By Cathleen Twardzik

Mike Rivard, playing the Moroccan sintir in the Arnold Arboretum in Jamaica Plain. - Photo by Mark Wilson

The Moroccan Sintir and Trance Music of the Gnawa will occur on May 21 from 1:30 p.m. to 3 p.m. at the Community Growing Center at 22 Vinal Ave. in Somerville.  It will showcase a demonstration, by Mike Rivard, Somerville resident, of the Moroccan sintir, which is a three-string bass lute that is used by the Gnawa people of Morocco in their trance-healing ceremonies.

The rain date for this free, all ages event is May 22.

Rivard will speak about his trip to Morocco, as well as the influence that Moroccan music has had on his band Club d’Elf.  They will also play selections from their new CD.

At present, Rivard performs with two world music groups: Natraj and Grand Fatilla, as well as the Boston Pops, Broadway tours of Wicked, The Lion King, The Color Purple and Mary Poppins, among others.

Formerly, he has played with Morphine, John Medeski and Billy Martin (MMW), Jonatha Brooke, Aimee Mann, Shawn Colvin and Paula Cole. Rivard is a recipient of the Boston Music Award in 2007 for Outstanding Jazz Act.

“In December of 2009, I accompanied a delegation from Somerville, led by Mayor Joseph Curtatone, to the city of Tiznit, Morocco.  There, we formally established a sister city partnership,” said Rivard, who received a Somerville Arts Council Fellowship award.

At the end of the official part of that journey, Rivard traveled to Essaouira, the place at which he met Gnawa musician Mahmoud Guinia at his home.  “He played sintir and taught me a Gnawa song,” he said.

At age 11, Rivard began to play guitar.  Then, he “moved to saxophone, and eventually, [to] bass.”

Specifically, what inspired him to play the Moroccan Sintir?  “As a bass player, I was drawn to the sound of the instrument, which is a bass after all, and after my friend Mark Sandman introduced me to the CD, Gift of the Gnawa, by Hassan Hakmoun, my appreciation for the instrument reached critical mass.”

Club d’Elf was formed in 1998.  Its music “draws upon electronica, Moroccan Gnawa music, dub, free jazz hip-hop and funk,” said Rivard.  Further, it centers “around a core rhythm section – with the addition of different special guests for each show.”

Importantly, “When Brahim Fribgane, joined the band, he introduced us to Moroccan trance influences,” he said.

For the past eight years, Rivard has been immersed in Moroccan music – particularly that of the Gnawa and the Berber people of the Atlas Mountains.

However, “The band is collective and draws upon a pool of over 50 musicians, who float in and out of the band – so, with each performance a different array of players is assembled.  The instrumentation usually includes bass and sintir, drums, guitar, keyboards, turntables, oud and various ethnic percussion instruments.  In addition, horns, laptop, vocals, dance and other elements can be present – depending on the performance,” said Rivard.

The band’s new release is entitled Electric Moroccoland/ So Below.  They will play at the Lizard Lounge May 20, June 24 and July 8, and at the Regattabar on August 12.

“In the future, their “plans include touring to promote the CD, and hopefully, traveling to Morocco to perform at festivals,” he said.

Photo caption:

Mike Rivard, playing the Moroccan sintir in the Arnold Arboretum in Jamaica Plain.

Photo by Mark Wilson