CRITTERS BUGGIN OUT ON THE ROADWITH BACHIR AND MUSTAPHA ATTAR

The Master Musicians of Jajouka are an all-male group from the foothills of the Rif Mountains about a hundred kilometers south of Tangier, Morocco. Described by William S. Burroughs as "a 4000 year old rock 'n' roll band," they are born into a unique family of musicians who have received royal patronage for centuries. Exempt from all work except making music, the Master Musicians have done nothing else since birth. They are taught from a very early age by their Master Musician family to play an ancient music that is unlike any other. Their music possesses the power to heal, and they can communicate with the spirits of the hills and the flocks and most importantly the spirits of music.

Bachir Attar is the son of the late Hadj Abdesalam Attar, considered by many to be the greatest Moroccan musician during his time and who was the sovereign leader of the Attar clan and the Master Musicians of Jajouka. Bachir has inherited that role and is now responsible for the preservation of an endangered musical tradition, a tradition threatened by the Western world, where time and money take precedent over ritual and meaning. Bachir Attar has known since birth that he is the one with the Baraka, the one to carry on the tradition, and so he devotes his life to securing performances for the musicians and documenting the rich and fascinating history of his family.

What better road companions for this ancient music than the music from outer space. Matt Chamberlain on drums, Brad Houser on bass, Mike Dillon on percussion, and Skerik on saxaphone and other assorted toys make up the wonderfully disturbing Critters Buggin. With a full cast of characters, Critters Buggin will come to your town to destroy your musical comfort zone. These incredibly talented and experienced musicians use improvisation and signals from Saturn to warp the minds of willing music lovers.

Back in June, Critters Buggin and Bachir Attar came together to blend the freak jazz with the eastern trance grooves and the result was divine - read the review. This current tour is an incredible opportunity for some real magic to occur as they combine forces on stage to create a brand new sound. Each night will begin with traditional Jajouka music and then slowly the Critters will creep in. After the collaboration, the stage will be set for some *pure* Critters Buggin followed by another mixed set. This is going to be a spectacle not to be missed.

09.04.01 | Zephyr | Salt Lake, UT 09.05.01 | Boulder Theater | Boulder, CO 09.07.01 | 400 Bar | Minneapolis, MN 09.08.01 | Martyr's | Chicago, IL 09.10.01 | Johnson State College | Johnson, VT 09.11.01 | Iron Horse | Northampton, MA 09.12.01 | Wetlands | New York, NY 09.13.01 | Blues Alley | Washington DC 09.14.01 | Asheville Music Zone | Asheville, NC 09.15.01 | Georgia Theater | Athens, GA 09.17.01 | House of Blues | New Orleans, LA 09.18.01 | Mercury | Austin, TX 09.19.01 | Majestic | Tulsa, OK 09.21.01 | Brick by Brick | San Diego, CA 09.22.01 | Temple Bar | Los Angeles, CA 09.23.01 | Temple Bar | Los Angeles, CA 09.24.01 | Palookaville | Santa Cruz, CA 09.25.01 | Fillmore | San Francisco, CA 09.27.01 | Crystal Ballroom | Portland, OR 09.28.01 | Sit & Spin | Seattle, WA 09.29.01 | Western Washington Univ. | Bellingham, WA

For more information about Bachir and Mustapha Attar and the Master Musicians of Jajouka, please visit Jajouka.com.