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| Organ Trio CD "Upbeat Mood" by Music Soup's Nestor Dimopoulos & Evgenia Karlafti When asked about his influences, guitarist NESTOR DIMOPOULOS lists several famous musicians from the 1960s—Joe Henderson, Grant Green, McCoy Tyner, and Elvin Jones—before singling out one classic Blue Note album which featured them all: Green's Solid. If you listen to portions of Grant's album alongside UPBEAT MOOD, the new album by Music Soup (the band co-lead by Dimopoulos) the similarities become clear. It is not the case of one album copying repertoire or the instrumentation of the other; instead, it is the spirit of the music that is shared between albums recorded nearly 60 years apart. Each album features incisive swing played by a group of like-minded musicians who certify their progressive ideas through their utter conviction. The playlist of each album covers a multitude of sub-genres within the umbrella of post-bop, but in both cases, the artists find creative ways to move beyond their influences to present music that is uniquely their own. Organist EVGENIA KARLAFTI, Music Soup's co-leader, adds that it is more important to play in your own style than to emulate the music of others. For example, the new album's title track started as a mixture of music by two very different jazz composers, Horace Silver and Pat Metheny; yet, the recording reveals its sources only through its varied rhythmic backgrounds. Similarly, Karlafti's tribute to her idol Oscar Peterson, "Freeland, " was inspired by two of Peterson's original compositions, "Hymn to Freedom" and "Wheatland", but there are no quotes from Peterson's recordings, only the shared sentiments from the pens of Peterson and Karlafti. The above description could make this music seem stuffy or academic, but in truth, UPBEAT MOOD is an album that is highly accessible, and great fun to hear. It is quite danceable, with energetic grooves and catchy melodies. For those who wish to dig deeper, there are ample delights from the group's extraordinary ensemble playing and the active interaction between the players. Another of the album's highlights is Dimopoulos' "A Day in the Park, " which is taken at a tempo not usually favored by jazz musicians. Running at about 120 beats per minute, the song has a pulse that, in lesser hands, could easily rush. But not here: drummer VANGELIS KOTZABASIS keeps this groove steady and "in the pocket" for nearly eight minutes of recording time (and probably much longer in live performances). Dimopoulos, Karlafti and Kotzabasis have worked as a trio since 2014. The partnership of Karlafti and Dimopoulos goes back to 1998 when the two first worked together on a gig. Both of them had strong backgrounds in classical music—Karlafti in voice and piano, and Dimopoulos on classical guitar—but as each became more fascinated with the freedom of jazz, they adapted both their styles and their instruments, with Karlafti now an accomplished organist and Dimopoulos an impressive electric guitarist. The band name Music Soup actually covers a number of groups ranging from a piano/guitar duet to a full rhythm section. On UPBEAT MOOD, the group is expanded to a quartet on three tracks, with Australian pianist KYM PURLING added on two tracks, and American trumpeter HENRY GERGEN guesting on the final track. To show Gergen's close affinity to Music Soup's philosophy, just listen to how Gergen captures the essence of Lee Morgan's sound on "Appointment in Athens"—but not Morgan's notes. Purling's contribution comes from both his tasty solos on "Around the World" and "Fun Island", and in the seamless way he integrates himself into the ensemble without seeming obtrusive. The album's opening track, "Korean Apartment, " was composed during an extended stay in South Korea when Karlafti and Dimopoulos had little to do except write new songs. Like many of the pieces in the group's repertoire, the song was originally composed for piano and guitar, with the keyboard part later reconfigured for organ. In the album's liner notes, the celebrated organist Pat Bianchi compares the composition to those of Woody Shaw, with "melodic shapes and harmonies that take unexpected twists and turns." Bianchi also praises the contrasting solos by guitar and organ. The album's only non-original is a rarity by Burt Bacharach, "My Little Red Book." The track starts with a unique guitar effect designed to sound like a scratched record. Once the band enters, they effortlessly maneuver through a complex arrangement with frequent changes in style and rhythm. Unlike many jazz arrangements, this obstacle course continues throughout the solo section. While Music Soup is currently a popular attraction of the Athens jazz scene, the group is planning a trip to North America in late 2024. They hope to secure nightclub bookings in the New York and Philadelphia area during their stay. Boosted by the fine performances on UPBEAT MOOD, Music Soup should generate a whole new group of American fans. # # # UPBEAT MOOD will be released on September 6, 2024 on Chicken Coup/Summit Records and will be available online everywhere. Physical copies can be purchased at Summitrecords.com/release/upbeat-mood-music-soup-organ-trio. write your comments about the article :: © 2024 Jazz News :: home page |