In London, even amongst all the hype surrounding the UK Jazz scene, a lot of creatives have been talking for a long time about migration. Imagining but never actually going ahead with a process we humorously refer to as “finding the new Mecca”. The city has a grip on us because of the infinite possibilities and incredibly dense pool of fantastic musicians available from all over the world. There are also many venues in which to perform all styles of music. However somehow, it can feel extremely tired and saturated.
In the middle of 2018, finding myself in a moment of personal void, I made use of this energy to propel an exploration beyond talk and organised a two month stay in Athens (January-February 2019). Many internet blogs suggested it to be an upcoming centre for the arts as a direct reaction to the economical crisis. They speculated it was 10 years or so away from becoming the “New Berlin”, a comment I noted some of the struggling Athenians not enjoying so much.
Having bonded with some high-end Greek musicians over the years due to connections through Fengaros Music Village in Cyprus (not to mention the proposition of a less dark and emotionally challenging winter) the city of Athens called out to me.
Humbled by the youth, inspired by peers, enlightened by the elders and following its previously developed manifesto, Agile Experiments had an opportunity here to expand its palate beyond the jazz sound of the London recordings. Eastern tonalities and sound mastery in the hands of heavy-weight modern day musicians with these influences in their blood, blend both explicitly and implicitly, creating strong textural soundscapes and moods I had hoped for but not had the ability to come anywhere near imagining.
We hope that you will truly enjoy these minutes of off-the-cuff cooperative creativity.
In good faith and love for people and music,
Dave De Rose & the Agile Experiments Athens coalition
released September 9, 2019
1. Tapakis/Siotas/De Rose pt.1 (Live at Afrikana)
Kyriakos Tapakis – Oud, Fotis Siotas – Loops & FX, Dave De Rose – Drums - Recorded by Fotis Papatheodorou at Afrikana Jazz Bar
2. Siotas/Angelopolous/De Rose pt.1 (Live at Afrikana)
Fotis Siotas – Violin, Vocals, Loops & FX, Giannis Angelopoulos – Drums, Dave De Rose – Bass & FX - Recorded by Fotis Papatheodorou at Arikana Jazz Bar
* watch the filmed performance of this track :
youtu.be/PoONR4ODT0w
3. Foken/Kostopoulos/De Rose pt.6
Dimitris Foken – Violin, Loops & FX, Panagiotis Kostopoulos – Drums, Dave De Rose – Bass - Recorded by Dave De Rose at Dudu Loft
4. Jaques/Kapillidis/De Rose pt.1 (Live at Dudu Loft)
Peter Jaques – Clarinet & FX, Michael Kapillidis – Drums, Dave De Rose – Bass - Recorded by Stavros Georgiopoulos at Dudu Loft
* watch the filmed performance of this track :
youtu.be/cJFNrO52feI
5. Saber Rider/Foken/De Rose pt.3
Saber Rider – Synthersizers, Samplers & FX, Dimitris Foken - Violin, Loops & FX, Dave De Rose – Drums - Recorded by Michalis Kavvadias at Electric Zen Studio
6. Siotas/Angelopolous/De Rose pt.2
Fotis Siotas – Violin & FX, Giannis Angelopoulos – Drums, Dave De Rose – Bass - Recorded by Giannis Aggelopoulos & Dave De Rose at Babo Studios
7. Tapakis/Siotas/Angelopoulos/De Rose pt.1 (live at Afrikana)
Kyriakos Tapakis – Oud, Fotis Siotas – Violin & FX, Giannis Angelopoulos – Drums, Dave De Rose – Bass & FX - Recorded by Fotis Papatheodorou at Arikana Jazz Bar
8. Jaques/Kapillidis/De Rose pt.2 (live at Dudu Loft)
Peter Jaques – Clarinet & FX, Michael Kapillidis – Drums, Dave De Rose – Bass - Recorded by Stavros Georgiopoulos at Dudu Loft
9. Foken/Kostopoulos/De Rose pt.7
Dimitris Foken – Violin, Loops & FX, Panagiotis Kostopoulos – Drums, Dave De Rose – Bass - Recorded by Dave De Rose at Dudu Loft
10. Saber Rider/Foken/De Rose pt.1
Saber Rider – Synthersizers, Samplers & FX, Dimitris Foken - Violin, Loops & FX, Dave De Rose – Drums - Recorded by Michalis Kavvadias at Electric Zen Studio
Mixed & Mastered by Dave De Rose at FLBS
