Yako Trio – 'OdesSea': New album from the Jazz trio

The band from Thessaloniki released 'OdesSea', which bears the signature of Fair Weather Friends Records (Facebook, Instagram).

With a fresh perspective

The jazz outfit from Thessaloniki, return to the studio four years after their debut album, "Ode To Yannis". That album was a tribute to the great Γιάννης Κωνσταντινίδης, featuring covers of his well-known compositions, and it received excellent reviews. On "OdesSea" they present something completely different compared to their first record. They now focus on their own musical compositions, find their own space within them, and bring together their different musical identities.

The record was recorded in two stages. The first recording session took place on May 12, 2019, following a three-day tour in Greece with the Swiss saxophonist and ECM artist, Nicolas Masson. The recording took place at the historic Magnanimus Recording Studio in Thessaloniki with Γιώργος Πεντζίκης. There they recorded the tracks "OdesSea" and "Sand". The second recording session took place on February 6, 2020, following a tour in Greece and abroad with the New Zealand saxophonist James Wylie. The recording took place at Cue Productions Studio with Γιάννης Μαυρίδης. There they recorded the tracks "The Call”, “Afromacedonian Dance”, “Indian Dream" and "Lullaby”.

A trio of talented musicians

Three musicians who, after their jazz studies and their musical wanderings through various cities abroad, returned to their hometown, Thessaloniki, with their bags full of a great variety of sounds, experiences and knowledge, ready to engage and have a fruitful, active dialogue with its distinctive sounds and the memories of its long, rich, multicultural history.

The "key" to the trio's formation was the work of the well-known Greek musician and composer Γιάννης Κωνσταντινίδης, and specifically his arrangements of familiar melodies and rhythms from Greek traditional music. The members of Yako Trio have deep knowledge of and great admiration for Κωνσταντινίδης' musical legacy. They formed the trio to rework his music and reintroduce it to audiences through their own sounds and experiences. In fact, they named the band "Yako Trio" after the initials of the great composer's full name.

They have taken part in major festivals and institutions such as Athens Technopolis Jazz Festival, Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Center, Jazz in Progress Heraklion, Music Showcase Greece, Institut Franҫais de Thessalonique, Φεστιβάλ Μονής Λαζαριστών, Kyustendil Summer Cultural Holidays (Bulgaria), Šumadijski Blues & Jazz Festival (Serbia). They remain firmly oriented towards outward-looking collaboration, interacting with musicians from different cultures and diverse musical genres. They have worked with musicians such as Nicolas Masson, James Wylie, Χάρης Λαμπράκης, Δημήτρης Αγγελάκης, Βασίλης Λαγδάς, Έλσα Μουρατίδου and Περικλής Βραχνός.

The trio consists of:

Λέανδρος Πασιάς – piano

Γιώργος Κλουντζός – Χρυσίδης – drums

Βαγγέλης Βραχνός – double bass

Credits

Leandros Pasias – Piano
Vangelis Vrachnos – Double Bass
George Klountzos Chrysidis – Drums
James Wylie – Alto Saxophone
Nicolas Masson – Tenor Saxophone

Tracks 1,2,6 written by Leandros Pasias
Tracks 3,4,5 written by Vangelis Vrachnos

James Wylie – Alto Saxophone (tracks 1,3,5,6)
Nicolas Masson – Tenor Saxophone (track 4) & Soprano saxophone (track 2)
All tracks mastered by George Pentzikis at Magnanimus Studios

The Call, Lullaby, Afromacedonian Dance and Indian Dream recorded & mixed at  Cue Studios (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter) by Yannis Mavridis.

Sand, OdesSea recorded & mixed at Magnanimus Studio by George Pentzikis.

Design: Monoscopic
Cover Artwork: Elli Chrysidou

In conclusion

The album is a really lovely musical "stroll." A musical quest that the band chooses to share with us. It's the Odyssey we get to follow along as listeners. And for that alone, we're happy. The title of the record, "OdesSea," encapsulates the whole journey of its creation and recording, but it's also a play on words. On one hand there's Odyssea (Odyssey), in the sense of musical wandering, and on the other Odes Sea (Ode to the Sea), praising the vastness of the sea, both its calm and its storms.

The OdesSea contains 6 compositions and is available on all digital platforms as well as on vinyl.