GREEKAZOID

More Aphrodite's Children

2012-02-25T17:24:00.000+02:00

It’s been a year since the first GREEKAZOID post so here’s a few statistics:

58 posts
3,950 unique visitors from 76 countries
16,750 pageviews

The 10 most popular posts:
1.    Aphrodite’s Children
2.    The Legend of Aris San
3.    Groovy Soundtracks
4.    The 4 Levels of Existence…
5.    The Last Drive
6.    5th Avenue
7.    Sunshine for your Dreams
8.    Tradition Goes Electric
9.    Xmas Story
10. On the Jazz Side

Aphrodite’s Children is by far the most popular post with two times the views of the 2nd one.
So here’s some more…Aphrodite’s Children:

Nicos Papathanassiou is Vangelis’ older brother.
Nicos has been a producer and composer for Chrisma, Dalida, Lucas Sideras and others.
In 1971 he produced African People’s album Stop Pushing where he also has written or co-written most of the songs.

One of his compositions:
I just want to be friends - African People

In 1972 Stamatis Spanoudakis released his first album Beautiful Lies as Stamatis with some great help from his friends.
Lucas Sideras and Argyris Koulouris from Aphrodite’s Child contributed on the drums and guitars respectively.
Dimitris Tambosis on backing vocals.
Alekos Karakadas on guitars too.

Here's Imagination from Beautiful Lies by Stamatis

Finally…Humanity. In 1973 Vangelis (under the name Richard Broadbacker) cooperated with Robert Fitoussi, Argyris Koulouris and Michael Haubrich and released a single (Bird of Love/The Pawn) under the name Humanity (or Umanity).
According to Robert Fitoussi the flip side of the single, The Pawn derived from a session they had just for fun where Vangelis played drums (source: vangelismovements)

The Pawn - Humanity 1973

Odyssey

2012-02-20T20:57:00.001+02:00

In 1977 Theodoros Roumbanis (grandnephew of Nikos Roumbanis who’s often cited as composer of Misirlou) released an interesting album with the name The Other Odysseus. Initially the work, that was commissioned by the mayor of Ithaque to be presented in its festival, had the form of an operetta. But finally only the music and songs were presented in the concerts and the album that followed. The lyrics belong to Dimitris Iatropoulos with whom he has written more than 200 (yet unreleased) songs (source: VIP The Story of Theodoros Roumbanis by Frida Bioubi).

Scylla and Charybdis - Litsa Sakelariou

In 2006 Mikis Theodorakis wrote a new cycle of songs that were released a year later in Odyssey album. The lyrics belong to Costas Cartelias.
Irina Valentinova provides some very interesting orchestration adding a lyrical layer to Theodorakis compositions.
All songs are sang by Maria Farantouri but one which is interpreted by Theodorakis himself.

Circe - Maria Farantouri

In 2011 composer Nektarios Karantzis and singer/performer Savina Yannatou released an album which is not just inspired by Odyssey; it is Odyssey in the sense that the original ancient text is used.
The composer uses several classical and traditional instruments to create a sound that is Greek and timeless as Odyssey itself.

Tell me O Muse (Andra moi ennepe) - Savina Yannatou

For a Few Drops of Happiness

2012-02-09T23:30:00.000+02:00

There are 3 songs that I like to play in this particular order as if they belong to some Greek soul compilation.
They do not for the moment.

The first one belongs to Giorgos Kinoussis album Kanena Provlima (No Problem), 1978.
The opening track Efyga (I’m gone) has a groovy soul instrumentation on top of a Greek popular tune. Giorgos Kinoussis has a long history in music as an accordionist and composer of popular songs in late 60s and as a singer/songwriter in the 70s.

Efyga (I'm Gone), 1978

In 1972 Aris San released the single Ine Arga (It’s late). This is a particularly interesting tune composed by Aris San (lyrics by Pythagoras) as it is a pure soul masterpiece with horns and string arrangements.
The song is included as bonus track in the triple cd Memorial Collection – 10th Anniversary released in 2002 by NMC Music Ltd in Israel. The compilation is highly recommended as it includes 65 of his songs sang in Greek, Spanish and Hebrew.

Ine Arga (It's Late), 1972

The 3rd one is the 1978 version of Gia Liges Stagones Eftyxias (For a Few Drops of Happiness) by George Egyptios (real name George Maroulakakis born in Alexandria, Egypt).
The song, a Stavros Kaxos composition, appeared in Egyptios album Esy pou Efyges (You Left), 1974 where Egyptios has also done the orchestration.
George Egyptios does another version on his 1978 album Ta Hili sou (Your Lips) with another orchestration (Mallidis) where bouzouki is replaced by organ offering a pure exotica experience.

Gia Liges Stagones Eftyhias (For a Few Drops of Happiness), 1978

Poetry in Motion

2012-01-25T22:42:00.000+02:00

The Hunters, 1977 (a movie by Theo Angelopoulos, the song by Mikis Theodorakis)

Landscape in the Mist, 1988 (a movie by Theo Angelopoulos, music by Eleni Karaindrou)

The Weeping Meadow, 2003 (a movie by Theo Angelopoulos, music by Eleni Karaindrou)

RIP

The Producer

2012-01-07T16:10:00.001+02:00

Quincy Jones is not Greek of course but at least 3 times he has produced works of Greeks.

First collaboration was with famous Greek singer Nana Mouskouri.
Nana, born 1934 in Crete, Greece, has sold millions of records worldwide, hosted TV shows for BBC, toured, collaborated and recorded with famous artists in a career spanning over 5 decades.

In 1962 she met Quincy Jones and recorded with him the album The Girl from Greece Sings (the cd re-issue has a different title: Nana Mouskouri in New York and 3 bonus tracks).

The Touch of Your Lips from The Girl from Greece Sings (1962)

I Get a Kick Out of You from (only available as bonus on cd re-issue Nana Mouskouri in New York)

Second time he produced for a Greek artist was in 1965. He was the producer for Manos Hatzidakis’ masterpiece Gioconda’s Smile (see older post).

Third time it was for Vangelis composition State of Independence.
The song (music by Vangelis, lyrics by Jon Anderson) was first released as a single in 1981 by Jon and Vangelis and was included in their album The Friends of Mr. Cairo (1981).
This was produced by Vangelis.

One year later Donna Summer released the album Donna Summer which included a cover of State of Independence.
This one was produced by Quincy Jones and the choir featured Stevie Wonder, Michael Jackson, Lionel Richie, Dionne Warwick and others.

Here's Donna Summer's cover produced by Quincy Jones

and here's Jon and Vangelis original composition from Friends of Mr. Cairo (1981)

Crooners

2012-01-03T00:29:00.001+02:00

George Chakiris (or Kerris) born 1934, son of Greek immigrants has a long and successful career as a dancer and actor.
As a dancer he appeared in famous movies like Gentlemen Prefer Blondes with Marilyn Monroe.
As an actor he starred with Charlton Heston and Gene Kelly among others.

But the milestone in his career is definitely his role in West Side Story (1961) which won him the Oscar for Best Supporting Actor.
In the 60s he also first appeared as a singer and released 3(?) LPs and several singles. In the 80s he made a French album (Rappelle Toi) singing compositions of Pierre Bachelet and others.

Moon River from album Memories are Made of These (1963)

Aristotelis “Telly” Savalas (1922 – 1994) is best known for his role as Kojak in the 70s crime TV series with same name.
His career as actor spans 4 decades and he was nominated for Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his role in Birdman of Alcatraz (1962).

Telly as a singer collaborated with composer/producer John Cacavas during the 70s. In 1975 he scored a #1 hit in Europe with spoken word version of If.

Here's Without Her a cover of Nilsson's 1967 song from Telly (1974) album (with John Cacavas as an arranger)

Tassos Papastamatis (1938 – 2010) was the singer of Greek 60s group Forminx (Vangelis Papathanasiou was the keyboard player and composer).
His deep voice won him the title of the Greek Bing Crosby as it is often mentioned.
Tassos has not a lengthy discography outside the Forminx. A couple of singles, a full cover album and a contribution to George Mouzakis album is all that’s left from this great singer.

Here’s Stranger in the Night from a 1966 single (orchestra conducted by Stan Hopkins)

Xmas Story

2011-12-24T11:26:00.000+02:00

The Boy and the Tree (Ένα Δέντρο μια Φορά) is a Greek animated movie based on a story by Eugene Trivizas, professor of Criminology and children book author. The movie was directed by Panagiotis Rappas and the music was written by Dimitris Papadimitriou.
The movie got the Best Animation prize in 5th AnimFest of Athens and was voted 2nd Best Production of Kids and Junior programs in Europe for the year 2009.

Trailer

Youtube search: The Boy and the Tree – Ένα Δέντρο μια Φορά
More info

On the Jazz Side

2011-12-18T14:03:00.000+02:00

Yannis Spanos is a very special case of a composer.
He lived in Paris during the 60s and 70s where he served “la Nouvelle Vague” as a pianist and a composer. He collaborated with Brigitte Bardot, Juliette Gréco, Marcel Rothel, Michael Legrand among others.
During the 70s he returned to Greece where he initiated the Greek version of Nouvelle Vague (Neo Kyma).

Here’s La Panthere from Juliette Gréco album Complainte Amoureuse (1969)

Yiannis Spanos is also the composer of many soundtracks including Anazitisis (1972), This Summer (1971), Symposium (1972), Pavlos Melas (1974).

Listen to the funky Psychedelic Shake from the acclaimed Symposium soundtrack, produced by Michel Legrand, for Dimitris Kollatos film.

And here’s a fine blues/jazz tune from the movie Ransom Baby of 1972.
The soundtrack remains unreleased and what you find here is the pieces of the song I gathered from 3 different parts of the movie and joined them to come up with the full song.
Enjoy.

Psych-Folk Gems

2011-12-11T15:31:00.000+02:00

Sometimes traditional music merges so well with contemporary music that one cannot distinguish between old and new – and actually there is no point in doing so as the outcome is so unique and timeless that can form a new genre of its own, or can stay uncategorized but still precious.
This is the case with the following albums which in any case are considered among the best in their creators’ long and successful careers.

Stavros Xarhakos – Dionyse Kalokairi mas (1972)

This is an album with original compositions orchestrated with electric and traditional instruments.

The album can be categorized under psych-folk but in any case this is restrictive and limited as a tag.

Here’s the song Girnan Amilita Paidia with the voice of the great Cretan singer Nikos Xylouris.

Mariza Koh – Arabas (1971)

This is her first album, featuring original compositions and covers of traditional songs.

Mariza Koh has a long presence since then with more than 20 albums while in 1990 she was awarded by Cornell university of New York for her contribution to music.

The song Skepsis is one of her own compositions in Arabas album.

Christodoulos Halaris – Tropikos tis Parthenou (1973)

Halaris is a composer/musicologist who focuses in ancient Greek music and Byzantine music.

He has created his own label to release his interpretation and reconstruction of ancient Greek music and Byzantine secular music.

He has released several albums with original compositions that combine elements of byzantine, traditional, folk music.

Here’s Anathema p’ Agapisa to Homa sou sung again by Nikos Xylouris.

The Topologist

2011-12-03T21:59:00.002+02:00

What is particularly interesting about Tom Kazas is the diversity of his art.

From the psychedelic Moffs to the ethnic groove of Xitzaz, from his ambient works to his film-making, Tom seems to enjoy interpreting things from all possible angles, then letting his ideas “breath” before come into shape.

Tom Kazas, born 1965, is a Greek /Australian composer, producer, singer, multi-instrumentalist and recently a film maker.

The Moffs - Another Day in the Sun (from The Moffs, 1986)

As well as being the creative force behind the Moffs, the Australian psychedelic pop/rock group of the 80s, Tom has a rich discography as a solo artist, but also as a producer and arranger.

His collaborations range from psychedelic pop (Taj Orange EP, 1991), to the ethnic (with Richard Lawson of Lime Spiders on the 1994 Fig Tree Renaissance album, and with the Ducers, Shift the Teli album of 1996). From Greek jazz (with Xitzaz band and the album Turbulence of 1999) to Xmas songs (in Tiny Tim’s Christmas Album of 1996).

Taj Orange - In A Sea With... (from In A Sea With..., 1991)

Unfortunately most of his records are really hard to find. Tom did surprise me and send me a couple of his rare and out of print recordings.

The album Turbulence by Xitzaz is a very special case. Kazas is a member, arranger and producer for Xitzaz, which is a band playing Greek jazz, as they claim on Tom’s web site.

I would describe this as a jazz/funk/traditional fusion featuring inspired covers of traditional and popular Greek songs but also original compositions from Kazas and the band.
Check their magnificent cover of master of rembetico Markos Vamvakaris' Frangosiriani.

Frangosiriani - Xitzaz (from Turbulence, 1999)

Tom’s latest album, Verdigris, was released earlier this year.
It is a full length piano album of four pieces.
A minimal work with an emphasis on the rhythmic, repetitive patterns which progress slowly in moving cycles.

Emerge - Tom Kazas (from Verdigris, 2011)

Cinema is another extension of Tom’s artistic endeavor. He has made several short films with The Topologist being the latest one. It’s a 16 minute “cinema poem on the examination of self”, as he explains.

The Topologist trailer

A discussion with Tom Kazas

G: Tom what is your Greek heritage?

My father was born in a village near Nafplion and came to Australia in 1959. My mother was born in Sydney, whose father came to Australia in 1933 from Castellorizo.

G: You have worked with many Greeks (writing music for their films, producing albums, composing etc). Is there an artistic Greek community in Australia?

I'm certain there is a community. I don't interact with it much now, so I don’t know what shape it takes. When I work with Greeks, I tend to see them as 'individuals with extras'. I have always enjoyed the freedom to be able to engage with Greeks, and then the freedom to ignore that identity. I think it's that circularity that helps to keep Hellenism alive for me, here in an anglophone country.

When I was younger I was much more involved with the Greek community in Sydney. I was the composer for a many Greek Theatre productions, and later with the Greek jazz band 'Xitzaz'. There was certainly a strong sense of community around those activities.

I suspect that as the Greek-Australian community matures and hybridizes, it becomes more about 'choosing' to be Greek. There is so much to choose from and be stunned by. I have always understood that it is at my core, personally and as a westerner, and know that it will continue to give me energy for the rest of my life.

G: You recently played a few gigs with the Moffs. How was it? Any plans for new music?

The recent Moffs gigs were a great experience for me, and I think for many people. Because we played a 1985 setlist with the original members, it was a rare opportunity to get into that distant headspace. Remember, I was twenty years old in 1985, so it was a way to experience part of that naiveté and joy again. After the gigs I was told there were a few tears in a few eyes. I was also told that 'Another Day in the Sun' had been played at weddings! Mostly, it was great to play that style of rock guitar and sing a few old songs. There are no plans for any further new music by the Moffs.

From the 2011 Moffs gigs. Photos by Kyleigh Pitcher

Surprised - The Moffs (from Labyrinth, 1988)

G: I think the uniqueness of the Moffs sound is somehow connected with your Greek heritage. In many cases you are following "eastern" routes when singing or playing the guitar. Same thing with your solo albums. For example in Garden of Fascination from Saint or Fool.

You are not only perceptive but essentially right in your listening. In fact, there has never been an album that I have released, Moffs or other, that has not had some rather strong Greek elements in it. I could easily make a list of songs for you like 'Garden of Fascination', that have a Greek heart; from the earliest Moffs to Verdigris, and in the Topologist.

Garden of Fascination - Tom Kazas (from Saint or Fool, 1997)

G: Another observation has to do with what we have already discussed as diversity in your music. I think these elements, that might be not so obvious or fully developed in the Moffs, were taken a step further on your solo albums. If the early years are about the big picture, then the mature years are about exploring the detail. For example, the Dolphin and I, Tapestry or the first half of Stealing Cake. I have the feeling that you took some not-fully-developed ideas and perfected them in your Telemetry or Fleeting Eternities albums. And then you took elements from Telemetry and Fleeting Eternities to stretch, improvise and further explore into Verdigris.

And again, you are right. The Moffs contained that combination of 'the song' and 'the instrumental' that I have mostly separated out, and continued to explore in my 'mature years'! It is mostly a conscious decision, for it has allowed me to bounce between the two poles, to use one to react against the other, a kind of escape valve.

It is true that on Verdigris I took a small group of seeds and sought to create whole worlds from them. Maybe it reflects my aging process, of seeking to distill and simplify, to explore what is easily missed, to try and have some power over time. Verdigris is this attempt at playing with time.

However, making the Topologist was such an important break in that musical bouncing process. It allowed me the freedom to really change the focus, and find a new way to question my place.

G: Is there a “wild” dream sitting in the back of your mind? Something that when it's done, it might surprise even its creator?

I don't really have an answer to that question, or, my answer doesn't seem to be that wild. Apart from:
-wanting to connect with an audience of millions,
-being heralded as a genius
-being talked about, and
-performing at Lycabettos...

If I have an answer, it is this:
To stay connected with art. As I age, the form this connection takes is less important to me. What is important is the making, the praxis, the necessity of it.
I hope to never lose my hunger for the thoughts and feelings of people, and the products of those thoughts and feelings. I would hate to lose that awareness, and then be content to live without it. That would be poverty. But I hear Kazantzakis' words resounding, for he told us how to attain freedom: by not fearing, not hoping. Being an artist is one of the few activities that allows you to act in freedom, expensive though this sometimes is.

G: What’s next?

I am putting the finishing touches to my new four song ep, ‘Melbn Pyxis’ that I will release in 2012. It is refreshing for me because the lyrics have never been this direct, or personal. It felt like I needed to be more courageous, and the lyrical honesty on the ep was a way of achieving that. I hope to also be performing these songs with a new band.

Later next year I hope to release the dvd, 'the Topologist and other Cinema Poems'. This release will mean that the Topologist will finally be available. It is also a nice way to issue some of my video work, of which a few are on youtube .

Several years ago, film and video became an all-encompassing activity for me. At a time in my life when I needed to ‘see’ things differently, film making became obvious and necessary. I think the activity of being a film maker was always latent in me. An added inspiration is the work of Theo Angelopoulos.
Creating the Greek version of 'the Topologist’ was a wonderful exercise in exploring the poetry of the Greek language, and also the difficulties of translation. My dear friend Nonda Antonopoulos, from Xitzaz and the Ducers, did most of the translation work. I wouldn’t have been able to do it without him. It was also an honour to have Kristi Stassinpoulou perform the voice over.

In his own words:

My first record:
I really can't remember. I had my sister's and uncle's records, and I was borrowing from the library and from friends. But at 10 years old I was given 'High Tide Green Grass' by the Rolling Stones.

I was also hearing the Greek music my father was playing in the house, Theodorakis and Xarhakos. He made little edited Super8 films of family things and would then project it with a variety of music from his reel to reel tape machine. These were early multi-media experiences for me.

My first concert:
There was a festival day with local bands like the Angels, Split Enz, Jimmy and the Boys.
But the first 'concert' for me was the Cure in 1981, I was 16.

The song I wish I had written:
At the moment, it's 'Atom and Cell' by Nine Horses (David Sylvian).

The artist I’d like to collaborate with:

Akira Rabelais

My favorite Greek album:

That's hard. 'Mou Thimizeis ti Mana mou' by Christos Kyriazis, or 'Odes' by Vangelis.

Mou Thimizeis ti Mana mou (You remind me of my mother) - Christos Kyriazis

Dance of Fire - Vangelis

My favorite movie:

Something by Tarkovsky, maybe 'Stalker'.

However, I recently saw 'Turin Horse' by Bela Tarr, that was quite astounding.

What still surprises me:

1. The sheer beauty and wonder of existence. The depth of sorrow it also contains.

2. The scale of legal corruption.

3. What my children say and do.

My moto:

Oh, I have several. Here are but a few, in no particular order:

'To be courageous, one must perform acts of courage'.

'Be attentive to the few moments that give meaning'.

'You only know yourself in the presence of others'.

'Creative work is serious play'.

Letter to the Dead - Tom Kazas (from The Wound, 1999)

End as Beginning - Tom Kazas (from Telemetry, 2003)

Discography and info about Tom Kazas on his site: http://www.tomkazas.net
Hint: Tom has a few copies of the out-of-print Xitzaz album. You can contact him here!

Latin Mood

2011-11-27T23:38:00.001+02:00

One of the greatest Greek female singers and later Manos Hatzidakis muse.
Fleury Dandonaki born in Crete, 1937, has moved in US to study philosophy and theatre.
In 1965 she released her first album, Fleury – The Isles of Greece, in the States for the folk label Vanguard.
In this album she performs folk and popular songs from various countries.
The band features Gus Vali among others.

Here’s her great cover of Luiz Bonfá and Antonio Maria, Manhã de Carnaval.

Dimitra Galani started her career in the 60s. She has collaborated with most of the great Greek composers (Hatzidakis, Tsitsanis, Moutsis, Kraounakis etc).
Spyros Sakkas, born 1938, is a renowned baritone who has performed original compositions of the most famous composers (Cage, Xenakis, Christou, Crumb etc).
The two of them have proposed to National Greek Radio a series of songs from all over the world which was first broadcasted in 1983.

Here’s Vinicius de Moraes’ and Buden Powell's Samba em Prelúdio.

Zanet Kapuya is not Greek. Or better, she was not born Greek. She was born in Uruguay and moved in Buenos Aires at the age of 13.
From a very early age she studied singing, dancing, guitar and theatre.
By the end of the 70s Kapuya comes to Greece and stays.
In 1979 she releases her first album in Greece, named Songs (Tragoudia) where she performs songs from Spain, Italy, Argentina, Cuba, Peru and Greece.
The Greek songs belong to composer Akis Panou.

Here's El Humahuaqueño from Argentina

and Your World (O Kosmos o Dikos sou) which is an original composition by Akis Panou written for his new born daughter.

El Griego Rumbero

2011-11-20T12:26:00.002+02:00

When I first contacted Demetrios Kastaris, beginning of November, I did it to ask if he was going to release any of the material produced by his new project, Conjunto Katharí. Until then I had only read on the web about the new group and their mix of salsa and gospel, but I didn’t have an idea of their sound. Nothing existed on the web. Demetrios not only responded but also sent me the 3 songs they had recorded at the time! The timing was great as he informed me they were about to release the songs. So this is probably the first article written where you can also listen to a sample of Conjunto Katharí music. The 3 songs were made available online last week.

Conjunto Katharí was founded in June of 2010 by trombonist Demetrios Kastaris and his wife, Arts Administrator Hilda Kastaris. Conjunto (pronounced cone-hoón-toe) means musical ensemble in Spanish, and Katharí means pure and clean in Greek.
Demetrios Kastaris explains that the purpose of the group is to perform Afro-Caribbean music with Gospel lyrics.
The instrumentation consists of 4 trombones in 4 parts harmony (big influence was the 4 trombones arrangements of Willie Colon), 3 percussionists, 3 singers in harmony, piano, bass, plus invited guest soloists.

Demetrios with Salsa Legend Willie Colon

The orchestra’s debut concert took place December, 2010 at Flushing Town Hall in Queens, New York with master Jazz virtuoso trombone and conch shell player Steve Turre as a guest.

Conjunto Katharí have just released their first recordings.

Here's a preview of the 3 songs
1. Si Tuvieras Fé Como Un Grano De Mostaza (If You Had the Faith of a Mustard Seed)
2. Vamos Escalando Peldaños (Let’s Go Climbing Up Stairs)
3. Wade in the Water

You can listen/buy the songs here or go to http://www.elwatusi.com/ and type Conjunto Katharí

AN INTERVIEW WITH DEMETRIOS KASTARIS

Q: Demetrios you've been called “El Griego Rumbero”. The Latin-Jazz Coalition has gained a good reputation and released an acclaimed album and you introduced Conjunto Kathari, your salsa-gospel project. What is your musical vision?

With the Latin Jazz Coalition I wish to continue doing concerts with well-known artists as well as continue growing as a trombone player, composer, arranger, band leader, and Jazz improviser. Just because I founded a new group called Conjunto Kathari does not mean that I am going to stop doing concerts with the Latin Jazz Coalition.

Oh by the way, I am called El Griego Rumbero because I was born in Greece and I maintain my Greek identity while performing Afro Cuban and Puerto Rican music with a great band and with well-known musicians. Historians and scholars of Latin music have brought it to my attention that I am the first Greek-American in recorded history to lead an authentic sounding Latin band of Afro Caribbean music and Jazz.

In terms of Conjunto Kathari which is only a year and a half old I have a very different vision. There is a message of God`s love in Conjunto Kathari. I want to give hope and love to people that feel hopeless and helpless, regardless of what culture they come from or what their religion is. God has put that love in my heart for all people. I desire to play in prisons, psychiatric hospitals, and on the streets in tough neighborhoods where there is gang violence, drugs, and prostitution. All these people need to feel love. I get this desire to do humanistic things from my relationship to Jesus Christ. I have been given so many blessings it`s time for me to give back.

For those who don`t know Greek and Spanish Conjunto Kathari means pure and clean musical ensemble. That`s quite a reputation to live up to. I feel that Conjunto Kathari has to play in an exceptionally excellent way because many people don`t accept our message as far as Jesus is concerned. If our music is great many people will eventually accept our message.

Also in Conjunto Kathari I get to play in a trombone section with a total of 4 great trombone players in 4 part harmony. I also get to play Salsa with Gospel lyrics as well as Contemporary and traditional Gospel music. I have wanted to do all of this for years.

Q: What is your Greek heritage?

I was born in Theassaloniki in 1959. In 1961 we moved to the United States. My dad was a Greek Orthodox priest for his entire life. My mom was a home maker from Athens. My dad was also 100% Greek and grew up in Athens but he was born in Alexandria Egypt. I consider myself 100% Greek (Greek American). I also can claim a small tie to African rhythm from my father`s side. I grew up in an extremely Greek environment and culture. We spoke Greek only at home and English only at school. I went to Greek school at 3:30 after American school for many years so that I would learn Greek. I have visited Greece in the summer ten times and I love my Greek culture.

We love to eat spanakopita and baklava. We also really love to listen to Kalamatiano and Zembekiko. Even though I am immersed in Afro Cuban music today I really love to listen to recordings of Haris Alexiou. I go crazy when I listen to that music.

By the way, my wife is from Colombia, South America so I am fully fluent in three languages, English, Greek, and Spanish.

Q: Your favorite music?

I love Latin music, Latin Jazz, Greek music, Jazz, Classical, almost everything except for music that talks about violence

Q: Any plans of live performances in Greece/Europe in the future?

It has been my desire for years to travel to Greece and do concerts. We have to stay at it and see what doors open up.

Q: What's next?

Well, I have been working very hard with my wife building the infrastructure and administrative strength of both bands. This part of being an artist is tedious and time consuming but as in the past it has opened many marvelous doors for performing and recording. We want to record more with both orchestras.

Latin Jazz Coalition older GREEKAZOID post here
Latin Jazz Coalition web site: www.thelatinjazzcoalition.com
Demetrios Kastaris e-mail: kastaris@juno.com
youtube: type: latinjazzcoalition

Brothers and Sisters

2011-11-16T00:07:00.000+02:00

KALOUTA SISTERS

Anna and Maria Kalouta (1920 – 1918) were raised to be stars.
They first appeared on stage in 1925.
The duo performed all over the world since 1950, recorded and appeared in movies.
It is said they also collaborated with Yma Sumac and Maurice Chevalier among others.

A Beating Heart

BROYER SISTERS

Errica and Margarita Broyer first appeared as a duo in 1961.
They singed and danced to modern rhythms of the era and soon became one of the most famous acts of 60s night life.
They also appeared in numerous movies.

Little Kiss

KATSAMBA BROTHERS

Born in the 40s, John and George Katsamba, became famous as the Katsamba Brothers duo.
Although most of their albums are in Greek, they became very popular for their latin performances.
They also scored some international hits as Los Hermanos Cachamba.
Their first self titled album was released in 1968.
Next year they released the album Melodies of Latin America which includes this version of Manolo Escobar, El Porompompero.

El Porompompero

ELEFTERIADU SISTERS

Martha and Tena Elefteriadu, born 1946/1948, to Greek political refugees, grew up in Brno in former Czechoslovakia. They began their musical journey in the 60s with beat group Vulkán. They had a successful career during the 60s and 70s. Martha had an interesting solo career in the 70s in a more funky mood.

Tento týden v pátek

Horizont (Martha solo, 1980)

BBC Stories

2011-11-07T23:22:00.003+02:00

An ex-soldier who fought during World War 2 alongside the local resistance returns to Crete where he comes across the ghosts of the past questioning and threatening his present…
That’s the story of TV Series Who Pays the Ferryman, filmed in Crete and produced by BBC in 1977.
Yannis Markopoulos has written the music score which became a hit in UK.

Who Pays the Ferryman? - Yannis Markopoulos

The Honeymoon Song was written by Mikis Theodorakis in 1958 for the Honeymoon movie by Michael Powell.
The song performed by Marino Marini appealed to The Beatles who recorded this for their BBC sessions in 1963.
This version was finally released in 1994 (The Beatles: Live at the BBC).
In 1969 Paul McCartney produced The Honeymoon Song for Mary Hopkin’s debut album.
The song has been covered multiple times since and in many languages.

The Honeymoon Song - The Beatles

The Hoenymoon Song - Mary Hopkin

An Thimitheis to Oneiro mou (If you remember my dream is the Greek title. Lyrics by poet Nikos Gatsos) - Giovana

No Comments

2011-11-04T22:57:00.001+02:00

Melina Merkouri - Cafe Greece (To Kafeneion i Ellas) (1984)

Jimmy Makulis - Gitarren klingen leise durch die nacht (1959)

Brigitte Bardot - Les amis de la musique (1963) (a Yiannis Spanos composition)

Athens Calling

2011-11-03T17:05:00.000+02:00

It's a chaotic, schizophrenic and frustrating situation.
For so many years corrupted governments, hungry allies and filthy syndicates rule.
No words to describe insanity.
Just 3 songs as a soundtrack to this madness.

1. Get Off My World - The Last Drive (from Heavy Liquid, 2009)

2. Frank & Stein - Modrec (from Mascaraddiction, 2010)

3. Leftovers - Planet of Zeus (from Macho Libre, 2011)

Safari Boy

2011-11-01T09:24:00.000+02:00

Following the Tokoloshe Men post here’s another Greek from South Africa. Tolis Fasois, born in South Africa and formed his first group there influenced by the UK punk scene.
The family moved to Greece and Tolis searched for a new band. So in 1979 when Madness were releasing their first album, a new band was coming to shape in Greece: Sharp Ties.

The band was meant to be one of the first and by far the most successful Greek band to jump on the post-punk/new wave/ska train at the time it was created.
In 1981, at the time the Smiths were releasing their first album, Sharp Ties released theirs. The title: Get that Beat and the title song still remains a party classic.

Get That Beat - Sharp Ties (from Get That Beat, 1981)

Platinum disc, tours all over Greece and sold-outs. At a time when most groups where singing in Greek, this English singing group made record companies re-think their local strategies.
Their second album, Safari Boys, follows in 1982. These two first albums remain among the most successful and best new wave Greek albums. Two more albums follow, Sharp Ties 3 in 1986 and Positive in 1989.
The sound becomes more pop (just like their UK influences).

Safari Boys - Sharp Ties (from Safari Boys, 1982)

By the By - Sharp Ties (from Sharp Ties 3, 1986)

Then the group disbands and it would take more than 20 years for Tolis to release another album, solo this time.

Just before that he writes the English lyrics for the songs of Pyx Lax that were sung by Eric Burdon, Marc Almond, Steve Wynn and Gordon Gano (the songs included in Pyx Lax, Happy in the City of Fools album of 2003).
Finally in 2009, Tolis Fasois releases his first solo album Just for a Day. To the old influences (David Byrne, Bryan Ferry) some new are added (Jarvis Cocker).
The sound is fresh, pop with very good songs and production.

A very nice (and unexpected) comeback.

Crumbling Down - Tolis Fasois (from Just for a Day, 2009)

Come On - Tolis Fasois (from Just for a Day, 2009)

Tokoloshe Men

2011-10-25T18:51:00.000+03:00

John Kongos, born 1945 in Johannesburg, at Greek parents, is best known for his 1971 hit He’s Gonna Step on You Again. The song was a top 10 hit in UK and is cited in the Guinness book as the first song to ever use a sample (Wikipedia). In another interview (in Greek) Kongos claims that the use of tape loops was something usual at the time.
He’s Gonna Step on You Again was covered by several artists, most successful being the Happy Mondays cover under the title Step On.
The song was co-written by Chris Demetriou, another one with Greek origin (born in Cyprus and moved to South Africa).

He's Gonna Step on You Again (1971) - John Kongos

Tokoloshe Man (1971) - John Kongos

Both of them became known during the 60s, Kongos with his band Johnny Kongos and the G-Men and Demetriou with John E Sharpe & the Squires. The two form Floribunda Rose and in 1967 move to UK. After one year of touring and some singles Floribunda Rose change lineup and name. The new band created by Kongos and Demetriou, Scrugg, was another short lived project. After 3 singles and some heavy touring they split.The psychedelic pop music of Floribunda Rose and Scrugg plus the first solo album by John Kongos, Confusions About a Goldfish, are gathered in the Lavender Popcorn (1966 - 1969) compilation.

One Way Street (1967) - Floribunda Rose

Lavender Popcorn (1968) - Scrugg

Kongos followed a solo career with success in several countries during the 70s. Demetriou changed direction in 1972 and as a producer he produced many albums and singles with Buddha and the Chocolate Box by Cat Stevens (also from Cyprus) being one of them. Demetriou (according to Wikipedia) today is CEO and owner of a media company, a senior pastor (!) and a writer.
Kongos during the late 70s and 80s has written several film and TV scores including The Greek Tycoon, (story by Nico Mastorakis), Blind Date (b-movie by Nico Mastorakis), Cats Eyes etc. Today he lives in Arizona with his family (his children have formed their own band named Kongos).

Just a Dance With Me (1978) - Petula Clark (John Kongos from Greek Tycoon OST)

Cats Eyes theme (1985) - John Kongos (from Cats Eyes TV series)

I Need Your Love (1984) - John Kongos (from Blind Date OST)

Additional information about both Kongos and Demetriou plus interviews you can find in the nice Garagehangover blog (here and here) which I also used as a source of information.

Unreleased Soundtracks

2011-10-10T00:49:00.000+03:00

Back to the 70s soundtracks with some unreleased ones. As in other posts with unreleased soundtracks, I have done some editing in order to improve sound. Some noises still exist but in any case I did my best.

So the first one comes from a 1975 movie, The Navel (Synomosia sti Mesogeio was the Greek title).
It’s a spy movie shot in various places with some great funk/jazz music from the great George Hatzinasios. Hatzinasios is a composer who not only has a jazz feeling but also knows how to conduct a small orchestra. Although he has released a number of quite significant soundtracks (The Hook, Soul and Flesh etc), a great portion of his work with movies remains unpublished.

The Navel (1975)

Mikaela is a sexploitation movie released in 1975.
Credits for the original music belong to George Paris and from a quick search I didn’t find any other soundtrack he has composed (although he was credited as Music Supervisor in at least 9 more Greek movies of the 70s). The score is a typical, funky exploitation one.

Mikaela, Sweet Temptation (1975)

The Last Flight is a drama from 1978.
The movie has some really great music from the soundtrack master Kostas Kapnisis and it is really a pity that the soundtrack is not released.

About Kapnisis we have said a few things in older posts and hopefully we’ll present more of his work in the future.

Here’s a small sample, a bossa nova from Last Flight.

Last Flight (1978)

Ki Sano Terra

2011-09-29T15:17:00.000+03:00

Pantelis Pantelopoulos is a contemporary artist inspired by the city (landscape, people and sounds). The industrial element (forms, shapes, noises etc), omnipresent in his art, de-humanizes the person and at the same time emphasizes one’s cry for humanity.

Pantelis, influenced by surrealism, comics and pop art but also from industrial design, has mastered his art and created a distinct, unique personal style that is expressed in several (often unconventional) ways including installations with visual action, projections, screen printing and painting.

"Stress", 1981
By Pandelis (Pandelopoulos) (1957)
Pencil on paper, 17Χ25 cm.
Inv. No.: P-41

From Panagiotis D. Cangelaris collection.

During this period he participates in modern art Biennale 3 in Thessaloniki with his video “Ki Sano Terra”.

"Ki Sano Terra", 2008

Other information and videos you can find here.

PS. He has also designed the cd pack from Alexia’s triple album presented a couple of weeks ago.

Mano's Jazz

2011-09-17T16:33:00.002+03:00

Dimitris Kalantzis eventually found the best host for his creation.
So the jazz tribute to Manos Hatzidakis’ music is released by Verve and is simply a jazz masterpiece.
Hatzidakis was not a jazz composer. Jazz was there of course, either in pure form like in The Last Lie from 1957 Kakogianis’ movie soundtrack, or as an influence with some jazz elements and “touches” in works like Joconda’s Smile.
What Dimitris Kalantzis did is transformed some of the finest classical music into a pure jazz delight interpreted by a jazz quintet and a classical orchestra.
The outcome would make Hatzidakis proud.

Here's a sample from May I Be Your World (Dedication) - Dimitris Kalantzis Quintet (from Mano's album, 2011)

It certainly gives another perspective to Hatzidakis music that was hard to imagine. Kalantzis and his Quintet having mastered their art, they considered this as a natural next step: to take the great composer’s music they grew up listening and make it theirs.

Street Song - Dimitris Kalantzis Quintet (from Mano's album, 2011)

Athens Kamerata does a great job supporting the Quintet by filling or leaving space to the great musicians. Kamerata’s conductor is Miltos Logiadis and the string arrangements belong to Jiannis Antonopoulos.

Dimitris Kalantzis Quintet are:

Dimitris Kalantzis: piano, arrangements
Takis Paterelis: alto saxophone
Andreas Polyzogopoulos: trumpet, fluegelhorn
Alexandros-Drakos Ktistakis: drums
George Georgiadis: double bass

You can also listen to Away On the Misty River here

Duende

2011-09-09T16:33:00.002+03:00

Definition (Wikipedia): El duende is the spirit of evocation. It comes from inside as a physical/emotional response to music. It is what gives you chills, makes you smile or cry as a bodily reaction to an artistic performance that is particularly expressive.

Federico García Lorca writes in his Duende speech: "Duende, then, is a power, not a work. It is a struggle, not a thought. I have heard an old maestro of the guitar say, 'Duende is not in the throat; duende climbs up inside you, from the soles of the feet.' Meaning this: it is not a question of ability, but of true, living style, of blood, of the most ancient culture, of spontaneous creation"

Alexia - Remember Boston (from Re-Be 2010)

"Duende's arrival always means a radical change in forms. It brings to old planes unknown feelings of freshness, with the quality of something newly created, like a miracle, and it produces an almost religious enthusiasm."
"All arts are capable of duende, but where it finds greatest range, naturally, is in music, dance, and spoken poetry…"

Alexia - My Tango (from Re-Be 2010)

Well…I certainly was not expecting such an amazing album from Alexia. Not because she’s not capable of delivering one (she just did actually) but because I was not prepared for this. It’s too much for me to handle. And I’m not talking about the album’s length (3 discs, 50 songs, 200-page booklet with bi-lingual lyrics), I’m talking about DUENDE. It’s personal and universal, it’s passionate, emotional and yet down to earth, it’s educating and entertaining, it’s pop and jazz and blues and spoken poetry, it’s inspired and natural.

Alexia - Electricity/Family (Re-Be 2010)

and here's the above song with different orchestration and lyrics (practically a new song and equally beautiful):
Alexia - Time/Love me (Re-Be 2010)

It took her 10 years to prepare. She wrote all the music, lyrics and performed. Every single detail is great, from the package to the web site: www.rebe.com

It’s Re-Be and it’s amazing!

Alexia - The Street I Live (live on Greek TV)

More info about Alexia here

My Way (Part 2)

2011-08-29T17:02:00.002+03:00

Giannis Palamidas started his career in the 70s. His first recording is the Apocalypsis first album of 1979. His voice and eccentric live shows gain him a reputation as a performer and in 1981 he participates in composer’s Lena Platonos debut album Sabotage. The album is considered one of the masterpieces of Greek (let’s say electronic-pop) music and marks the beginning of a lasting collaboration between Lena Platonos, Giannis Palamidas and Savina Giannatou (another great artist, female singer).

Ptisi 201 (Flight 201) from Sabotage

In 1986 Palamidas releases his first solo album with his own songs. Cineromantza (Cine romances) is an electronic-pop album which remains underestimated and unknown. The lyrics are in Greek as in all his recordings to date with the exception of the first Apocalypsis album which has English lyrics.

Otan I Gi tha Ekragei (By the Time the Earth will Explode) from Cineromantza

In 1989 he continues his successful collaboration with Lena Platonos in her album To Spasimo ton Pagon (The Breaking of Ice). The album, although of very high standards (one of my personal favorites), remains among the least known albums of the composer and singer.

Pote de se Eida (I Never Saw You) from To Spasimo ton Pagon

Giannis Palamidas continues his musical journey contributing to composer’s Dimitris Marangopoulos album Maria Dolores Parelthon (Parelthon = Past) where he shares the tracks with Savina Giannatou one more time. This is another very good album with great orchestration and lyrics. Both this record and the previous one were released in Manos Hatzidakis’ label, Sirius.

Paul Gauguin from Maria Dolores Parelthon

In 1992 he contributes to Panagiotis Margaris album Stis Nyhtas to Fos (In the Light of the Night) where he shares the tracks with Athina Karataraki. This one is perhaps the most unknown album among his discography. Margaris is a classic guitar virtuoso (I think this is his first recording but I’m not sure). Palamidas also contributes with some lyrics.

Kanenas (Nobody) from Stis Nyhtas to Fos

By the end of the 90s and after participating (he sings one track) in Dionysis Tsaknis album To Fantasma apo to Parelthon (Ghost form the Past), he forms a short lived group named NE and releases their only album in 1998 called To Paihnidi tis Siopis (The Game of Silence). With this project he returns to electronic forms. The song with the same name receives some airplay but it is with his next work that Palamidas has a hit. It is his contribution to Konstantinos B album Angel Baby (2001) where he sings Tyhero Asteri (Lucky Star).This love song has been covered by various artists since then.

Tyhero Asteri from Angel Baby

Seven years later he contributes to Lena Platonos new album Imerologia (Diaries), singing one track and in the same year he releases his second solo album after Cineromantza. Doritis Somatos (Body Donor) is a collection of new songs together with some new versions of songs from Cineromantza and To Paihnidi tis Siopis (NE).
In 2010 he participates in 2 albums by Lena Platonos: the live recording Live in Palas and the new Lena Platonos album Kavafis where he interprets 13 poems of the famous poet.

I Lathos Agapi (Wrong Love) live with Lena Platonos

Search and enjoy

My Way (part 1)

2011-07-29T00:45:00.001+03:00

This is the first part of a side by side presentation of two very interesting singers and songwriters, active since the 60s the first and the 70s the second, till today. Common characteristics their great voices, their internal drive and talent, the loyalty to their vision, the collaborations with major composers but also the limited (but important) output throughout the years as they have chosen whatever they do … to do it their way.

George (Yorgos) Romanos started his career in the 60s. His first album, Ballads, was released in 1965 with Manos Hatzidakis as producer. Next year he contributed as a singer in Mythology and Captain Michalis by Manos Hatzidakis.

Between 1968 and 1971, George Romanos releases 2 albums that are considered as benchmarks for the local folk/psychedelic scene: In Concert and in Studio in 1968 (featuring Vangelis Papathanasiou orchestra, the members of which later formed Aphrodite’s Child) and Two Small Blue Horses in 1970 featuring among others Koulouris (of Aphrodite’s Child) and Karakadas in rhythm and lead guitars respectively.

Here's the psych gem Two Small Blue Horses

Beginning of the 70s Romanos moves to Paris where he lives for several years writing music for commercials, for the theater etc. In 1974 he releases Dans le Grenier featuring French versions of his songs.

Dans le Grenier (1974)

In the 80s he releases Krama (1988), a very good album but with no promotion at all from the press and the record company. Before this he participates in the group You Guys which consisted of ex members of Socrates and Akritas. Their only release, Love in Armour (1983), adopts a (soft) progressive style.
The 90s proved a strange decade for Romanos it became difficult for the record companies to find a fit for him. As he says in an interview, even though he had some material ready, no record company was willing to release. So he offered these songs to another singer, Vlasis Bonatsos (singer of Peloma Bokiou), who released them on his 1991 album Paralyrima (Delirium).

Martha's Party from Krama (1988)

In 2004, Romanos, George Simatos and Yannis Stavropoulos release under the name NYN a beautiful album, Winning the Game, a fusion of classical music, latin, rock and jazz. This one and his solo album Krama are among the most unnoticed and underestimated albums. They are practically out of circulation and are seldom mentioned on the net.
Pitty!

Super String Theory from NYN - Winning the Game (2004)

... to be continued

The 4 Levels of Existence...

2011-07-14T15:51:00.000+03:00

...of Nikos Grapsas, born 1957 in Lefkada island, Greece.
Nikos Grapsas has been a member in some of the most important Greek bands including Paralos, The 4 Levels of Existence, Dynameis tou Aigaiou (Aegean Forces), Trihordo, Avaton, Nearhou Paraplous. He has a rich solo career too as well as many collaborations with great composers like Hatzidakis, Markopoulos, Stavrianos, Halaris etc.

Besides his classical studies, his passion for folk and traditional music of the Eastern Mediterranean and the Balkans makes him expand his studies to cover Byzantine music and the Turkish and Arabic music systems. He is a multi-instrumentalist, singer and composer.

So here are the "4 levels of existence" of Nikos Grapsas:

LEVEL 1: Heavy Progressive/Psychedelic

The 4 Levels of Existence was a heavy progressive/psychedelic band of the 70s. Grapsas played the guitar, sang and contributed in compositions. They recorded only one LP which was released in 1976 in only a few copies.
Many consider this a masterpiece of the 70s progressive rock. As the years past this album became very famous among collectors all over the world and changed hands for more than 800$.

The album has been re-issued in LP, CD, mp3 format. Check the official site.

But the story does not end here: in 2009 a representative of the American rapper and producer Jay Z calls the ex-band members to ask permission to include a sample of their song in the forthcoming Jay Z album Blueprint 3. Permission granted and some 33 years later their music contributes to a worldwide smash hit.

So here’s the original: The 4 Levels of Existence – Some day in Athens [1976]

…and here’s the same song sampled: Jay Z – Run this town [2009]

LEVEL 2: The Traditional/Byzantine/Folk

As mentioned, Nikos Grapsas had a genuine passion for traditional music. During early 80s he and fellow musicians Tsiamoulis, Klapakis, Zevgolis and Tambouris, create a band, Dynameis tou Aigaiou (Aegean Forces) focusing on alternative interpretations of traditional songs of the Mediterranean and the Balkans but also creating original ones in the same spirit.

Byzantine scales, Balkan rhythms and ecclesiastic chant is present in all 4 of their recordings. The use of almost forgotten traditional instruments and the element of improvisation on traditional routes creates an influential example that many bands or artists followed in the next years.

Here’s an original composition from their second album. The lyrics belong to Nobel prize winner, poet Odysseas Elytis:

Dynameis tou Aigaiou – Kokkino Alogo (Red Horse) [1987]

Level 3: The Electro/Ambient/World

In 1988 Panagiotis Xydias and Giannis Papadakis form Avaton, a band that focuses in ancient Greek music seen from a cultural exchange prism and influenced by Indian music, Armenian music and music of the Minor East. Nikos Grapsas soon joined Avaton and contributed in their 1st album with same name, released in 1991 by Manos Hatzidakis record company, Seirios.

The lyrics belong to ancient Greek poet Sappho (in ancient Greek)
Avaton released their 2nd album (without Grapsas) in 1993. Their 3rd album, Ex Adokito (Unforeseen as it was) includes new versions of the 1st and 2nd album compositions (including Grapsas compositions from the first album). There is a 4th release in 2001, Cosmon, based on Heraclitus and Epicurus words.

Here’s Avaton - Aerion Epeon Arhomai (With a Few Celestial Words I Shall Begin) [1996]

Level 4: The Solo journey

Nikos Grapsas moves from rock to eastern traditional music with ease. Here are two examples from two of his solo albums.

Perdika mou (My Partridge) from the Mia Kori Apo Tin Amorgo (A Fair Maiden from Amorgos) album of 1996. A double album including 13 songs, with traditional instruments but original orchestration.

The other side on Nikos Grapsas solo career is the one trying to unite eastern and western influences.
Mikri Erotes sti Lypimeni Poli (Young love in Sad City) album was released in 1997 and finds Nikos going electric again (after 4 Levels of Existence days) but also maintaining lot of traditional elements resulting in a unique blend of music.

Here’s To telos enos kalokairinou erota (The end of a summer love) from this album

Summertime

2011-07-08T20:07:00.002+03:00

Just before temperature hits 40C for the first time this summer, it is time to pay a small tribute to the world’s most famous summer song:
George Gershwin’s Summertime.
So here are 3 Greek covers to be added to the thousands of covers.
In chronological order.

1. The M.G.C.

The M.G.C. (Modern Greek Combo, 1967-1971) is one of the first greek rock bands.
Summertime comes from their 1967 single ("Summertime / I'm Gonna Cut My Head", 7" Vinyl, Pan-Vox, 1967).
The song also appears in “Greece Goes Modern Vol. 1” compilation of 2000 (info here).

The group members are: Polytimos, Poulikakos, Tseberopoulos, Belliyiannis, Kiurktsoglu, Sembos, Dovas, Triandafyllou, Dallas, Katsadorakis, Alahadamis, Tzimopoulos.

The M.G.C - [1967] Summertime / I'm Gonna Cut My Head

2. Solid Silver

Solid Silver is a side project of Argyris – Silver – Koulouris, rhythm guitarist of Aphrodite’s Child.
This is the only single released under this name.
The cover is an extraordinary funky-disco piece, a really unique addition to the long Summertime cover list!

Solid Silver – [1976] Summertime / Walrus Music

3. Elias Zaikos

Elias Zaikos is a band leader, guitar player, singer from Thessaloniki.
He is one of the blues pioneers in Greece, demonstrating a rich and lasting career with his band Blues Wire or solo.
Summertime comes from his first solo album of 1997, Off the Box and is an instrumental blues version combining the guitar and the violin.

Elias Zaikos – [1997] Off the Box

Graut Rock

2011-07-04T12:58:00.000+03:00

I’m obviously paraphrasing Kraut Rock as the groups described below sound at times like some of the great German bands (Can, Neu, Faust, Guru Guru etc).

Baby Guru were formed in 2009.
They released Yogi Sister EP in 2010 and the Baby Guru album in 2011.
Kraut rock, electronica, african rhythms get mixed with psychedelic landscapes.
They could easily fit in the new Brooklyn indie scene with groups like Yeasayer, MGMT etc.

Baby Guru are:
-Obi Serotone: vocals, sampler, keyboards, synths, percussion, soundscapes, drums, production, editing
- King Elephant: drums, percussion, programming, saxophone, soundscapes, backing vocals, editing, production
- Sir Kosmiche: bass, sound manipulation, backing vocals, noise,percussion, editing, production

Baby Guru - Navigation

Baby Guru - Marilu

Baby Guru on MySpace

Which brings us to the second release: King Elephant, drummer of Baby Guru released his solo album with same name in 2011.
Heavy sampling, jazzy sounds, folk, african percussions and psychedelic vocals from his fellow Obi Serotone of Baby Guru.
Great stuff.

King Elephant on MySpace

King Elephant ft. Obi Serotone - Appreciation by Inner Ear Records

Regarding Fantastikoi Hxoi (Imaginary Sounds) I’m copying from their (his) site:
“Fantastikoi Hxoi (Imaginary Sounds) is a re-edit project based in Athens that draws material mainly from obscure greek pop, rock and folk tunes, among other global music.Using samples from classic or totally forgotten tracks, FH creates a peculiar retro-futuristic sound through complete reconstruction or a drastic re-edit.

2008’s “Masters Of The Universe” LP (self-released and available for free at fantastikoihxoi.blogspot.com) has gathered praise from people like Ivan Smagghe, Lovefingers, Eskimo Recordings, Optimo, James Holden, 20Jazzfunkgreats, Finn Johannsen and Marcus Scott - as well as rave reviews by the local music press. It now counts over 15,000 downloads.”

You can download his album from his site here (highly recommended): http://fantastikoihxoi.blogspot.com/2008/11/masters-of-universe-re-up.html

Here's my personal favorite: Old Eden (Palia Edem) a re-edit of Kostas Hatzis song

5th Avenue

2011-06-23T00:28:00.005+03:00

Two of the greatest orchestral albums from two of the major Greek composers: Manos Hatzidakis and Stavros Xarhakos.
Except of the exceptionally beautiful music, the two works share the source of inspiration:

- Manhattan and 5th Avenue
- A woman (a stranger for Hatzidakis, his daughter for Xarhakos)

Gioconda’s Smile was written and recorded in US, in 1965 by Manos Hatzidakis with producer Quincy Jones. The US version had 12 orchestral pieces while the Greek one of the same year (1965) had 10.
Gioconda’s Smile ranks among the best orchestral albums in Greece and is considered a classic with many reissues and live performances.

Hatzidakis explains in his introductory note on the album:

"In the course of a New York City parade, amidst bursts of music and colours and 5th Avenue flooded with people, I found myself one Sunday afternoon in the autumn of 1963. Then and there, I met a little woman walking all alone with a desperate indifference to what was happening around her; nobody noticed her, she noticed nobody; she was desolately alone in the unknown crowd shoving her, passing her by, heedless and hostile, leaving her to drown in the deep flood of the Avenue, inside that sea she was following, inside the wind beginning to blow.

I was riveted there, the only human being who noticed her. I tried to trail after her and follow her till I could get close enough to talk to her, without my knowing what I would say to her; but by the time I 'd made up my mind, I'd lost sight of her. I ran a little way ahead, stood on tiptoe in hopes of catching sight of her again, but the big black sea of people had swallowed her up. Inside me something started throbbing painfully. Without realizing it, I'd come to a stop outside Rizzoli's Bookshop and in the display window, exactly facing me, was a book about da Vinci with the Gioconda on the cover. Incredibly enigmatic, she smiled to me, automatically enlarged to the size of the woman who'd just disappeared down the street.

I don't know why all these elements became strangely tangled inside myself, together with an exquisite motif by Vivaldi, which I had heard several days before this and which had continued ever since plaguing my memory tyrannically.

These ten songs were composed with a blend of despair and reminiscences. The theme is a solitary woman in the big city. Each song is a monologue of hers and all the songs together compose her story. A story which is modern and, yet at the same time, old."

Dance with my shadow

When the clouds come

Stavros Xarhakos’ Pandora’s Manhattan was written in 1980 in US but recorded 2 years later in Greece.
Xarhakos explains in his introductory note on the album:

"This music was written in 1980, when my nine-year-old daughter visited me in New York for the first time. Her amazed view of Manhattan enabled me to discover a different side of the city.

Although I had been living there for a whole year, it was only with Pandora that I wandered around Manhattan, seeing places I would never have visited otherwise. By then I was so committed to my studies at Juilliard School of Music that Pandora's ten-day stay was my first real holiday in Manhattan.

I remember it was Sunday when Pandora boarded the plane and left. I found myself walking the ever-so-lonely, deserted 5th Avenue, when my sentiments transformed into sounds and Pandora's Manhattan turned into music.

I returned to Athens in 1982 and one of the first pieces of music I recorded was Pandora's Manhattan."

Pandora’s Manhattan is unfortunately not so famous as Gioconda's Smile, yet the music and arrangement (Xarhakos) are powerful and jazzy with some first class musicians performing:

Nikos Lavranos – keyboards
Giorgos Lavranos – percussion
Filippos Tseberoulis – flute, clarinet, saxophone
Babis Laskarakis – guitar
Giorgos Zikoyiannis - contrabass

5th Avenue on Sunday 5pm

Pandora's Manhattan

Tradition Goes Electric

2011-06-17T14:57:00.003+03:00

Greek traditional music is not just legacy but a living and always expanding organism.
In the hands of great jazz musicians, traditional music can provide a vast platform for improvisation.
Mimis Plessas, with a career spanning 50 years, is considered one of the most important Greek composers.
He has composed over 100 soundtracks, has collaborated with all major Greek singers and from the very beginning until now he demonstrated a great passion for jazz.

In 1967 he released what is often mentioned as “the holy grail of Greek jazz music”, the “Greece Goes Modern” album. This was a jazz fusion based on Greek traditional folk songs. The outcome was a fresh jazz, beat, psychedelic, funky orchestration that re-introduced the old material, improvised and suggested a new and very interesting sound.

Unfortunately the album is one of rarest and never released on cd. Moreover it seems that the master tapes have been lost but…as long as some people have the original vinyl (I don't) we can enjoy this great music.

"Vasilikos"

http://www.plessas.org/

Another great musician and composer with a taste for jazz, Kostas Kapnisis, has gathered several singers during the 70s and recorded with his orchestra his own versions of Greek traditional songs.

In this case there is a triple cd released in 2004, Dimotikoi Adilaloi (echoes of traditional music).

Kapnisis sticks more to the original forms (compared to Plessas who promotes improvisation) but the choice of a modern orchestra with bass, drums, electric guitar etc provides in any case a more modern sound.

Here’s the instrumental “Hara mou palikari mou”

Finally, in 1990 a new band is formed to take this experimentation further. Mode Plagal were formed by Thodoris Rellos (saxophone, voice), Kleon Antoniou (guitars, voice) and Takis Kanellos (drums).
In 1995 Antonis Maratos (bass) joins the band and they release their first album, MODE PLAGAL.
Mode Plagal have created a unique idiom with original compositions and covers and references to traditional, byzantine music, funk and jazz.

Here's "Funky Vergina" from Mode Plagal II

http://www.modeplagal.gr

The Godfather of Rhythm n Blues

2011-06-12T15:07:00.002+03:00

Johnny Otis (full name John Alexander Veliotis), son of first generation Greek immigrants, born 1921 in Vallejo, California is considered to be one of the most influential personas in the history of popular music.
The Godfather of Rhythm n Blues, as he is often addressed, was (and still is) a musician, band leader, producer, disc jockey, painter, club owner, pastor, journalist and more. Esther Phillips, Jackie Wilson, Hank Ballard and Etta James were among his discoveries.

In 1994 he was inducted in Rock n Roll Hall of Fame. Johnny was active in music until 2000 when he headlined the San Francisco Blues Festival. He also hosted a very popular radio show, the Johnny Otis Show, until 2006.

His interest in music began in 1939 after seeing Count Basie performing in San Francisco. Otis made his professional debut in 1939 and settled in LA a few years later where he formed the Otis-Love Band with Preston Love. In 1946, with Harlem Nocture, he scores his first hit. It was the era of the big band decline and Otis is forming a band with twin sax, trumpet and trombone while he switches from drums to vibes. His live shows are the extraordinary and because of his dark skin most of the audiences believe his is black.

Harlem Nocturne

He performs, produces and releases albums until mid 60s when he gets into politics. It is Frank Zappa (another one with Greek origins) who persuades him to get back to the studio. The result was the great R&B soul album of 1968, “Cold Shot” to be followed with the legendary “Snatch & the Poontangs” (because of its dirty language) next year.

Country Girl from album Cold Shot

Mo-Jo Woman from Cuttin' Up album of 1970

Johnny’s 15-year old son, Shuggie Otis is actually starting his career with Cold Shot where he plays the guitar. Shuggie, like his father is multi-instrumentalist who became very famous during 70s for his guitar skills: B B King said he was his “favorite new guitarist”, he played (bass) in Frank Zappa’s Hot Rats (Peaches en Regalia), while in 1974 he refused an invitation from the Rolling Stones to tour with them.
Shuggie Otis released “Here Comes Shuggie Otis” album in 1970, “Freedom Light” in 1971 and “Inspiration Information” in 1974, the latter to be re-issued by David Byrne’s Luaka Bop in 2001. Shuggie is to release a new album within 2011.

Sweet Thang from Freedom Light album

Johnny Otis World: http://www.johnnyotisworld.com/

Eight Fingers!

2011-06-07T10:22:00.000+03:00

Andreas Kapsalis grew up in the suburbs of Chicago. Son of first generation Greek immigrants he got into music and played the guitar from an early age. At the age of 18 he became an apprentice to a luthier (someone who makes or repairs stringed instruments) when an accident stopped him (for a while) but also helped him develop his eight-finger tapping technique!

Check the eight-finger technique on Pink Floyd’s Money (see in full screen!)

The Andreas Kapsalis Trio, as he explains on his site, “represents the perfect alliance of eight-fingered guitar virtuosity, outstanding melodic themes, and rhythmic variation on percussion”.
Backed by drummer/percussionist James Gallagher and multi-instrumentalist Darren Garvey, Andreas Kapsalis released first album in 2004. The music is a blend of Mediterranean, Americana, Arabic and African music.Their second album, Original Scores, released 2008, is a multi-rhythm, melodic blend, showcasing Kapsalis' skills as a composer too.

Bashful Satyr from Original Scores, 2008

Check more songs on MySpace

Other work of Andreas Kapsalis include film score compositions for Mulberry Street, Mexican Sunrise, Retaliation, Black Gold and Pig Business.

In 2009 he released an album with guitarist Goran Ivanovic (The Andreas Kapsalis & Goran Ivanovic Guitar Duo). The duo is reinventing the classic repertoire of classic guitar but also adding to it with new compositions. More info.

Blues and Rembetico

2011-06-02T18:56:00.000+03:00

There have been many discussions, several articles and some books around a possible connection between the blues and rembetico. I assume that the reason for such a comparison lies in sociological factors primarily and musical similarities secondarily.

It is true though that when it comes to music itself the similarities are not so obvious. Not as the ones someone would find between country music or hillbilly or even rock music and the blues. As of the effect that the music has over fans of the specific genres, one could find more space for discussion but again: they are two separate genres with only some things in common but in any case a long history, a cultural impact and an interesting artistic outcome when these two worlds meet.
So in this post we’ll stick to the cultural exchange from the listening pleasure perspective without trying to prove any existing or not connection. Nevertheless some similarities exist.

So both the blues and rembetico have their origins at the end of 19th century. The lyrics are simple and have to do with everyday life – most often – of lower class. Desperate love, hard work, poverty, war, illness, jail, drugs etc are common themes for both worlds.

The most common example of a connection between blues and rembetico is the comparison between the blues song “How dry am I” released in 1921 and “O Boufetzis” (the buffet-chef) by George Batis from 1932.
Here’s the original version...

...and here's the two songs combined

The same song performed in blues style with steel guitar by Zorz Pilalis here:

Another interesting example is "Diana’s Blues" by John Stamatis “Sporos” or Yiannis Stamatiou “Sporos”.
Sporos, born 1936, was one of the greatest bouzouki players. He lived in US from 1957 to 1979 and played with many orchestras in Las Vegas, San Francisco, recorded with Hrach Yacoubian orchestra and his fans included Elvis Presley, Harry Belafonte, Frank Sinatra and others. They say that his success was so big that made him a cover on the Time magazine in 1963 (I searched for this but wasn’t able to find anything to confirm).

"Diana's Blues" from album Musical Reflections

Stelios Vamvakaris, son of master of rembetico Markos Vamvakaris, is a composer and bouzouki player who actively works and explores the relation between blues and rembetico. He has collaborated many times in live performances and discography with blues master Louisiana Red.

Stelios Blues is from “One Day at Night, Athens Blues” movie soundtrack of 2000.

Here you can find one of the most famous rembetico songs, composed by Yiannis – Jack – Chalkias who lived in US, covered by guitarist Babis Papadopoulos in his album “From the Dragon’s Cave” of 2010. Papadopoulos was the guitar player of the famous Greek rock band Trypes. He has released two very interesting solo albums with acoustic improvisations over folk, rembetiko and traditional music.

"Teke Minor" (To Minore tou Teke)

Last but not least one of the greatest covers of folk-rembetico music by Spiros Soukis. Soukis is a singer-composer-guitar player who lives in US since 2003. Back in the 80s he played with Greek rock legend Pavlos Sidiropoulos and in the 90s he formed That’s Why with whom he opened for live shows of Pixies and Peter Green.

Check his blues cover of Vasilis Tsitsanis song “Sorceress of Arabia” (Magissa tis Arapias)

Soukis is offering some songs (including this one) on his site so you can check: www.soukisblues.com

Gypsy Swing

2011-05-21T22:59:00.000+03:00

Gypsy Swing got mixed with folk and rembetica back in the 40s and 50s in the hands of major Greek composer and bouzouki virtuoso Manolis Hiotis.
Hiotis, born 1920, was a professional player in the age of 16. He has written his first song in 1938, switched from guitar to bouzouki and from then on became one of the major composers of rembetica.
Famous in US too where it is said that Jimi Hendrix was amazed by his virtuosity and he even played at the White House.

Manolis Hiotis and Mary Linda - You are the cause (Esy eisai i aitia). This song was released in 1949 but this version is from 1959.

A few decades later Greece is following the worldwide swing revival trend and after 2006 has all the elements in place so that we can talk about a “scene”: a good number of bands, dancing clubs, festivals, happenings and an audience. Discography is weak at the moment and the material is mostly covers of swing standards but also of rock, folk or even disco(!) classics.

The Swing Shoes

We have already presented the band in another post of this blog. Their first album "Ladies and Gents Here's the Swing Shoes" is released.
http://www.myspace.com/theswingshoes

Here's Karagouna, a Greek traditional song in swing mood.

Diminuita

They first appeared in 2007 and have just released their first album named “a-rhythmology”.

Their influences are obviously Django Reinhardt and Stephan Grappelli.

Their album is only available through post so you can order it here: diminuita.swingtrio@gmail.com
site: http://diminuita.com/en

Here's Diminuita covering Sweet Georgia Brown

Lerotika
A gypsy jazz band from the island of Syros. No discography yet but lots of live appearances.
More info: http://www.myspace.com/lerotika

Lerotika - Some of these days

Swingtime Quintet
Formed in 2007 in Thessaloniki. Mainly influenced by Reinhardt music idiom. No discography yet.
site: http://swingtime.gr/about/

Another classic standard: Minor Swing

There are other swing bands too like Gadjo Dilo, Swing-Azoo, John Loukatos Quintet, Adonis Priftis Quartet, Los Tre Swing, Swingin' Joke and the list gets bigger every year. So we'll be back with some more swing when we have first or new albums released.

The Soft Wave

2011-05-19T10:10:00.001+03:00

Alexis Georgopoulos is a composer and artist based in New York. Born in 1974 he studied liberal arts and founded his first band, Tussle, in 2001. After debut album Kling Klang (named after Kraftwerk’s studio) he changed from drums to bass and became main songwriter. Tussle gained a reputation for their lives that incorporated Krautrock-electro fusions over dub-funky rhythms.

Tussle - Warning

He left the band in 2007 and released under the name Arp his solo record In Light, a minimal album that recalls Brian Eno ambient work. In his 2010 album The Soft Wave he presents a blend of melodic explorations, fuzz layers, hidden grooves, using mainly analog synthesizers but physical instruments too. In the same year he collaborates with Anthony Moore in FRKWYS III album.

ARP - Alpha (Dusted)

Alexis Georgopoulos is also a member of The Alp, a trio from San Francisco (Alex Georgopoulos, Jefre Cantu-Ledesma of Tarentel and Scott Hewicker of Troll). They have released four albums with most recent one Easy Action of 2011. Their music is a mix of psychedelic, folk, kraut and ambient elements.

The Alps - For Isabel

More info: http://www.studioalexisgeorgopoulos.com/

The Advice of Şangó

2011-05-16T23:55:00.000+03:00

Following the post re band-leader Demetrios Kastaris and his Latin Jazz Coalition, here’s another great band-leader and musician who made it to shape his dream and offer some great music.

Sotiris Papadopoulos, born in Volos, Greece, is a scientist (PhD in Atomic Physics) who gave up academic research to follow his dream: unite people through music. It’s not only the Greek origin that is common between Sotiris Papadopoulos and Demetrios Kastaris but also their interest in latin jazz.
Sotiris Papadopoulos has practiced the guitar in parallel with his studies. When in Germany he meets and becomes friend with Ira Coleman while in 1980 he travels to Nigeria to play on stage with Fela Kuti (!). In the following years he develops an interest for African music.

Ashake - Salvador Sango

When in New York for his studies he has the opportunity to play with Tito Puente.
In 1988 he moves to Nigeria and in 1989 he performs with Dizzy Gillespie in the latter’s Nigeria tour. During the following years he plays with Femi Kuti, Orlando Julius, Vicror Waifo among others while in 2004 he creates his group Salvador Sango featuring musicians from Nigeria. Their music is a blend of Afrobeat, Afrocuban, Latin Jazz, Flamenco.

Toussaint l'Ouverture - Salvador Sango

You can purchase their album “The Advice of Şangó” here
More info here

Disco Kings

2011-05-13T22:35:00.001+03:00

Alec R. Costandinos, (born Alexandre Kouyoumdjian in 1944 in Cairo, Egypt) is considered one of the Euro-Disco pioneers. He worked in France and during the 70s he published hits for several artists including Demis Roussos, Dalida, Cerrone and others. With his group Love & Kisses (!!) he entered the US market and scored a Billboard disco hit with "I've Found Love (Now That I've Found You)".

By mid 70s he started focusing on disco operas and under his name he released Romeo & Juliet in the form of disco suit using a full orchestra. He continues with other concept albums like Judas Iscariot released under the name Sphinx. Listen to Simon Peter from this one:

Sphinx - Simon Peter - 1979

In 1977 he releases the album Golden Tears under the name Sumeria. From this album here’s Cosmic Traveller:

Harry Chalkitis is already presented in other posts. One of his incarnations during the 70s was Queen Samantha, a disco band featuring American vocalist Gloria Brooks. They released 3 albums (written and produced by Chalkitis). They had several hits in Europe and US, including Mama Rue, Take a Chance, The Letter (The Box Tops cover) and others.

Here's Mama Rue from their 3rd album, 1979

and here's Take a Chance, a space disco song from their 2nd album, Queen Samantha 2 (1979)

The Legend of Aris San

2011-05-04T09:40:00.002+03:00

Aris San (full name Aristides Saisanas) was born in Kalamata, Greece in 1940. He sung and played guitar from an early age and won his first contest at the age of 11! At the age of 17 he went to Israel (following a woman that proved to be married!) where started working in Greek taverns, singing and playing the electric guitar under the name Brian. He was singing in Greek, Hebrew, Spanish, Italian and English and very soon became a megastar.

What distinguishes Aris San is his playing of the electric guitar as an amplified imitation of the sound of bouzouki creating his own unique sound and mixing folk with rock music.

Here's Zigouala from Aris San orchestra from 1960

In 1969 he went to New York where, as Aris San, opened his own bar-restaurant where he played Greek music with great success. He even played at the Carnegie Hall. His fan club included Anthony Quinn, Harry Belafonte, Telly Savalas. One of the greatest Greek singers, Stelios Kazatzidis who was a friend of his, claims that Aris San was admired for being one of the best dressed men in New York at the time.

Aris San - Todo Pasa

Fame brought the mafia and drugs into his life and later on the FBI which tried to trap the head of mafia through him. He denied and was imprisoned for 2 years.
When he got out of prison he went to Hungary to work where he had an accident and his health deteriorated quickly and passed away. He is buried in New York next to Louis Armstrong.

Aris San - Dam Dam

For this post I used as a source information from CafeSebax blog and from inner sleeve of Aris San: the unknown Greek voice compilation cd of 1997.

What is That?

2011-04-28T13:12:00.000+03:00

Today's post is about stories and story-tellers.

So once upon the time there was a story-teller called Paramythas (Story-teller). Paramythas (real name is Nikos Pilavios) has studied Drama in Greek National Theatre and London's Royal Academy of Dramatic Art. From 1978 to 1987 he held the most famous show for kids in the national TV, Paramythas. This was a combination of story telling from Nikos Pilavios and animation. The music was written by Greek composer Stamatis Spanoudakis.

Nikos Pilavios has been very active and still is. There is a great new website (paramythas) where he blogs but also posts new productions (paramythas.tv)!!!

Generations evolved and - like father like son - Konstantinos Pilavios followed the steps of his father to become the Story-teller of his era (the 2 of them have created a production company, MovieTeller to host the dream!).
Konstantinos works in Athens as a director of short movies and radio producer.

So here's "What is That?" Konstantinos' short movie from 2007. It's a 5 minute story for parents and children. Don't miss.

You can check his site for more info and videos.

Everything is made from dreams

2011-04-22T10:42:00.000+03:00

This phrase of Tom Waits from his song Temptation best describes this special project. A live performance in Athens Music Hall, part of a series of concerts held in 1993 under the name “The Song”.
The specific album is a selection of songs from Elli Paspala’s concert, including compositions of local composer Stavros Tzouanakos, Vasilis Tsitsanis, George Andreou, Stamatis Kraounakis, Nikos Xydakis, Giannis Papaioanou but also foreign ones like David Byrne, Cole Porter, Tom Waits, Kurt Weill, Bill Withers, Henry Manchini and Bob Telson.

The musicians who accompanied Elli Paspala are some of the best local jazz players:
David Lynch (not the director): saxes, flute, percussion
Takis Farazis: piano, keyboards
Yiorgos Zachariou: keyboards, piano
Alexandros Paraskevopoulos: electric bass
Stephanos Logothetis: drums, vocals

Listen to The Ports (Ta Limania), a song of Vasilis Tsitsanis, in an inspired minimal arrangement.

And here’s a cover of Tom Waits Temptation

La Voce

2011-04-20T14:13:00.001+03:00

Demetrio Stratos (or Efstratios Demetriou) is one of a kind!
Born in 1945 in Egypt by Greek parents, he studies piano and accordion at Conservatoire National d'Athènes. At the age of 13 he moves to Cyprus and then Italy where he attends Politecnico di Milano University.
In 1972 he forms one of the most successful Italian progressive/jazz fusion bands, Area.

His vocal explorations gain him a worldwide status and collaborations include: Mogol, Lucio Battisti, John Cage, Andy Warhol and others.
With Area but also on his solo works he continues to explore the possibilities of vocal spectrum. He studies ethnomusicology, compared musicology, Asian chant, psychoanalysis and focuses on the relationship between vocal sound and the psyche and the limits of spoken language.

Here's Giro, Giro, Tondo from Area's LP of 1976 Maledetti

His voice and technique is studied and documented by professor Franco Ferrero who claims:

“Looking at what I have found during the emission, the vocal folds did not vibrate. The frequency (for a human voice) was very high (vocal folds do not succeed to exceed the frequencies of 1,000–1,200 Hz). In spite of that Demetrio obtained not one, but two not harmonic hisses, one that descended from 6,000 Hz, and the other that climbed from 3,000 Hz. Therefore, it could not be supposed that one hiss was the next harmonic of the other. I observed also the emission of three hisses simultaneously”

Check his "flautofonie" technique live in this video (demonstration starts at 2:25)

Demetrio Stratos is using overtone technique and other chant techniques to achieve diplophony, triplophony and even quadrophony, that is to produce multiple sounds simultaneously using the human voice.

Check his diplophonies and triplophonies in Investigazioni from Cantare La Voce album of 1978

He dies in New York in 1979, at the age of 34.

Demetrio Stratos web site

Trombone with Spice

2011-04-16T10:38:00.001+03:00

A great old fashioned exotica cover for a superb latin-jazz album of 2000 released by trombonist Demetrios Kastaris and The Latin Jazz Coalition.
Demetrios Kastaris was born in Thessaloniki, Greece but moved to US before the age of 3. He lived in St. Louis where started his music lessons and became a fan of jazz. It was in New York where he was exposed to the poly-rhythmic sounds of Tito Puente, Mongo Santamaria, Ray Barretto etc.

He formed the Latin Jazz Coalition in 1986 aiming to explore the latin-jazz music with original compositions.
After 14 years of live performances the band developed their sound and released this first album Trombon Con Sazon in 2000 with great reviews by music press:

"A unique new and exciting sound in Latin jazz. The musical level is what I would expect from Tito Puente, Oscar D' Leon or Willie Rosario. One of the best new recordings that I've heard so far this year that combines traditional Latin music, Latin jazz, Brazilian music and Funk. An outstanding effort." Max Salazar, Senior Editor, Latin Beat Magazine

Demetrios Kastaris and The Latin-Jazz Coalition - Trombon Con Sazon

more info

Aphrodite's Children

2011-04-12T13:34:00.003+03:00

The great success the Aphrodite's Child had in the late sixties (especially in France), opened the doors to some great Greek musicians to make recordings with high production standards.
All ex-Aphrodite's Child members and collaborators followed their own careers with more or less success but always interesting.

YPSILON
In 1977 Loucas Sideras (Aphrodite's Child drummer), Dimitris Katakouzinos and Lakis Vlavianos (also member of Aphrodite's Child) release Metro Music Man as Ypsilon in France. The style is very close to the French pop/psychedelic of the era.

Metro Music Man - Ypsilon

LOUKAS SIDERAS
Loucas Sideras after Aphrodite's Child split he released 2 solo albums: One Day in 1973 and Pax Spray in 1975.

Rock n Roller - Loucas Sideras

HARRIS CHALKITIS

Chalkitis started his career in the 60s with the Playboys. He also participates in 666 album of Aphrodite's Child playing keyboards.
He follows an international solo career with success in many countries.
He also writes songs for Demis Roussos solo career and for several other Greek singers until today.

Ridin' Free Livin' Lonely - Harris Chalkitis (1974)(a big success in Latin America)

ECHOES OF JERUSALEM
This is another project of Harris Chalkidis, Echoes of, released only a 45 in 1973.
A funky rhythm with great drum breaks.

Eches of Jerusalem - Echoes of

EROS
Another short-lived project of the time was Eros with members the touring members of Aphrodite's Child except Demis Roussos (Vangelis was in the studio preparing the 666 album), that is Loukas Sideras, Harris Chalkitis, Lakis Vlavianos and Dimitri Tambossis. The above released a 45 in 1970 with 2 songs: Rain Train and I Can See it. Singer is Dimitri Tambossis.

Rain Train - Eros

ARGYRIS KOULOURIS
Argyris Koulouris, the rhythm guitar player of Aphrodite's Child, has also participated in solo Demis Roussos and Vangelis (see post for Dragon) albums but also formed or participated in several short lived projects including Magic Power, Solid Silver, Alpha Beta etc. He also participated in Inter-Groupie Psychotherapeutic Elastic Band (most probably another Vangelis project) with this composition:

Coloured Butterfly - Inter-Groupie Psychotherapeutic Elastic Band (1970)

Last but not least the 2 most famous of the gang: Vangelis and Demis Roussos.
There is an older post for Vangelis and there will be another in the future.
So here's Demis Roussos single for French TV series Le Jeune Fabre.

Le Peintre des Etoiles - Demis Roussos (1972)

Theremin

2011-04-08T09:25:00.001+03:00

"Influenced by the very reverend trinity of Bach, Bjork and Klaus Nomi, May Roosevelt is an extraordinary thereminist, composer and producer with a sense for good, old-fashioned drama. Her classical arrangements will give you the shivers (or, at the very least, remind you of movies that gave you the shivers), with nods to early industrial or electronic music and a passing resemblance to the god of thunder behind a theremin. Like many people, she got into music via her first Casio synth as a kid. If her knack for otherworldly sounds is anything to go by, that Casio must have been possessed by some very restless and musical ghosts"

This is from May Roosevelt's site where you can find more info and buy her new album Haunted where she deals with 8 Greek dances.

Mass Extermination from May Roosevelt on Vimeo.

And here's a demonstration from the inventor of the magic instrument Leon Theremin.

Instros

2011-04-04T10:26:00.002+03:00

The Swing Shoes

They released their first album in 2010 covering Muddy Waters, Stephan Grappelli, Django Reinhardt, Greek traditionals and others in the gypsy swing style.
They play mostly instrumentals.

Check here Den se thelo pia (traditional) from their album Ladies & Gents Here's the Swing Shoes

Goodbye Blue Sky

Ex-Diafana Krina members (Tasos Mahas,drums-Nikos Bardis,guitars-Pantelis Rodostoglou,bass-Kiriakos Tsoukalas,guitars,keyboards) formed a new band playing original instrumental compositions. Goodbye Blue Sky have not released an album yet but you can find their songs here.

Here's To Dress a Shadow - Goodbye Blue Sky

The Last Drive

2011-03-31T09:29:00.004+03:00

In the 60s and 70s there were Aphrodite's Child, in the 80s till today it's the Last Drive!
If there is a band that continues to keep Greece in the world wide rock map it is them (counting also the bands influenced by their music plus the bands that derived from their members).
The Last Drive started in early 80s to release their first EP, Midnight Hop, in 1985 and first album Underworld Shakedown in 1986.

Their song-craft in creating memorable songs and their unique live performances gained them an always expanding fan club.
At the time their sound was a garage-psychedelic-rockabilly mix to be evolved with every new release.

In 1988 they release Heatwave with producer Peter Zaremba of the Fleshtones. The band is already known in US and Europe where they tour with success and they appear in garage compilations of the time.

In 1989 they release Time EP recorded in Berlin. The 3 songs are to be included later in the cd release of their next album Blood Nirvana with producer Paul B. Cutler of Dream Syndicate, Green on Red etc.

Here's Have Mercy from the Time EP of 1989

The 90s continue to be a success with tours all over Europe. In 1993 they release their next album, F*head Entropy, again with Paul B. Cutler as producer.
Last album for the 90s is Subliminal released in 1994 and the sound has evolved to grunge-neo psychedelic. Subliminal can easily take a place among the best grunge albums of the era.

Here's The Drop from Subliminal album

Last Drive suspend action as a group for a while to work on several side projects.
George Karanikolas, the guitar player, formed Blackmail and released 3 albums.

Here's Bad Reputation from Life after Death album of 1993

In 1998 Alex K, singer and bass player and Thanos Amorginos, guitar player formed The Earthbound with a more desert rock, surf orientation. They have released 4 albums and are still active.

Here's I'd do it Again from Brotherhood of the Dog album of 2004

Finally Last Drive were reunited in 2009 for live performances and released a new studio album in 2010, Heavy Liquid.

Here's A Glass of Broken Dreams from Heavy Liquid

A new unreleased song you can find here

Last Drive web site: www.last-drive.net

Contemporary Jazz

2011-03-29T12:09:00.001+03:00

Enough with the "oldies" for the moment. The Greek jazz scene has to offer some contemporary excitements too!
George Fakanas, bass player and composer, has started in the 80s when he created the first jazz-fusion Greek band: Iskra, with whom released 2 albums.
He also contributed to many albums by famous Greek composers and issued several personal albums himself.
In 2010 he releases the album Interspirit with his own compositions and production featuring bass player Anthony Jackson. Actually this is Jackson's first recording.
The album has received a Grammy nomination for Best Contemporary Jazz Album!

George Fakanas, Anthony Jackson - Footprints

Dimitris Kalantzis is a jazz piano player and teacher.
Member of National Orchestra of Greek Music (under direction of Stavros Xarhakos) since 1999.
His latest effort is a jazz tribute to Manos Hatzidakis music.
He has already completed recordings and the album is to be issued, hopefully, in the near future.
A sample here from a live show:

Jazz Soundtracks 2+1

2011-03-24T09:51:00.006+02:00

1. Lola (1964)

A movie by Dinos Dimopoulos with the great music of Stavros Xarhakos.
Xarhakos is a major Greek composer with lots of soundtrack and theatrical scores, Greek popular music and classical pieces. He became well know just a year before releasing Lola with another great soundtrack Red Lights.
Lola soundtrack is a smokin' jazz masterpiece.

Irma's Blues

2. Ace of Spades (Greek title: To Doloma) (1964)

Another great soundtrack for the movie of Alekos Sakelarios.
Composer is Kostas Kapnisis another great composer with more than 100 scores for movies and theatrical pieces. In 1967 he won the Gold Medal in Brazil Music Contest.

An Agreement with the Bate (Symfonia me to Doloma)

3. Media Luz (1976)

This is not actually a soundtrack but a concept album for a fantastic movie plot, a soundtrack without a movie.
Composer Loukianos Kilaidonis is closer than any other Greek composer to the New Orleans jazz idiom. In 1976 he released this "almost" soundtrack which was (and is) highly acclaimed. He actually visited New Orleans and played with several famous jazz musicians including Preservation Hall Jazz Band with whom he also released a live recording.

The song Media Luz (which actually consists of 2 songs) is the music played by the band when the hypothetical hero enters the bar Media Luz.

Media Luz

Diamonds

2011-03-19T13:15:00.021+02:00

Diamonds on her naked flesh (1972) is a Greek sexploitation movie by Omiros Eftratiadis.
Composer of the soundtrack is Andrew Prezas who started his career in the 60s and is still active. The soundtrack was never published and it is a shame as the music is super funky with great drum breaks.
So hoping that someone will do some mining and get this "diamond" released, here's 4 samples I extracted from the movie and did some audio editing to make the sound listenable. The titles are mine, derived from the plot...

Enjoy!

1. Title Theme - Andrew Prezas (1972)

2. Bella - Andrew Prezas (1972)

3. A Better Life - Andrew Prezas (1972)

4. End Titles - Andrew Prezas (1972) (the only stereo track)

Oasis

2011-03-14T09:58:00.002+02:00

Vagelis Pitsiladis was the composer behind some 60s hits by Olympians but also some greek popular songs.
In the 70s he released two albums under the name Oasis (!!) in the euro-disco style, singing in English.
He has also numerous releases as Vagelis Pitsiladis (singing in Greek or English) and some very nice scores for films and TV series.

Below 3 different samples.
First coming from Oasis Lp Yes I Do (1978). It's a euro-disco instrumental.

Oasis - Tycoon (1978)

Second sample is from Oasis 1979 Lp Call Me Now. A more soulful track.

Oasis - Conquistador (1979)

Last one is from 1979 LP Vagelis Pitsiladis - Agapi Mou (My Love). It's a cinematic instrumental track which starts easy to become a nice psych groove.

Vagelis Pitsiladis - Fthinoporo (Autumn) (1979)

Jazzy

2011-03-12T12:21:00.002+02:00

A jazzy-progressive tune from an under-looked album.
In 1981 George Stefanakis releases his first album with singer Kostas Karalis. The lyrics (in Greek) were poems by Nobelist Rabindranath Tagore and Despina Tryantafyllou.

Stefanakis was active since 1970 and collaborated with many groups (Peloma Bokiou, Agapanthos, Nostradamos etc) and singers/composers (Moutsis, Tournas, Asimos etc) of the era.
Karalis collaborated with Lavranos, Mikroutsikos, Andriopoulos and others bur really became famous from the collaboration with Spanos in Triti Anthologia.
The song below comes from the album "Ela na stathoume adikry" and it's characterized by its groovy jazzy sound and the sitar played by Vasilis Rakopoulos.
The orchestration is credited to both Stefanakis and Karalis and there are some great musicians playing.

George Stefanakis - Poso me mageve

Greeks in America

2011-03-11T09:44:00.002+02:00

There were many skillful Greek artists who went to America in the 50s.
One of them, Iordanis Tsomidis (Jordan) the bouzouki player, leaves Greece in 1957 and goes to America where he becomes famous among artists. Friends and fans include Jack Nicholson, Jane Fonda and Shirley Maklaine.
In 1966 he records Greek Cooking with sax player Phil Woods, a great jazz fusion.

Phil Woods, Iordanis Tsomidis - Greek Cooking

Gus Vali was born in New York. Hie parents were Greek immigrants. He studied in Manhattan School of Music and he played with great jazz musicians. He played the flute, clarinet and sax and always infused the Greek flavor to jazz and exotica or oriental music.
I believe his masterpiece is "Chimera" A Fantasy in Jazz-Rock-Mid-East Sounds. The groove is unique, the guitars sharp and the clarinet...
The album was released in 1974 and the sound remains fresh and timeless!

Gus Vali - Telly

Music for the Theatre

2011-03-10T09:53:00.001+02:00

Dimitris Kamarotos has studied music with Xenakis and Maurice Jarre among others and is member of the Theseum Ensemble, a researching theatre company.
Here's a song for the "Romeo and Juliet the Third Memory" performance of 2004 with the voice of Christos Passalis (the son in Dogtooth movie of Lanthimos that was nominated for an Oscar).
You can find the music Dimitris Kamarotos has composed for Theseum Ensemble here.

Sitting There (Awaken 1) by Dimitris Kamarotos

For those in Greece there is a live performance of Kamarotos and Amalia Moutousi at Theseum theatre.
A sample here:

Sunshine for your dreams

2011-03-06T11:58:00.002+02:00

This is a nice groove from soundrack "H Parisiana" by Mimis Plessas.

The singer is Dimitris Tambossis.
This version is not the original one but published in a very rare maxi single in 1993 and featured 3 remixes with the original voice of Tambossis. Not much information is included except for the production that was done by Looping in the loop (Lakis Chalkiopoulos & Spyros Tsiolis). Orchestration by Lakis Chalkiopoulos, guitars by Christos Georgakopoulos.

80s Pop

2011-03-04T09:43:00.016+02:00

The 80s was a very productive era for all kinds of music. Post punk, punk, electro pop, new wave, pop, Italo-disco etc.
Yet very few bands had the luck to have a decent production.
Below 2 picks from the period: Psycho and Kyoto.
Psycho recorded 2 albums combining some new wave and electro with operatic voices.
Here's the famous Psycho Killer version of Talking Heads song. From their first album Montage Fatal from 1982.

Psycho - Psycho Killer (1982)

Kyoto released only a single with 2 songs. What distinguishes them from other groups of the era is their ambitious production and their ... english accent. Accent was an issue for the bands singing in English but Kyoto had an English singer. The song below is the flip side and somehow reminds me of Japan and David Sylvian. Side A is more uptempo and interesting too.
The group and single remain quite unknown among collectors and music fans. The 2 songs appear in a compilation named "Greeks do it better" (!!!!!) which you can find and presents all the italo-disco groups of the era (although Kyoto's music is different).

Obsession - Kyoto (1984)

Horror and Romance on Another Planet

2011-03-03T12:41:00.004+02:00

The Last Drive - Love and Terror

2010 is when painter Stefanos Rokos scheduled to present his new series of art work, an art/music project collectively entitled “Horror and Romance On Another Planet”, at Agathi Art Space and Art Athina 201o, in Athens, Greece.
Here you will find all details concerning the exhibition itself, as well as the music compilation of the same name.

They should have been stars

2011-03-03T09:37:00.002+02:00

There are not many Greek stars who made it to go international and have the success and recognition that they might deserve. First in mind, of those who made it, come Demis Roussos, Nana Mouskouri and Vangelis. Not to mention Maria Callas.

Here you will find 3 great artists/groups who could and should have been stars (internationally). Even though they represent 3 different music styles and eras the main characteristic is they have charismatic singers.
Enjoy:

1. Metempsychosis - Apocalypsis

This is a progressive Greek band. They released their first album in 1980.
You can find album details here.
They used make up and costumes on their live sets (similar to Peter Gabriel style) and their singer, Giannis Palamidas, had a voice that resembled at times with Freddie Mercury's.
Palamidas left after the first album and has collaborated with great Greek artists, like Lena Platonos and Konstantinos B while he has also released solo albums.
Vasilis Dertilis changed the scope of group in their second and last album and then he followed a career in Pop and music production.
The album is out of print but you can find a compilation of the 2 albums to buy here. Just note that only half of the songs are sung by Palamidas in this compilation.

2. Precious Love - Dimitri

This is Dimitri Tambossis song from 1973. He was born in Hungary, lived in Greece, Paris and other places.
In Greece he joins 60s garage bands and he contributes with his great voice to some Greek soundtracks.
Here you can find his own web page with full discography and bio and here some info from Julian Cope's page.

3. Yochobine - Slow Motion

Slow Motion is a dark wave/electronic band from late 80s, early 90s. They released 2 albums in legendary label Wipe Out. The albums were re-issued on cd. They were singing in English and German.
The song below demonstrates clearly the span of singer's voice.

Finally let's hope that stars will be stars in the future. So here's a contemporary artist, in the beginning of her career. Singer, songwriter, piano, guitar player Monika.
Here's Monika on Myspace.

And here's Yes I Do from her second album Exit

Vangelis

2011-02-26T17:02:00.010+02:00

Vangelis is one of a kind. Started his career in Greece in the 60s with a garage/pop band named Forminx, then formed Aphrodite’s Child, worldwide famous psychedelic/progressive band (their album 666 sold over 20 million copies) and then went solo to become one of the pioneers of electronic music, won the Oscar for Chariots of Fire OST, was awarded by NASA, became Knight of the Order of Arts and Letters in France etc etc… You can find his full bio here and here.

Below you will find 5 distinct moments in his career that prove his genius in whatever he was involved with.

1. Our Last September - The Forminx
This is a mellow track from the early days in the 60s. It's a Vangelis composition from their first album.

2. The Four Horsemen - Aphrodite's Child
Written in 1970 for album 666 but released some years later it is considered a prog masterpiece.

3. The Dragon - Vangelis
Early 70s from the album with same name. This album is an unofficial release as Vangelis did not approve it. This is a hypnotic groove. Masterpiece.

4. Astral Abuse - Alpha Beta
Alpha Beta is Vangelis, Argyris 'Silver' Koulouris (Aphrodite's Child guitar player in 666) and Vilma Lado (Greek 60s singer). They only released this single in 1971. It's only 2 songs but it is something very unique. Julian Cope puts this under Kraut Rock tag and he's right.

5. Queen of the Universe - Socrates
Socrates (Drunk the Conium) was a Greek hard rock/progressive Greek band from 70s. Vangelis produced their album Phos and also played keyboards.

Groovy Soundtracks

2011-02-25T23:16:00.005+02:00

Greece has not the wealth of soundtracks Italy or France have and certainly not the rich jazz groove that one can find in almost any well-known or not Italian b-movie soundtrack. Yet the music is there, mostly undiscovered, as there are lots of Greek movies of the 60s and 70s -a very productive era for the Greek cinema - with great but still unpublished music!

There was an attempt to explore the richness of Greek b-movie soundtracks through Greek label Potfleur which unfortunately did not last. The label ceased operation but still managed to publish some gems. 2 out of 5 posts below were published by Potfleur.

What follows is a sampler of 5 fine grooves from Greek composers:

1. Title Theme from Anazitisis (Search) - Yiannis Spanos
(from Anazitisis movie, 1972)

2. On the Streets - Mikis Theodorakis
(from Serpico with Al Pacino, 1973)

3. A Travers Montmartre - Stelios Vlavianos
(from Le Jeune Fabre French TV series, 1970)

4. La Discotheque - Mike Rozakis
(from She Knew no Other Way, 1973)

5. Fluted Vibrator - George Theodosiadis
(from Gynaecocracy, 1973)