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Jazz Articles about Pandelis Karayorgis

About Pandelis Karayorgis

Album Review

Pandelis Karayorgis Quintet: Circuitous

Read "Circuitous" reviewed by Glenn Astarita

by Glenn Astarita
August 22, 2013

In the album liners, Boston-based jazz pianist Pandelis Karayorgis cites this unit as a dream band, featuring prominent Chicagoans, saxophonist Dave Rempis and drummer Frank Rosaly. Never one to run short on creative sparks, the pianist is a sly arranger, and these works are asymmetrically synched within organization and improvisation. Moreover, several of these pieces are influenced by Thelonious Monk, primarily from an unconventional rhythmic standpoint amid odd-metered expressionism. Vivid imagery is rampant on “Swarm," where the frontline ...

Album Review

Pandelis Karayorgis Trio: Cocoon

by Mark Corroto
July 25, 2013

With so many projects in the works, where is one to begin in a survey of pianist Pandelis Karayorgis? The Boston-based educator (born in Athens, Greece) is a member of The Whammies (featuring Han Bennink), a sextet formed with Driff Records partner Jorrit Dijkstra to cover the music of Steve Lacy. He also maintains a Chicago Quintet with Dave Rempis, Keefe Jackson, Nate McBride, and Frank Rosaly, and is a member of System of 5, Construction Party, and the Guillermo ...

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Album Review

Pandelis Karayorgis Quintet: System Of 5

Read "System Of 5" reviewed by Troy Collins

by Troy Collins
July 2, 2011

A longstanding adherent of intimate duo and trio settings, Boston-based pianist Pandelis Karayorgis' discography has been dominated by small combo recordings since the early 1990s, with many founded on the venerable configuration of piano, bass and drums. A radical traditionalist with a penchant for the acute angles and strident tonalities of advanced post-bop, Karayorgis' recent exploits with bassist Jef Charland and drummer Luther Gray have earned him well-deserved praise. System Of 5 is the debut of Karayorgis' newest ensemble, presenting ...

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Album Review

Pandelis Karayorgis: System of 5

Read "System of 5" reviewed by Raul d'Gama Rose

by Raul d'Gama Rose
June 9, 2011

One of the most enduring qualities possessed by pianist Pandelis Karayorgis is his startling intellect, as well as the grace with which he announces his arrival. A truly gifted musician with a penchant for angularity, his playing is, nevertheless, beautifully logical, even when he is playing those darting arpeggios that a linear melody demands. However, every once in awhile, he abandons all logical lines to the melody of his complex work, and jumps in seemingly with a myriad of hands, ...

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Album Review

Pandelis Karayorgis Quintet: System of 5

Read "System of 5" reviewed by Glenn Astarita

by Glenn Astarita
April 3, 2011

One of the major attributes of System of 5 pertains to the modality of New England area pianist Pandelis Karayorgis, which lies between modern jazz, with heavy rhythmic nods to Thelonious Monk, and a newer slant that parallels the current state of jazz imperialism. Backed by a new band, the musicians overlap mainstream persuasions with tricky time signatures and passionate improvisational implementations. The pianist abides by a democratic process, but also incorporates well-rehearsed complexities into the grand schema.

Album Review

Pandelis Karayorgis: Betwixt

Read "Betwixt" reviewed by AAJ Italy Staff

by AAJ Italy Staff
August 25, 2008

Il trio formato dal pianista Pandelis Karayorgis, dal bassista Nat McBride e dal batterista Curt Newton aveva già lasciato intravedere nell’album We Will Make a Home For You, registrato dal vivo nel 2005, le grandi potenzialità di questa formula sposata con la scelta di Karayorgis di lasciare da parte il pianoforte acustico (col quale ha costruito una ormai pluridecennale carriera di ottimo pianista di jazz d’avanguardia, proveniente dalla scuola di Paul Bley) a favore di un fumantino Fender Rhodes, strumento ...

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Album Review

Pandelis Karayorgis / Nate McBride / Curt Newton: Betwixt

by Troy Collins
June 23, 2008

Pianist Pandelis Karayorgis, bassist Nate McBride and drummer Curt Newton debuted as the Mi3 trio in 2005 with We Will Make A Home For You (Clean Feed), a riotous live recording that featured Karayorgis leading the trio on a vintage Fender Rhodes. Their studio follow up, Free Advice (Clean Feed, 2007) found Karayorgis back on home turf, playing acoustic piano. Their most definitive statement yet, Betwixt combines the electronic experimentation of their live debut with the sonic precision of the ...