is one of NYC vocalists’ most requested and respected keyboardists. By 16, Bohsina was playing at social events throughout Casablanca. His passion was Rai music – both from Algeria (such as Cheb Khaled) and from Northeastern Morocco, like the Oujda-based group Bouchmak, but he expanded his repertoire to encompass his audience’s tastes, playing Moroccan sha’abi, rai, khaligi (Arabian gulf music), Egyptian and Levantine classics and hits. Bohsina first came to the US in 1998 on tour with the Moroccan Jewish singer Binhas. Since then, he has played regularly at clubs such as Cedars of Lebanon, until its closing in 2001, and at social events throughout the metro area. Despite his North African origins, Bohsina often plays Arab Levantine and Egyptian classic folk and pop music for New York based Levantine singers, as performance opportunities for Moroccan music are rare. You can hear Bohsina regularly at Layaly Lounge in Manhattan.
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Folk / Traditional Arts, Music, Instrumentalist, Traditional / Culturally Specific, VocalistSee Also...
