Whitney Live: Medeski Scofield Martin & Wood / Bachir Attar (Master Musicians of Jajouka)

Lower Gallery and Sculpture Court

In celebration of their 20th anniversary, legendary band Medeski Martin & Wood will be in residence at the Whitney Museum of American Art on Friday nights in August as part of the Whitney Live performance series. Joined by guest artists each night, the performances will encompass older works and newer projects including several MMW side projects and a re-mounting of the acclaimed Turntable Sessions.

John Scofield:
John Scofield’s guitar work has influenced jazz since the late '70s. Possessor of a distinctive sound and stylistic diversity, Scofield is a masterful jazz improviser whose music generally falls somewhere between post-bop, funk-edged jazz, and R&B.

Bachir Attar:
Master Musicians of Jajouka is a group led by Bachir Attar from the village of Jajouka in northern Morocco. Bachir and his brother Mustapha Attar are the last descendants of the Masters Musicians of Jajouka. The music and secrets of Jajouka have been passed down through generations from father to son, by some accounts for as long as 4000 years. Wholly unique to the village, sons are taught the complex music from a young age until they are deemed Malims, or Masters. Masters possess baraka, the blessing of Allah, which gives them the power to heal, and the endurance required to play some of the most intense and complex music around.

Free with Museum admission, which is pay-what-you-wish on Fridays from 6–9pm; there are no special tickets or reservations.