11th AglanJazz festival

Multi-ethnic, polythematic and above all... admission free!

"Jazz is not just music, it's a way of life, it's a way of being, a way of thinking".

With this famous Nina Simone's quote, AglanJazz festival welcomes all jazz lovers for the 11th consecutive year to the picturesque Old Aglantzia square, for a two-day musical feast featuring some exceptional musicians from Cyprus and Greece, Belgium and Luxemburg, Portugal, Holland, Poland and United States.

This year's event hosts six musical groups influenced by mainstream and progressive jazz, classical, rock and world music scene.

Some of the most remarkable artists who will unwrap their talent on stage, on Monday 11th and Tuesday 12th of July, are the Portuguese Carmen Souza (with Cape Verdean roots) and Theo Pascal, the very talented American saxophonist Tivon Pennicott, the Greek guitarist and saxophonist Dimitris Tsakas and the Cypriot bassist Michael Messios.

The full programme of the two-day festival will be as follows:

Monday, July 10th

► Michael Messios Symmetry Band feat. Dimitris Tsakas (Cyprus/Greece) @ 20:45

The band was created in 2003 and since then, they count numerous performances in major jazz festivals all over the world and significant collaborations with profound jazz musicians. The band will perform Michael Messios’s compositions which are characterized by strong melodies, complicated rhythms and distinctive motives. In this year's AglanJazz festival they are featuring Dimitris Tsakas, a brilliant saxophonist from Greece.

(Michael Messios – bass, Charis Ioannou – sax, Marios Toumpas – piano, Giannos Vafeas – drums, Dimitris Tsakas – sax)

► Dock In Absolute (Belgium/Luxemburg) @ 21:45

With a shared love of jazz, they combine different styles of progressive jazz, classical and rock music, playing the pianist’s own compositions and co-created their unique jazz style in 2012. Their fresh approach to jazz allowed them to push boundaries and explore the potential of a new unique wave of sounds while adding strength to the jazz field. The trio presented its music to many festivals and venues worldwide.

(Eric Mingelbier – percussion, David Kintziger – double bass, Jean-Philippe Koch – piano)

► Carmen Souza Trio - “Creology” (Portugal) @ 22:45

For the last 14 years Carmen Souza and Theo Pascal have developed a solid and successful own sound under ‘Carmen Souza’ house name, leaded by Souza’s amazing vocal talent, inquisitive and meaningful lyrics arranged over Pascal singular compositions. A delicious recipe of African/Cape Verdean roots wrapped around jazz, named by DOWNBEAT as “recipe for artistic success” and critical acclaimed by both jazz and world music press and audiences all over the world.

(Carmen Souza – vocals/piano, Theo Pascal – bass, Elias Jose Goncalves Kacomanolis – drums)

Tuesday, July 11th

► LP3 (Cyprus) @ 20:45

Loizos Paphitis Trio (LP3) performs original material, with a modern sound aesthetic and improvisational freedom. Τhe trio was formed in 2016 and it will present original music from their debut album “The undergod”.

(Loizos Paphitis – guitar/compositions, Andreas Theodorou – drums, Marios Menelaou – electric bass)

► Ermis Michail Quintet (Cyprus/Holland/Poland) @ 21:45

This multi-national quintet is comprised by some of the brightest, emerging jazz artists, performing young original compositions by the Cypriot guitarist Ermis Michail. Having as their basis the traditional jazz ideology and influences of modern music of our era, the quintet is true to exploring new artistic ways of expression and improvisation of live jazz experience. Their energetic and interactive playing integrates naturally within Ermis’s original compositions, which gives an exciting interpretation in their performance. They will perform tracks from Ermis Michael's debut album “Minor Change”.

(Ermis Michail - guitar/compositions, Luis Mora - drums, Andreas Panteli - piano, Michal Jan Ciesielski - tenor sax, Marijn Van de Ven - double bass)

► The Next Step Quintet feat. Tivon Pennicott (Greece/USA) @ 22:45

The Next Step Quintet is a group formed in 2011 by five musicians with common influences and vision. After their debut album, they have recorded and will release soon their second album, featuring one of the most upcoming saxophone players of the New York scene, Tivon Pennicott. Though they are still under thirty, they have won over audiences and critics alike in Greece and beyond. In 2016 they won first place in the "Small Band Category" at the "Made in New York" Jazz Competition.

Georgia–born Tivon Pennicott was still in college when Kenny Burrell invited the saxophonist to join his quintet. With the jazz guitar legend, Pennicott performed at many of the world’s most prestigious jazz venues and festivals, and also appeared on Burrell’s 2008 live CD "Be Yourself". In 2009, Tivon won second place in the "Thelonious Monk" competition. Tivon Pennicott’s debut album "Lover Of Nature" captures his tasteful melodic improvisations and unfailing grasp of the groove, showcasing a player whose musical maturity extends far beyond his years.

(Thodoris Kotsifas – guitar, Yiannis Papadopoulos – piano, Konstantinos Manos – bass, Vasillis Podaras – drums, Tivon Pennicott – sax)