For the uninitiated, gnawa music is the African spiritual ecstatic trance music of Morocco, the once secret music of enslaved people and soldiers once brought to Morocco from Northern Mali and Mauritania. It is traditionally performed in an overnight healing ceremony called a lila in which the maleem, or master musician invokes seven colors, each of which has its own repertoire of songs that deal with a certain element or spirit.

Alexandre Tannous, sound researcher, sound therapist and ethnomusicologist will lead an experiential exploration of the effects of this unique system of sound, consciousness, and spirituality. The evening will begin with a keynote presentation on the effects of sound, trance and consciousness by Alexandre and culminate with a performance from the maestro Maleem Hassan Ben Jaffar and Innov Gnawa.

Alexandre Tannous has performed a variety of musical styles including classical, jazz, rock, and non-Western music on various instruments. His ethnomusicological research investigates issues of acculturation, community, musical identity in an urban setting, and the concepts of talent, charisma, and leadership in music.

For the past 13 years he has been researching the therapeutic and esoteric properties of sound from three different perspectives – Western scientific, Eastern philosophical, and shamanic societal beliefs – to gain a deeper understanding of how, and to what extent, sound has been used to affect human consciousness.

This search has led him to where art, science, philosophy, and spirituality intersect. Inspired by his findings, he designed a protocol of an integrated experience he calls “Sound Meditation” in which he shares the findings from his research, raising an awareness to how a specifically designed sound can have the ability to help us to disconnect from habitual patterns while judiciously listening to the specific traditional instruments he plays. 

Alexandre Tannous has performed a variety of musical styles including classical, jazz, rock, and non-Western music on various instruments. His ethnomusicological research investigates issues of acculturation, community, musical identity in an urban setting, and the concepts of talent, charisma, and leadership in music.

For the past 13 years he has been researching the therapeutic and esoteric properties of sound from three different perspectives – Western scientific, Eastern philosophical, and shamanic societal beliefs – to gain a deeper understanding of how, and to what extent, sound has been used to affect human consciousness.

This search has led him to where art, science, philosophy, and spirituality intersect. Inspired by his findings, he designed a protocol of an integrated experience he calls “Sound Meditation” in which he shares the findings from his research, raising an awareness to how a specifically designed sound can have the ability to help us to disconnect from habitual patterns while judiciously listening to the specific traditional instruments he plays. 

Innov Gnawa’s master musician, Maâlem Hassan Ben Jaafer, is the son of the esteemed Maalem Abdullah Benjaafar of Fes, Morocco. As a youth he travelled throughout Morocco, living, studying and performing with Maalems in every region and he learned the entire Gnawa music and dance repertoire. He has brought this music to the world collaborating with the likes of jazz legend Randy Weston and Balkan Beat Box. A traditional song that Ben Jaafer adapted for Bonobo featuring Innov Gnawa, “Bambra Koyo Ganda,” was recently nominated for a Grammy in the Dance/Electronic category.

Maâlem Hassan Ben Jaafer - Sintir / Vocals (Fez, Morocco)
Ahmed Jeriouda -  Cajon /  Djembe (Sale, Morocco)
Amino Belyamani -  Qraqebs (Casablanca, Morocco)
Special guests TBA