Petros Klampanis – Tora Collective (enja & yellowbird, 2023)
Past meets future, traditional Greek music meets contemporary jazz on the exceptional new album Tora Collective by bassist and composer Petros Klampanis. The unusual instrumentation builds bridges between supposedly different musical cultures. In addition to Petros Klampanis on bass, who is also the artistic director of the project, the lineup consists of singer Areti Ketime, Thomas Konstantinou (oud, lauto), Giorgos Kotsinis (clarinet), Kristjan Randalu (piano) and co-producer Ziv Ravitz (drums, electronics).
Klampanis grew up in Athens, surrounded by Mediterranean and Balkan folklore. Therefore, his musical approach has always been one of navigating cultural crossroads, skillfully intertwining jazz and world music. With Tora Collective, he now focuses on traditional Greek music, even if he gives it a completely new twist. “It’s something personal for me,” says Petros Klampanis, “I want to reflect on what Greek music and culture have to offer the world. How can music from the Aegean to Epirus and from the Ionian Islands to Crete come together and speak to the hearts and minds of audiences and musicians from different parts of the world, different traditions and backgrounds?”.
In addition to two new compositions called “Disoriented” and “South By Southeast”, Klampanis and his hybrid jazz-folk ensemble perform traditional Greek pieces such as “Xehorísmata”, “Sibethéra”, “Harikláki” and “Menexédes Kai Zouboúlia”. They are, as Klampanis indicates, “not only part of the Greek cultural heritage or a fragment from the past, but also part of the future: they live up to the present, breathing their breath into the ‘here and now’ while constantly evolving continue to develop in dynamic stadiums and in dialogue with contemporary music”.
To achieve this, Tora Collective (“tora” is the Greek word for “now”) draws on regional characteristics, as Klampanis explains: “Each region has a strong identity. In Epirus, the clarinet is more prominent and the music has a slow, groovy and meditative vibe. The islands have a lighter sound, Macedonia groovier, faster tempos and energetic dances. Music from Asia Minor or Istanbul is more complex. Greeks call Istanbul ‘Poli’ from ‘Constantinopoli’, so the songs from there are called ‘Politika‘.”
The album features vocalist Areti Ketime‘s pristine and powerful voice; Giorgios Kotsinis’ evocative clarinet, and Ziv Ravitz’s drums, electronics, and co-production. Thomas Konstantinou and Kristjan Randalu add an emotive string element to the innovative arrangements.
Traditional Greek instruments and sounds are integrated masterfully to create a new musical voice that bridges the East and West, tradition and modernity, and nostalgia and the future. The album features guest musicians, including Alexandros Arkadopoulos, Laura Robles, Sebastian Studnitzky, and Andreas Polyzogopoulos, and encourages creativity, respect for the past, and cultural dialogue through the power of music and improvisation.
Petros Klampanis lives in Athens and New York. He has collaborated with musicians such as Greg Osby, Jaques Morelenbaum, Oded Tzur, Arooj Aftab, Anoushka Shankar, Shai Maestro, Gilad Hekselman, Jean-Michel Pilc, Snarky Puppy, Dimitra Galani, Maria Farantouri, Mario Frangoulis and many others He has performed at major concert halls and festivals such as Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, The Blue Note, The Kennedy Center, MoMA NYC, Barbican, Roskilde, Glastonbury, JazzAhead, Winter Jazzfest, XJazz Festival and many more.
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Author: Angel Romero
Angel Romero y Ruiz has dedicated his life to musical exploration. His efforts included the creation of two online portals, worldmusiccentral.org and musicasdelmundo.com. In addition, Angel is the co-founder of the Transglobal World Music Chart, a panel of world music DJs and writers that celebrates global sounds. Furthermore, he delved into the record business, producing world music studio albums and compilations. His works have appeared on Alula Records, Ellipsis Arts, Indígena Records and Music of the World.