Jo Jo Morocco

Websites:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/jojo-morocco-a-19735126
Origin: Montréal, Québec, 🇨🇦
Biography:

Unanimously acclaimed by music connoisseurs as a percussionist extraordinaire, JoJo Morocco has proved himself to be a master of such instruments as the tabla (Darbouka) congas, bongos and other different percussion instruments. A versatile artist who has recorded an impressive number of tracks, JoJo received outstanding reviews in 1988 for his EP “JoJo Morocco”, produced by Bones Jones, former drummer for the late James Brown. The album was nominated to receive Canada’s most prestigious “Juno Award” as well as the Best Jazz Dance Music Award by the Record Pools of Canada.

Born to Salim Azra, Joseph’s father greatly influenced his son’s percussion musical career whose roots began in their native Casablanca, Morocco. Salim was a legendary Moroccan and Egyptian classical musician, renowned worldwide as a Qanun player and favorite performer at the Royal Palace of Morocco.

Since 1965, when JoJo’s family migrated to Montreal, Canada, JoJo grew up and continued to develop his musical talents. In 1974, JoJo met Edmond Charles, a master pan player and teacher, whose brother was Rudolph Charles, a renowned pan player and one of the best pan tuners in Trinidad. JoJo played his first conga set in Edmond’s band, the following month, quickly picking up most of the Calypso and Caribbean rhythms. Imbued with confidence in his musical acumen, JoJo relocated in 1976 to Los Angeles where he had the opportunity to play with great artists such as Jimmy Smith, George Benson, Ronnie Foster and Phil Upchurch at Jimmy Smith’s Supper Club in the late ‘70s.

Then in 1981, JoJo’s keen interest in jazz motivated him to return to Montreal where he played extensively with the City’s best. In 1983, JoJo joined with Bones Jones and Rhonda Smith to form a group called “The Bones Jones Band”, which introduced the first High Energy Funk groove to Canada. Since that time, the JoJo Morocco-Bones Jones team has evolved and continued to produce. In 1986, JoJo recorded in Canada his first Extended Play Album with unique Funk Fusion Groove Jazz sounds that both exhilarated and bewildered the Canadian market.

Currently, JoJo continues to record with multicultural musical groups and threads with many styles of global music, some of which include: Middle-Eastern, Rai, African Jazz, Brazilian Jazz, Latin Jazz, Fusion-Funk Jazz, dance tracks, Classical & Commercial Egyptian and most Northern African styles. His first percussive CD was recently recorded and will soon be released. His “Master Jam” CD, demonstrating his totally unique and eclectic sounds, has already been released worldwide on I-Tunes-CD Baby, GarageBand, REVER NATION.COM and many other internet distributors worldwide.

Together, JoJo and Bones Jones have produced and licensed several artists including two of JoJo’s CDs, available for sale on the internet, under their own label, Nubop International LLC since its inception in the early ‘80s. Presently they are focusing on Internet sales, promotion, distribution and have recently signed promotion and distribution deals with IODA (Independent Online Distribution Alliance), who signed with Best Buy and multiple world licensing contracts. For more information or to contact JoJo Morocco, e-mail jojomorocco@hotmail.com – nubop1@cinci.rr.com or you can this number (954) 709-1939.