The concerts are dedicated to the 60th Anniversary of the Signing of the UN Universal Human Rights
Wednesday 26 November 2008, Rialto Theatre, Lemesos, 20:30
Thursday 27 November 2008, Markideion Theatre, Pafos, 20:30
Friday 28 November 2008, Strovolos Municipal Theatre, Lefkosia, 20:30
Soloists: Gilad Atzmon (alto saxophone), Charis Ioannou (tenor saxophone)
Rhythm section: Frank Harrison (piano), Ioannis Vafeas (drums), Ireneos Koullouras (double bass)
Music Direction: Krzesimir Debski
Programme:
Capriccio (Robert Hovhanessyan)
April in Paris (Vermon Duke, E. Y. Harburg, Arr. Ros Stephen)
I Didn’t Know What Time It Was (Richard Rodgers, Lorenz Hart, Arr. Ros Stephen)
Everything happens to me (Matt Dennis, Arr. Ros Stephen)
What is this thing called Love (Cole Porter, Arr. Ros Stephen)
Orient House (Gilad Atzmon)
Alone Together (Arthur Schwartz)
“Autumn Leaves” (Vladimir Cosma, Arr. Krzesimir Debski)
Cinema Paradiso (Ennio Morricone, Arr. Krzesimir Debski)
Body Animation (Krzesimir Debski & Arr. Krzesimir Debski)
Tickets available at the Theatres’ box office at €10 and at €5 for pensioners
Free entrance for students, soldiers, student card and EURO<26 card holders
A unique misture of classical and jazz music. The porgramme includes excerpts from film music, songs from musicals and jazz pieces in jazz arrangements by Ros Stephen and Krzesimir Debski. The Cyprus Symphony Orchestra welcomes 5 well established jazz performers on stage under the button of famous conductor Krzesimir Debski. In the last concert of the series in Lefkosia – which is followed by a reception, addresses will be given by the President of the United Nations Association of Cyprus, Dr Christos A. Theodoulou and by his Honor the Attorney – General of Cyprus, Mr Petros Clerides.
Gilad Atzmon was born in Israel in 1963 and studied Composition and Jazz at the Rubin Academy of Music, Jerusalem. Being a multi – instrumentalist he plays Soprano, Alto, Tenor and Baritone Saxes, Clarinet, Sol, Zurna and Flutes. Until 1994 he was a producer – arranger for various Israeli Dance & Rock Projects, performing in Europe and the USA playing ethnic Jewish soul music. Highly involved in the Israeli musical scene he recorded for ‘Ofra Haza’, Yeuda Poliker and many others. He also toured with Memphis Slim and supported many international jazz names such as Jack De Johnette, Michel Petrucciani, Richie Byrach and many others. Coming to the UK in 1994, Atzmon recovered an interest in playing the music of the Middle East, North Africa and Eastern Europe that had been in the back of his mind for years. He founded the Orient House Ensemble in London and started re-defining his own roots in the light of political reality. Since then the Orient House Ensemble has toured all over the world. The Orient House Ensemble includes Asaf Sirkis (Drums), Yaron Stavi (Bass) and Frank Harrison (keyboard). Over the years Gilad Atzmon’s music has moved more and more towards a cultural mixture. As a bandleader and reed player he has been amazing his listeners with his powerful personal style that combines great bebop artistry and Middle-Eastern roots in a sophisticated, sometimes ironical manner. Influenced by Coltrane’s powerful approach on the sax, Gilad’s live performances are simply breathtaking and overwhelming.
Charis Ioannou was born in Lefkosia, Cyprus in 1976. He started studying the saxophone at age fourteen and, during his military service he was a member of the military band where he played the tenor saxophone. He studied Saxophone Performance and Jazz Composition at Berklee College of Music in Boston and thereafter he obtained his Master’s degree in Performance from New York University. Since 2005 he lives and works in Cyprus where he collaborates with various musicians. He is a member of many local bands, including The Petsteppers, Uptown Beat, Kyprogenia and The Cyprus Big Band with which he performs around the island and other neighboring countries. In 2008, The Petsteppers released their debut album featuring compositions from its band members. The group was invited to play at The Cracow Jazz Festivalin Poland and the concert’s success was verified by the festival’s director who invited the group to participate in the upcoming festival of 2009. Charis’ latest project – The Charis Ioannou Trio – features Ireneos Koullouras on double bass and Ioannis Vafeas on drums. Charis also teaches the saxophone and the jazz idiom at the Lefkosia University.
Krzesimir Dębski is a prominent Polish composer who is also a virtuoso violinist, pianist, and a celebrated orchestral conductor. Equally at home in the world of jazz and classical music, Dębski is mainly known in Poland for his numerous and highly popular film scores. In addition, he is also famous as a songwriter and arranger, and composer of music for the theatre. Krzesimir Dębski studied composition and conducting at the Poznań Academy of Music and since 1980, he toured all over Europe and North America as a violinist with the celebrated “String Connection” ensemble. Winner of the First Prize in the International Jazz Competition in Belgium, Dębski was also honored by the Jazz Forum Magazine with the “Best Violinist” and “Best Arranger” Prizes. Listed in 1985 as one of the 10 best jazz violinists by Down Beat Magazine Dębski has since then scored over 70 feature films, and numerous TV series. In recent years, Krzesimir Dębski received a number of commissions for large-scale orchestral works from major symphony orchestras in Poland and abroad. His ever-growing catalogue of orchestral compositions currently includes two symphonies, an opera, ballet music, and eleven concertos for various solo instruments and orchestra. In great demand as conductor and performer, his recent tours included performances in Mexico, India, Brazil, and the United States.
