Esthema, a World Fusion ensemble out of Boston, MA (USA) creates their unique sound by fusing elements from the traditional music of the Eastern European Balkan region and the Near & Middle East with Progressive Rock and various styles of Jazz. The five musicians that shape the sound of Esthema bring together both Western and Eastern influences, instruments, and musical concepts. Members of ESTHEMA have spent a lifetime cultivating their individual musical voices. Onur Dilisen (violin) was born, raised, and began his studies in Turkey. In May 2009, Onur graduated from the Boston Conservatory with his Master’s Degree in violin performance. Tery Lemanis (oud & bouzouki), a graduate from Berklee College of Music’s guitar performance program studied bouzouki, oud, and Byzantine music in Greece as part of Berklee’s exchange program. Bruno Esrubilsky (drums & percussion), from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil has studied, taught, and toured throughout Europe (Ireland, England, Portugal, Belgium, and Spain), Brazil, and the States and is currently enrolled at Berklee College of Music, majoring in Performance and Contemporary Writing and Production. Ignacio Long (bass), born in Patagonia, Argentina, has studied, taught, and performed in Buenos Aires, New York, and Boston. In 2007 Ignacio graduated from Berklee College of Music where he majored in Composition and Film Score. Andy Milas (guitar) has studied privately with some of Boston’s most acclaimed guitar instructors - Joe Stump, Garrison Fewell and Bruce Bartlett. For almost two decades, Andy has performed traditional and contemporary Greek music and has performed with, and written and arranged for various Progressive Rock and Metal, New Age, and Jazz projects. As people, the individuals in ESTHEMA come from very different places with very different experiences. As musicians, they bring those places and experiences together into one musical setting. Esthema’s first CD, Apart From The Rest (released July 2007) was voted as one of the Top 25 independent recordings of 2008 at Indie-Music.com and in 2009 compositions from the CD were chosen and featured at the critically acclaimed Waterfire Providence in Providence, Rhode Island. The six compositions that make up the CD were written by Andy Milas and arranged by the entire ensemble. All the compositions are laced with elements of Eastern and Western music. Joel Simches from Boston’s Noise Magazine stated, “this recording is nothing less than a true celebration of a number of different styles of world beat, jazz, rock, ethnic European and Middle Eastern traditional music” and John Collinge from Progression Magazine called it “a seamless blend of Eastern and Western motifs: Ethnic scales and meters intertwine delightfully with jazz-rock drums and bass beneath jazzy improv and winding melodies.” In 2009, Esthema released their second CD, the Hereness and Nowness of Things and once again they have blurred the boundaries between Eastern and Western music. Lily Emeralde and Emma Dyllan of Phosphorescence Magazine call it “a world-class collaboration of the highest order” and that “once again, Esthema dazzles.” Todd Sikorski of Skope Magazine calls is “an emotional experience that is dramatic and cinematic.” With the success of Apart From The Rest and the release of the Hereness and Nowness of Things, Esthema’s efforts will continue concentrate on building a stronger domestic and international fan base through performances, distribution, radio, and reviews.
