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Conductor : Y iannis Terezakis
The City of Athens
Big Band is the municipality's broad jazz music
ensemble comprising the four instrument families, namely saxophones, trumpets,
trombones and rhythmic drums, often backed by string and other symphonic
instruments.
Apart from Louis Armstrong and Benny Goodman, major
composers and soloists of the Big Band music genre include Duke Ellington,
Count Basie, Stan Kenton, Glenn Miller, Woody Herman, Buddy Rich, Tommy Dorsey,
Don Ellis and William Russo.
The City of Athens
Big Band repertoire consists of historic compositions
and orchestrations by the pioneers of the Big Band philosophy as well as modern,
quality jazz works, oftentimes penned by Greek artists.
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The City of Athens Big Band has appeared in all major venues
and cultural festivals in Athens, Thessaloniki and regional Greece, including
Thessaloniki Concert Hall, the Nafplion Festival, the Athens International Jazz
Festival at Technopolis, the International Wind Instrument Seminar in Kalavryta,
the American College, the Hellenic American Union, the Athens Conservatory, the
Philippos Nakas Conservatory, the Arts Conservatory, etc.
Renowned maestros and composers of jazz and
contemporary music have conducted the City of Athens Big Band, including William Russo and
Don Owens. Meanwhile, distinguished Greek and international soloists, such as
Rex Richardson, Vince De Martino, Mark
Smith, Fred Hemke Jr, Yiannis Terezakis, Antonis Ladopoulos, Philippas
Poulimenos, Dimitra Fotopoulou, Thanassis Koulentianos and Thanassis Ioakimidis,
have performed with the ensemble.
The artists who make up the City of Athens Big Band
count among Greece's
most formidable soloists and are renowned for their skills in jazz
improvisation and flexibility in interpreting musical styles with accuracy. As
most possess a classical music education, they are adept at interpreting
classical and contemporary music, and not just different jazz styles. They remain
active soloists or members of professional bands such as the Athens State
Orchestra, the Orchestra of Colours, the Orchestras of the Hellenic Broadcasting
Corporation (ERT), the City of Athens
Symphony Orchestra and other small music ensembles
which perform Greek traditional and contemporary music. Additionally, all Big
Band musicians teach music in schools and conservatories. The flexibility and
talent of City of Athens Big Band
performers reflect the Greek approach to jazz interpretation and result in a
distinctive sound.
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<![endif]-->Yiannis Terezakis is the principal
conductor of the City of Athens Big
Band.
