Home » Jazz Musicians » Alekos K. Vretos

Alekos K. Vretos

Greek oudist, pianist and composer Alekos Vretos has been merging jazz, Arabic, Greek and Latin music in a masterful blend of sounds from traditional instruments, such as the oud or the nay, vs. the modern ones. As a bandleader, Alekos has developed a unique atmosphere for his music: keeping traditional sound in the front line, he expands it through jazz improvisation and exploding rhythmic development. In 2014, Alekos released his 2nd personal CD “K. on Top”. A long way musically from his previous work “Mergin’”, “K. on Top” is a statement of how World music and Jazz should be mixed without becoming to separate genres in one piece. Mature and stable, he is walking the line of good and tasteful musicianship overall. For his work and help towards the music scene (especially World Jazz), he was included in 2013 list of the 100+1 most influential people in the Greek music scene published by the Athens Voice newspaper.

Some of the venues that Alekos has performed in - with great reviews on his playing and composing - are: The Herodion (GR), The Athens Concert Hall (GR), the Berklee Performance Center (USA), Mount Holyoke College (USA), the Tombs of Kings in Palestine, The Argos Ancient Theatre (GR), The Half Note Jazz Club (GR), The Vortex Jazz Club (UK), The 1er Piso Jazz Club (MEX), 2nd Athens World Jazz Music Festival (GR), 1st Medieval Byzantine Festival Of Kastoria (GR), 2nd Fougaro Jazz Festival (GR), and more.

He has collaborated with legendary composer Mikis Theodorakis, as well as Gilad Atzmon, Simon Shaheen, Haig Yazdjian, Theodore Antoniou, The Greek Contemporary Ensemble, The Kamerata (The Orchestra of the Friends of Music), the Jazz Upstairs Big Band, Yorgos Fakanas, Dimitris Maragopoulos, The Athens State Orchestra, Lakis Chalkias, Kostas Thomaidis and Takis Paterelis to name a few.

Awards

Award for “Outstanding Musicianship” of the Berklee College Music and the Phillipos Nakas scholarship for the year 1995. Award for community service in the city of Boston (Piano teaching for unprivileged children) 1997. Argolis State Award for Music for his album “Yunan”. 2005


Tags

14
Album Review

Alekos K. Vretos: K On Top

Read "K On Top" reviewed by C. Michael Bailey


All musical genre can be blended with one another. As I get older and more persnickety, I am coming to believe that just because two musical traditions can be blended that they necessarily should be. I have listened to countless experiments with cross-pollination that best have been left alone. Gratefully, this is not true of Greek musician and composer Alekos Vretos, who seamlessly divines the perfumed essence of Middle Eastern music, infusing that essence into jazz and creating a rich ...

Read more articles
1

Recording

Alekos Vretos Releases His New Album "K On Top"

Alekos Vretos Releases His New Album "K On Top"

Source: Alekos Vretos

Jadeo Music & Ankh Jazz presents K on Top, a new CD by Alekos K. Vretos. After his debut album Mergin’ in 2009, oud soloist and composer Alekos K. Vretos embarked on a new journey through music he loves. Mixing and matching over the years with his various ensembles (trios, quartets, quintets), he found the musical balance he needed to record this intriguing new work. Arabic, Greek and Latin music elements served on a powerful jazz platter by a strong ...

PRESS QUOTES

Ø “Alekos Vretos seamlessly divines the perfumed essence of Middle Eastern music, infusing that essence into jazz and creating a rich world music hybrid that is as enjoyable to listen to as it is bold to consider.” C. Michael Bailey – All About Jazz (18th February 2015)

Ø “If you hear music with your soul, you can’t miss out on “K on Top” by Vretos” Maria Markouli – It’s My Blender - mariamarkouli.blogspot.gr (12th January 2015)

Ø “Every piece (in “K on Top”) demonstrates a linear climax of feelings that are drawn through the compositions” Christos Ieridis – Ta Nea (1st December 2014)

Read more

Primary Instrument

Oud

Willing to teach

Intermediate to advanced

Photos

Music

Recordings: As Leader | As Sideperson

K. On Top

Ankh Jazz / Jadeo Music
2015

buy

Mergin'

Jadeo Music
2009

buy

Yunan w/ the Meliti...

Subways Music
2004

buy
br/>

Foud

From: Mergin'
By Alekos K. Vretos

Videos

Get more of a good thing!

Our weekly newsletter highlights our top stories, our special offers, and upcoming jazz events near you.