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Mauritania: Jazz from J to Z
Jazz pianist Mike Del Ferro toured Mauritania for three days in February 2005. In a program sponsored by the U.S. Embassy, unique musical collaborations were allowed to take place between Mike Del Ferro and local traditional musicians. The following excerpts from the U.S. Embassy cable report sum it all up:
"The Embassy would like to commend Mike del Ferro both for the superb quality of his performances as a musician, and for his open, friendly character, which endeared him immediately to Mauritanian musicians and the public. He was truly an effective Citizen-Ambassador for the United States. Mike started off with solo jazz pieces, and then improvising with incredible talent and ease with Mauritanian musicians. His level of technical mastery of the piano and his easy stage presence were phenomenal, and placed him a clear, cut-above the fine "Jazz Ambassadors" pianist that Embassy sponsored last year.
The highlight of the American Voices visit was the public concert held at the main Youth Center (Ancienne Maison des Jeunes), where Mike -- at Embassy's initiative -- joined up with a young and emerging artist, Garmy Mint Sidaty Ould Abba, who comes from a well know family of Mauritanian singers. Mike was also able play together with several other prominent local musicians using traditional music instruments such as the "Tidnit," a stringed instrument somewhat larger than a ukulele.
Both the concert at the Ambassador's residence and at the Youth Center were recorded by the recently started Youth Radio (Radio Jeunesse) -- which is the only radio station in Mauritania other than the National Radio. Some attendees at the concert commented that it was the first time that the youth of Nouakchott had been offered a free concert of this kind and caliber.
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