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Alekos Vretos
Alekos Vretos is a prominent oud player and jazz composer mixing the old with the new.
About Me
Alekos Vretos is an acclaimed Greek musician, composer, and oud virtuoso whose music transcends borders. Through a deep understanding of both Eastern and Western traditions, he fuses Arabic modes, Greek melodies, Latin rhythm, and jazz improvisation into a sound that feels timeless and fresh. His work stands at the crossroads of tradition and modernity—an exploration of how ancient instruments and global sounds can coexist in harmony. Born in Athens, Vretos began piano lessons at the age of three and pursued classical and jazz studies at the Athenaeum Conservatory and the Philippos Nakas Conservatory. His passion for musical expression led him to the Berklee College of Music, where he studied Jazz Composition under the guidance of renowned mentors. It was there that his creative journey toward blending Eastern instruments with jazz sensibility truly began. In 1998, Alekos turned to the oud—the instrument that would become his signature voice. Under the mentorship of oud master Simon Shaheen and other distinguished musicians such as Marcel Khalife and Charbel Rouhana, he deepened his connection to Middle Eastern music. He later brought these influences back to Greece, developing a unique performance style defined by authenticity, technical mastery, and emotional depth. Vretos’ artistic path began with Yunan, his first major project as the founder and leader of The Meliti Ensemble. The album explored the shared musical DNA between Greek and Middle Eastern cultures, using the oud, nay, violin, and traditional percussion to create a delicate balance of modal improvisation and chamber-like ensemble playing. Yunan was celebrated for its purity of sound and the way it brought ancient musical dialogue into a modern framework. His next milestone, Mergin’ (2009), was an audacious step forward, merging Arabic and Latin music into a seamless, grooving dialogue. Critics praised it as “a bold fusion of oud and jazz improvisation,” setting the stage for his future work. His follow-up release, K. on Top (2014), showcased a more cinematic and textural sound—vivid, colorful, and rhythmically intricate. It was hailed by critics as “a world-jazz dynamite” (Popaganda) and “an album that breathes soul and energy into every note.” As his compositional voice matured, Vretos expanded his work beyond the concert stage, contributing the original score for Farid Lakkimi’s film Cœur Noyé (Drowned Heart) (2017)—a Morocco/France co-production that later won Best Film at the Martinique International Film Festival. The experience revealed how naturally his Mediterranean Jazz language could inhabit the cinematic world, adding another dimension to his creative portfolio. Recognized early on for his influence in shaping a new Greek jazz identity, Alekos Vretos was included in Athens Voice’s “100 + 1 Most Influential People in Greek Music” list, an acknowledgment of his contribution to expanding the country’s musical vocabulary and connecting it to the broader international scene. Beyond the studio, Vretos has performed across Europe, the Middle East, and the Americas. His concerts—whether in the ancient theatres of Greece or modern jazz clubs abroad—are immersive experiences that highlight his mastery of the oud and his ability to connect cultures through sound. Vretos has shared the stage and studio with some of the most important figures in world and jazz music, including legendary composer Mikis Theodorakis, Simon Shaheen, Gilad Atzmon, Haig Yazdjian, Theodore Antoniou, the Greek Contemporary Ensemble, The Kamerata Orchestra, the Athens State Orchestra, and many others. His artistry has been recognized not only for its technical brilliance but also for its cultural significance—bridging musical worlds with respect and imagination.
