Event is 21+
$40/GA
$100 reserved table
Doors at 9:30
Longtime Club d’Elf core member Brahim Fribgane passed away in
February 2023, leaving a huge hole in the d’Elf firmament. Beloved by
fans for his hypnotizing playing of the oud, as well a wide array of
percussion instruments, his warm and inviting energy pervaded every
performance. While d’Elf is primarily an instrumental band, Brahim
often added his passionate vocals to the mix, and his haunting song
Sidi Rabi was a highlight for fans and band alike. He performed and
recorded with an amazing list of artists including Hassan Hakmoun,
Morphine, Residente, Tinariwen, Peter Gabriel, Medeski Martin & Wood,
L. Subramaniam, Pete Seeger & Harry Belafonte to name only a few. We
will pay tribute to our departed friend with a night of songs that he
inspired, as well as some of his original songs. The line up for this
show features Lyle Brewer (guitar), Paul Schultheis (keyboards),
Mister Rourke (turntables), Mike Rivard (bass & sintir), Dean Johnston
(drums), along with special guests.
Club d’Elf has been helping audiences lose track of time for twenty
six years with its mesmerizing synthesis of Moroccan traditional music
and electronic, dubbed-out funk. Circling about bassist/composer Mike
Rivard, each performance features a different line-up, drawn from a
constellation of some of the most creative improvisers from the jazz,
DJ, rock & world music scenes of Boston, NYC and beyond. Named Jazz
Act Of The Year in the 2023 Boston Music Awards, the band’s music
defies easy categorization, and draws from hip hop, electronica, avant
garde, prog-rock and dub as well as jazz. Through the influence of
Brahim Fribgane, the band absorbed Gnawa music from Morocco. This
element is now an essential part of the Club d’Elf sound, featuring
Rivard’s commanding playing of the sintir, a three-stringed bass lute
used by the Gnawa in their trance-healing ceremonies. Trance forms the
central core of the Club d’Elf aesthetic, weaving together the band’s
various influences.
