Características
More than 15 years ago, “Greek jazz” was still flying under the radar of the cognoscenti. That is no longer the case: the Greek jazz scene is growing, flourishing and producing truly wonderful works. Just think of the great releases by Petros Klampanis or Stavros Lantsias – the latter is a label mate of composer and alto and soprano saxophonist Melina Plaxinos. She caused quite a stir with her 2018 debut album, which she recorded together with her regular band of Yiannis Papadopoulos (piano), Ninos Manos (bass) and Dimitris Klonis (drums): the combination of modern jazz aesthetics and traditional Greek cultural heritage was unique. The quartet has remained true to its distinctive style on the three subsequent albums and a remix EP.
“Collaborations” is a retrospective that documents the young career of the Melina Paxinos Quartet in a musically impressive and varied way. The artist, who was born and raised in Hamburg and has been living in Berlin for almost seven years, shows a variety of different styles on this album, which she always combines with Mediterranean melodies in a virtuoso and sometimes groovy way. Her neoclassical background – Paxinos studied music production, arrangement and composition at the SRH Hochschule der populären Künste and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts – is evident on this highly exciting, tonally brilliant “Best of” LP, as is her penchant for rhythmic diversity.
The Hellenic Jazz Society record label began operating in June 2024 with the aim of producing high-fidelity albums of the local jazz scene. The steady rise of the Greek jazz scene has prompted “HJS” to promote talented Greek musicians at home and abroad. All Hellenic Jazz Society albums are recorded and pressed to high quality standards – with 180 grams of heavy vinyl and high-quality printed gatefold sleeves. HJS's previous releases have been enthusiastically received by the music media, music lovers and audiophiles worldwide!
Side A
1. Athens V
2. Time
3. Ta Matoklada Sou Lampoun
Side B
4. Athens IV
5. For My Dad
6. Choices
7. Amoroso
8. Love & War