“CONTEXT” by The Yiannis Papanastasiou Quartet

Writer: Manthos Giourtzoglou
Date: April 29, 2021

Translation and editing: Karina Rubinstein

It is not usual for a jazz group to last long. And this is an unwritten rule that applies not only in Greece, but all over the world. Fortunately, in the small jazz family of our country, there are bands that both withstand the test of time and maintain a high level of aesthetics. The Yannis Papanastasiou Quartet is one of these few groups.

The group was formed in 2008 and with infinitesimal changes in the persons who form the quartet (the composition has been the same for the last nine years), the quartet has logged many concert kilometres, but up until now the next step, namely the recording of an album, had been unrealised. This step is now a fact and gives joy to all those who have been following the group over the years.

“Context” is the title of the album that was released both as a physical CD (sponsored by Jazz Solidarity Network) and digitally on major platforms. It includes seven original compositions (five by Yannis Papanastasiou, one by Kostas Konstantinou and one by Thanos Hatzianagnostou) and one cover of the well-known standard “Stella by Starlight”.

Recorded live at The Zoo in Halandri-Athens, over two nights in the spring of 2019, to the enthusiastic reactions of the audience and the excellent work of sound engineer Spyros Lefkofrydis, the album “balances” perfectly between mainstream and modern jazz.

It includes compositions that have -as a key element- the “game” between the musicians (something the quartet has earned through so many years of working together), that gives the listener a music that is full of meaning, without “unnecessary” information. The three teammates of Yannis Papanastasiou: Kostas Yaxoglou on the piano, Kostas Kostantinou on the double bass and Thanos Hatzianagnostou on the drums, have an important past, present and future in the Greek jazz scene and put their soul into the quartet, being equal members of the quartet. “Context” is an album “advertisement” for the domestic jazz scene, due to the high level of these valued musicians and deserves to be heard over and over again and to be shared, taking the place it deserves in music lovers collection. Finally, it is worth mentioning the excellent CD cover artwork, in which Lily Milo contributed with her wonderful artwork and Eftichia Liapi who edited the artwork.

You can listen and purchase “CONTEXT” here:

https://yiannispapanastasiou.bandcamp.com/releases

or alternatively by contacting Jazz Solidarity Network (JSN) through email (info@jsn.gr) and social media.