YANNATOU / PRIMAVERA EN SALONICA, SAVINA

Third ECM album – and the best yet – by magical Greek singer Savina Yannatou and the equally captivating band Primavera en Salonico. This collective sails through traditional songs from Armenia, Bulgaria, Serbia, Kazakhstan, Southern Italy as well as Greece, and adds a 16th century hymn from the Yiddish tradition. Arrangements, primarily by Kostas Vomvolos, find the points that unite the traditions, while Savina locates areas where experimental vocal technique can overlap with the idiosyncrasies of folk singing. A magical recording, with achingly beautiful melodies, and spirited improvising erupting out of the arrangements.

Savina Yannatou’s previous ECM albums, the live Terra Nostra (ECM1856, recorded 2001) and the studio-recorded Sumiglia (ECM1903, 2004) hit the ‘world music’ and jazz audiences with the force of revelation. Under the double guidance of singer Savina and accordionist Kostas Vomvolos, Primavera en Salonico celebrates traditional music while also taking risks with it.

Estimated despatch 21-30 days after ordering.