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Potamos — Potamos
((Not on label) No #, 2025, DL)

by Peter Thelen, Published 2025-06-04

Potamos Cover art

Potamos is a Greek quintet, part of the Aesthetiko Musicians Collective, playing in what seems to be an improvisational jazz style, somewhat informed by Middle-Eastern sounds, though not to the point where one might call the four tracks at hand World Music, mainly because it’s done mostly with your standard jazz instrumentation, with one notable exception. The players are Harris Lambrakis on ney, an end blown wooden flute of Turkish origin (and probably a lot of other places as well) which to my ears sounds a little bit like the Japanese shakuhachi; Israeli master Gilad Atzmon plays all the other woodwinds in the ensemble, saxes, flutes, etc.; drummer/percussionist Nikos Sidirokastritis and double bassist Xrisostomos Boukalis make a formidable rhythm section, while electric guitarist Vironas Ntolas marks each of the four long explorative pieces with his unique signature. The opening cut, “Genesis,” offers a ten-plus minute introduction to the group, mostly via extended improvisation, with the ney featured prominently throughout as well as some wonderful back and forth dialogue between woodwinds and guitar; only a few minutes before the end the dreamy feeling that had prevailed up to this point coalesces into something of a cadence driven piece, with beautiful effect, reminiscent of some of the early ECM releases. “The Wisdom” begins with an extended introduction by Atzmon, followed up in short order by guitar and rhythm section, still sounding very much like an improvised piece or at least a collection of ideas put out there for approval, though within a few minutes all of the players are busy working together. A feeling of pensiveness and longing permeate the opening minutes of “Harmony,” introduced by ney and very light percussion, though by a few minutes in the piece has turned into a more joyous celebration with full group involvement, a feeling which carries through to the closing track, “And Peace.” Potamos is definitely an emotional, dreamy and expressive take on the jazz idiom that should appeal to most listeners.

Filed under: New releases, 2025 releases

Related artist(s): Gilad Atzmon, Potamos (Aesthetiko Musicians Collective)

More info
http://music.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_nEYHSaxx2fOptrvrO4vbkNyzQI0J29oHM

 

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