posted 2015-10-17
Alekos Vretos Project @ Propolis Cafe, Nauplio, Greece 30/10/2015, 22.30
@ Grand Cafe Kandinsky, Argos, Greece, 31/10/2015, 22.30
'Greek musician and composer Alekos Vretos seamlessly divines the
perfumed essence of Middle Eastern music, infusing that essence into
jazz and creating a rich world music hybrid that is as enjoyable to
listen to as it is bold to consider.' All ABout Jazz, 2015
Vretos plays the oud, of which sound is woody and strangely elastic,
largely due to its fretless fingerboard. Like the traditional western
mandolin, it is a fine vehicle for improvisation, something Vretos amply
demonstrates on his albums and on stage.
With his album
'Mergin' (2009), Vretos merged Arabic and Latin Music with taste and
intelligence. His last album 'K on Top of the Piano' (2014) has not only
a flavor of organically produced music but is strickingly graphic and
vivid.
Alekos Vretos has collaborated with legendary composer
Mikis Theodorakis, as well as Gilad Atzmon, Simon Shaheen, Martha D.
Lewis, Theodore Antoniou, The Greek Contemporary Ensemble, The Kamerata,
the Jazz Upstairs Big Band, Yorgos Fakanas, Dimitris Maragopoulos, The
Athens State Orchestra, Lakis Chalkias, Kostas Thomaidis and Takis
Paterelis to name a few.
For his work and help towards the
music scene (especially World Jazz), he was included in 2013 list of the
100+1 most influential people in the Greek music scene published by the
Athens Voice newspaper.
Line up:
Alekos Vretos - oud
Dimitris Sevdalis - piano
Ntinos Manos - bass
Dimitris Klonis - drums