Jazz has been called one of America's greatest contributions to the world's culture, a contribution fed by numerous peoples and musical traditions that sprung predominantly from Africa and the African diaspora. At the core of this artform is the art of improvisation, the ability to create something spontaneously. Malika Zarra epitomizes this understanding of jazz, with her ability to create spontaneously. Born in Morocco, raised in France, and having lived eleven years in New York City and four years in Morocco, this gifted composer, producer and singer has invented a new Moroccan urban-world-jazz by tastefully using traditional North African chaâbi, Amazigh (Berber) and Gnawa polyrhythms to underpin her distinctly contemporary urban compositions, all the while maintaining a sophisticated improvisational and refreshing approach to her music-making.

An award-winning singer/composer/producer, Malika is a multi-cultural shape-shifter, an enchantress who leaps effortlessly between seemingly unconnected languages and traditions, uniting them while utilizing each to further enrich the others. The exotically beautiful artist with the velvety, sinuous mezzo-soprano voice has demonstrated a rare ability to communicate both powerful and subtle ideas and feelings in Amazirgh (Berber), Moroccan Arabic, French and English now a much-in-demand headliner at concert halls and festivals the world over.

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Photo Credit: Gabriela Cais Burdmann