# Rick's Café Casablanca — Music & Jazz Repertoire
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## The Musical Soul of Rick's Café
Music is not merely entertainment at Rick's Café Casablanca—it is the living pulse that transforms the riad into a timeless cinematic sanctuary. Every evening during dinner service, acoustic jazz, swing, and classic melodies resonate throughout the courtyard.

## The Instrument: The Courtyard Grand Piano
- **Type & Finish:** Black-lacquered acoustic baby grand piano.
- **Acoustic Character:** Unamplified, mellow singing tone with rich natural resonance suited to the riad's courtyard architecture.
- **Role:** Centerpiece of the nightly live jazz sessions, evoking the timeless spirit of Dooley Wilson's Sam.
- **Location:** Ground floor central courtyard beneath the open arches.

## Resident Artists
- **Issam Chabaa (Pianist & Musical Director):**
  A virtuoso pianist from Rabat with classical conservatory training and an innate mastery of American swing. Issam has been the resident pianist at Rick's Café since opening day on March 1, 2004.
- **The Jazz Quartet:**
  Accompanying Issam on select evenings with acoustic double bass, soft brush drums, and brass soloists.
- **Arabesques Sessions:**
  Special cultural evenings featuring master lutenist Driss Nigra (oud), classical guitarist Ahmed Gendouz, and guest vocalists (such as Dalila Meksoub), blending Western jazz with classical Andalusian and Moroccan musical traditions.

## Core Repertoire
- **The Great American Songbook:** "As Time Goes By" (Herman Hupfeld), "Summertime" (George Gershwin), "Night and Day" (Cole Porter), "Autumn Leaves", "Satin Doll" (Duke Ellington).
- **French Chanson:** "La Vie en Rose" (Édith Piaf), "Les Feuilles Mortes", "C'est Si Bon", "La Bohème" (Charles Aznavour), "Ne Me Quitte Pas" (Jacques Brel).
- **Oriental Arabesques & Latin:** "Lamma Bada Yatathanna", Andalusian Muwashahat, "Bésame Mucho", Hermanos Tuna repertoire.

## Performance Hours
- Nightly from 8:00 PM to Midnight (during the dinner service).
- Audio recordings and preview available online at https://www.rickscafe.ma/en/music/.