Greece’s multi-award winning acclaimed composer and pianist Mimis Plessas’ returned to New York following a 22 year absence for three special performances at the Queens Theatre in the Park and Dizzy’s Jazz Club.
Mimis Plessas together with vocalist Evi Siamanda and New York-based vibraphonist Christos Rafalides presented their work and their recent CD recording “echo: the music of Mimis Plessas” (Emarel Music), a mosaic of global rhythms with Plessas on piano, arranged and produced by Rafalides.
Better known as the “Greek Gershwin,” Plessas made his debut appearance at Queens Theatre in the Park while accompanied by the soulful vocals of Evi Siamanda from Greece and the accomplished New York-based vibraphonist Christos Rafalides, founder of Manhattan Vibes.
In their first American appearance together, the artists presented a memorable musical journey featuring songs from Plessas’ 50-plus year musical repertoire including songs from his many Greek film scores and from the recent CD. This concert was presented under the aegis of the Greek Consulate General of New York.
As a jazz pianist during the 50s in New York, Plessas performed with legendary jazz greats like Dizzy Gillespie, Sarah Vaughn, while he was studying for his chemistry dissertation at Cornell University. What followed was an illustrious career in music having scored for many musical genres including 200 Greek films and theatrical performances, operettas, for radio and television. He has directed the most renowned orchestras of the world, and repeatedly earned Gold and Platinum records. The popular Greek album “O Dromos” (The Road), lyrics by Lefteris Papadopoulos, is by far, the best-selling album in Greece. Plessas’ music transcends all generations, geographical borders and musical platforms. Recently, he presented a concert for the launch of World MS Day at the Thessaloniki Concert Hall in Greece. With maturity and wisdom, he continues composing, performing, and inspiring musicians of all ages –throughout Europe and in the U.S. Plessas is a gifted musician with a rare energy and zeal that is evident in all his passionate artistic work and concert performances around the world.
(source: voiceofgreece)
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