The second night of Jazzablanca lit up Casablanca with standout performances by Brazilian icon Seu Jorge and funk legends Kool & The Gang, who brought samba, bossa nova, and decades of soul-funk energy to the stage. From guitar magic to trumpet solos and confetti showers, the crowd danced, sang, and celebrated a night to remember. The second day of Jazzablanca's 18th edition set the crowd and festivalgoers ablaze, with a lineup that screamed «It's Friday, let's party». And the party started slowly but surely, first with some classical music played on guitar by Polish percussive fingerstyle guitarist, composer, and producer Marcin Patrzałek. Known by his stage name Marcin, the young guitarist blessed the crowd at Scène 21 with real guitar magic, playing arrangements of major classical pieces, rock arrangements, and original compositions. «I'm here to show that one instrument, a guitar, can fill a stage like this», he told a buzzing crowd that kept asking for more. Marcin performing during the second day of Jazzablanca. / Ph. Ilham Fouwad Photography / Yabiladi With him, the audience a number of solo acoustic guitar arrangements, like Carmen, before he closed his set with Mozart's Requiem. Brazil's pop samba comes to Jazzablanca After that elegant and emotional start, the energy picked up. It was time for some Brazilian pop samba. And who better than Brazil's Seu Jorge to set the tone at Scène Anfa Casablanca, starting at 9 p.m. The show opened with a dazzling horn trio before Seu Jorge took the stage and the party really began. He sang a mix of his classics and newer hits, Carolina on acoustic guitar, Everybody Loves the Sunshine, which the crowd recognized from the very first note. Behind him, the trumpeters danced in sync, and Jorge himself threw in some freestyle moves. Brazilian singer Seu Jorge at Jazzablanca. / Ph. Seu Jorge The show wouldn't have been complete without a bossa nova moment, a Brazilian specialty that blends samba and jazz. Seu Jorge's band each took a turn in the spotlight : solos on flute, electric guitar, trombone, bass, keyboard, saxophone, and trumpet gave every musician their moment to shine. Seu Jorge ended the show with a heartfelt bow to the audience that had flocked to Jazzablanca to see the Brazilian icon. Partying with Kool & The Gang Next up was primetime: American soul and funk legends Kool & The Gang, delivering a show that transported the audience through decades of groove and party energy. From the moment they hit the stage, the ambiance was pure magic. This wasn't just a concert, it was a full-blown celebration. «Are you ready to party with Kool & The Gang?» and «Let's get ready!» rang out as fans danced, clapped, and sang along all night long. Musicality took center stage, with fiery horn solos lighting up the stage, a funky bassline keeping it all grounded, and electric guitar and drum solos setting the crowd on fire. They moved seamlessly from hit to hit : Fresh, Too Hot (cue the crowd screaming «run for shelter»), and Get Down On It, which had everyone on their feet. The crowd loved it so much they played it twice. Kool and The Gang on stage at Jazzablanca. / Ph. Ilham Fouwad Photography / Yabiladi Nostalgic moments followed with Joanna, which Kool & The Gang dedicated «to all the ladies», and Cherish the Love, which turned into a moving singalong lit by a sea of phone flashlights. Older generations especially were touched by the timeless ballad. From there, the band took the audience on a virtual trip to Jamaica with Let's Go Dancing (Ooh La La La) before bringing it back to disco with Ladies' Night. From start to finish, it was an all-out celebration. And just when it felt like it couldn't get any better, Kool & The Gang closed their set with Celebration, a perfect finale to a night full of joy, groove, and dance. Like on opening night, the second day of Jazzablanca ended with a shower of confetti, signaling the end of the show, but not the end of the party. Tonight, the celebration continues with none other than the Black Eyed Peas on the lineup for Day 3.
