Emarel Music announces its debut CD entitled “ήχώ/echo” the music of Mimis Plessas, produced in Greece and released this month (January 5), featuring 10 classic Greek songs newly arranged by New York-based leading vibist, musician, and composer Christos Rafalides. His collaboration with Mimis Plessas, the internationally renowned multi award-winning Greek composer, has resulted in an urban sound –mosaic of global rhythms– echoing Rafalides’ musical roots. The album features the soulful vocals of Greek performer Evi Siamanda and Mimis Plessas, as special guest on piano.
Known as the “Greek Gershwin,” Mimis Plessas’ music has been celebrated throughout his illustrious career in film, theatre, opera, concerto suites, radio, and television. The CD “ήχώ/echo” reintroduces Plessas’ arrangements originally interpreted in the ‘60’s by eminent female performers Tzeni Vanou and Marinella.
“As an arranger, working on “ήχώ/echo”, I tried to reflect my own musical personality into these songs and mix them with the sounds and rhythms of the New World. Inspired melodies, intelligent harmonies and romantic lyrics –from my Greek heritage– is what I had to work with,” said Christos Rafalides, founder of the New York-based contemporary jazz quartet Manhattan Vibes.
About Christos Rafalides
Rafalides has appeared with the Charles Mingus “Epitaph” Band featuring bassist Christian McBride and conductor Gunther Schuller; the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra and Wynton Marsalis at Lincoln Center in NYC. He has shared the stage with Ravi Coltrane, Antonio Sanchez, Joe Locke, Donny McCaslin and Mark Ledford among others. He has also added his vibraphone and marimba textures to recent recordings of vocalists Chaka Khan and Christy Baron. Rafalides is a graduate of Berklee College of Music with post-graduate studies at Manhattan School of Music. Since 2000, he has led Manhattan Vibes and appears at cutting-edge venues in New York City. For more visit his website manhattanvibes.com
About Evi Siamanda
Siamanda has performed with Mimis Plessas, Mario Frangoulis, Goran Bregovic, Stefanos Korkolis, and Antonis Remos. She has appeared with Christos Rafalides along with Grammy-nominated Donny McCaslin and several Grammy winners such as Mark Ledford. Siamanda was featured on the soundtrack of the documentary “Secrets of the Past” with the music of Grammy-winning composer Steve Woods.
“ήχώ/echo” the music of Mimis Plessas is a production of Emarel Music recorded and produced in Greece, now available in the U.S. and other markets. Sample listening of four tracks is available here. More information at: emarelmusic.com
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