Jazz-tinged carols at the capital’s Megaron Mousikis
The Athens Concert Hall – known to Athenians as the Megaron Mousikis – welcomes the holiday season with a jazzed-up version of Christmas carols as interpreted by a perennial of the soul, jazz and blues scene, joined by a leading bassist and a talented brass ensemble. Multifaceted American artist Carla Bley is scheduled to appear alongside Steve Swallow and the Partyka Brass Quintet tomorrow. Born in California in 1936, Bley is an accomplished composer, pianist and organist as well as an influential figure of the free jazz movement of the 1960s. She moved to New York at the age of 17, where she met her future husband Paul Bley, who encouraged her to start writing music. Though the two split up later on, her compositions continued. Among her many works, she is perhaps best known for the «Escalator Over The Hill» jazz opera. Bley is also a pioneer in the recording field. Along with Michael Mantler – a partner in life and work – she established WATT records, now part of Germany’s eclectic label ECM. Various artists, among them Gary Burton, Jimmy Giuffre, George Russell and Art Farmer, have performed Bley’s works. The artist is coming to Athens as part of a world tour. Carla Bley, at the Athens Concert Hall (1 Kokkali & Vas Sofias, tel 210.7282333). The concert is scheduled to start at 9 p.m. For more information, log on to www.megaron.gr.
