In review--Big Greek music
Arc Music
Listening to Greek music
reminds me of eating in Greek restaurants, Zorba
the Greek and the movie My Big Greek
Wedding. I know as a music reviewer
who has covered the Mediterranean I should know more about Greek music than
bouzoukis and brief encounters with Greek blues known as rembetika. I actually taste spanikopita while I listen
to Best of Greece. The acoustic
instruments bouzouki, baglama (a Mediterranean lute), drums, and vocals set an
exotic backdrop for winding up a summer’s day.
The music of several bands, The Athenians, Michalis Terzis, Kriteos, and
Talking to Charos uplift and we visualize dancers working themselves into
frenzies.
This 2-CD set creates a
dining or dancing atmosphere. Listen to it alone or preferably in good company of friends and family. Ugandan musician Samite once told concert
attendees that in Uganda it’s not music unless people dance. I’m thinking it’s the same for Greek
music. Songs such as the first 4 tracks
on CD one, kick up danceable rhythms, and the song Diawatis performed by
Kriteos & Romiosini (from Crete), offers a respite with this sad lament. The booklet notes describe this artist as “Kriteos
had such a lovely voice even when he was a little boy that the people of his
home village asked him to sing for them at church, at weddings and just for
fun.” And for now you get Kriteos and other Greek favorites all to
yourself. Enjoy this warm music
delivered with gusto and zest.
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