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Thanos Stavridis / Stella Tempreli — Tales from the Box - Ciel
(Bandcamp Artway Productions, 2023, CD / DL)

by Peter Thelen, Published 2024-01-13

Tales from the Box - Ciel Cover art

We last caught up with Greek composer, accordionist and multi-instrumentalist Thanos Stavridis for his 2020 release Spicy Margarita, a delightful instrumental endeavor combining Mediterranean folk sounds with ethnic music from around the world. On his latest effort, Tales from the Box – Ciel, he is joined on every track by cellist Stella Tempreli, who also guested on the previous album; they are the core of the eleven pieces here, ten of which were composed by Stavridis (the closer is an interpretation of “Ave Maria” by Johann Sebastian Bach). About half of the tracks feature only the core duo of Stavridis and Tempreli, while remaining cuts feature other guest musicians like double bassist Giannis Papatriantafillou, drummers Nikos Vargiamidis and Dimitris Kilonis, vibraphonist Dimitris Angelakis, electric bassist Giotis Kiourtsoglou, and percussionists Christos Tassios and Angelos Polychronou. While the style throughout combines a warm and wonderful Mediterranean folk with some chamber elements via the cello, it’s certainly joyful music that will take the listener to new inspired places like a travelog of sorts. “Mediterranean Travel” adds double bass and hand percussion for a fun romp through the sunny wonderland. “Giorgios’ Lullaby” weaves a degree of melancholy into the mix with double bass and vibraphone providing the foundation while accordion and cello take turns providing the highlights. Stavridis doubles on Fender Rhodes for the jazzy upbeat number “After the Rainbow,” with drums and double bass joining in the fun, while “Sunset Bossa” adds a bit of latin flavor to the mix with a superb solo from the vibraphone. The brief “Rain Waltz” uses only the duo, but it’s a happy number that’s sure to put a smile on the listener’s face. All taken, Tales from the Box - Ciel offers a joyful musical detour through another world.

Filed under: New releases, 2023 releases

Related artist(s): Thanos Stavridis

More info
http://thanosstavridis.bandcamp.com/album/ciel

 

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