MARIA MANOUSAKI

BEHIND CLOSED DOORS

Pkmusik

Maria Manousaki, violin/composer/arranger; Petros Klampanis, double bass/arranger; Dimitris Verdinoglou, piano; Michael Evdemon, electric bass; Alekos Roupas, percussion. SPECIAL GUESTS: Christos Rafalides, vibraphone; Ziv Ravitz, drums; Andreas Polzogopoulos, trumpet; Thomas Meleteas, oud; Kyriakos Stavrianoudakis, lute; Stratix Skarakis, voice.

Welcome to Maria Manousaki’s third album, recorded during her time in New York and featuring collaborations with world-renowned jazz talents.  Here is an album that fuses both Cretan culture and polyrhythmic jazz influences into her unique and beautiful compositions.  Maria Manousaki is a composer of lovely, heartfelt music, beginning with the very first song on this album titled, “Anapolo,” that translate to a Greek word that captures the feeling of nostalgia for the past.  Clearly, Ms. Manousaki is a visionary and a violinist who is bridging genres and cultures.

The Grecian minor scales are laced through these compositions. They are especially present in the title tune.  She and her violin dance and solo before trumpeter, Andreas Polzogopoulos makes his own strong and melodic statement. Manousaki speaks lyrically, answering him melodically on her violin.  Her amazing talent on this instrument pulls at my emotions when she plays.  One moment she is poignant and emotional. The next, she performs joyously, making her violin weave and bob around the chord changes like a ballerina.  I am intrigued.

Maria Manousaki stands as one of Greece’s most successful and versatile musical talents, bringing us jazz and world music that walks across my listening room, hand-in-hand like lovers.  A tune called “Introversion” does not sound introverted at all.  It’s full of rhythm and arrangements that sing and play freely, like children.  This composition begins quite extraverted.  But then, three-quarters of the way through their arrangement, things change.  The song slows, delicately hides it’s happy face like a shy person peeking from behind raised hands.

When I listen to Manousaki’s original music and creative arrangements, I can feel that this music is not simply about notes and melodies.  She speaks to me with her violin in vibrant, dramatic ways. She is a gifted improviser, as well as a respected composer.  This album is dedicated to the memory of her father. Here is an album of music I will play many times over!

Manousaki’s ability to use her violin in various settings and to embrace genres is clear when you recognize she has added her talent to the Gold Record vocalist, ‘Adele’s’ video clip during the pop diva’s live concert in Australia.  Manousaki also performed with the late pianist, Carolos Voutsinas at the Perth Opera House.  In the next breath, she performed for the Clinton Foundation at the prestigious wedding of the Queen of Qatar.

Maria Manousaki is more than just a composer, violinist and arranger.  She is a musical storyteller.  Her violin becomes a bridge that links cultures.  As a musical curator, she is the founder of the Cretan World Music Festival and the musical curator for the Vlatos Jazz series.  Somehow, she finds time to create platforms for other musicians to showcase their creativity and to share their gifts.

Reviewed by Dee Dee McNeil

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