Malis Honors Hadjidakis
Area piano player Mike Malis presented a celebration of the music of Greek composer Manos Hadjidakis to a packed Kerrytown Concert House on April 18. Hadjidakis lived most of his life in Greece but spent six years in the U.S. as well.
Malis presented two versions of Hadjidakis' music, first on solo piano and later in a quartet setting with guitarist Michele Ramo, flutist Ellie Falaris Ganelin, and celloist Abigail Alwin (below). Malis' skills as an arranger and improviser were displayed throughout. Hadjidakis' music ranges from the classical to the popular ("Never On A Sunday") with heavy influences from Greek folk music throughout and Malis had little trouble transcending these boundaries. Furthermore, Malis put his own personal stamp on Hadjidakis, for example injecting atonal touches here and there.
Malis also had the Balkan Funk Band, OrnamatiK (above), end the program to further emphasize the variety of Greek music in today's world.
In short, a real tour de force by Malis.
