current projects
ΤΡΕΧΟΝΤΑ ΠΡΟΤΖΕΚΤΣ
Displaced Dreams
Michalis Kouloumis explores our shared humanity in a time of enormous political upheaval and dedicates his music to all the people who struggle for freedom and dignity after being displaced from their homelands and their dreams.
Displaced Dreams started as an improvisational solo violin project and developed into an orchestral composition that mingles the Orient (with instruments such as the oud, ney, lute and baglama) and the Occident (with the European string ensemble, drum set, and double bass).
The album entitled "Displaced Dreams" will soon be released. It includes the homonym composition, as well as solo and duo improvisations.
Musicians:
Makis Baklatzis, Sakis Karakostas, Christos Dalianis, Manos Skalidakis, Giannis Zarias, Michalis Kouloumis - violins
Fotis Siotas, Stefanos Sekeroglou - violas
Despoina Spanou, Vasilis Lemonias - cellos
Kostas Theodorou aka Dine Doneff - contrabass
Harris Lambrakis - ney
Alexandros Papadimitrakis - oud
Maria Ploumi - cretan lute
Michalis Cholevas - tarhu
Stratis Psaradelis, Martha Mavroeidi, Maria Melachrinou - baglama saz
Vagelis Karipis - tom drum, bendir
Ruven Ruppik - cymbals, snare drum, effects, cajon
Giannis Mpaxevanis - sound engineer (AntArt Studios)
Dialogues
Michalis Kouloumis and Efren Lopez in a notable collaboration present some of their finest compositions such as "Return", "Lahtara", "Aralik" and "Hortus Deliciarum".
Their music combines elements from Medieval music, Ottoman classical, Cypriot/Greek/Turkish traditional and other modal music cultures. With a variety of musical instruments (violin, oud, rabab, fretless guitar, hardy gardy and lute), they introduce us in a unique musical world, full of sounds and colours.
The two musicians also co-teach workshops on Makam music
RECENT CONCERTS:
Ayia Napa Medievel Festival, October 2019 (CY)
NEXT CONCERTS AND WORKSHOPS:
May 2020 @ Galicia, (SP) - postponed
"Michalis Kouloumis Trio" is a new project, which includes traditional music from Greece, Cyprus, Turkey and the Balkans, blended with their own material, soulful improvisations and enough dose of experimentation. Their recent performance at the Sommerton Festival received outstanding reviews from the audience and critics.
Michalis Kouloumis - violin, vocals
Nikos Ziarkas - lute, guitar, vocals
Thodoris Ziarkas - doublebass
LATEST CONCERT:
Sommerton Festival 2016
CONTACT:
DIALOGUES
EFREN LOPEZ - MICHALIS KOULOUMIS DUET
Michalis Kouloumis and Efren Lopez in a notable collaboration present some of their finest compositions such as "Return", "Lahtara", "Aralik" and "Hortus Deliciarum".
Their music combines elements from Medieval music, Ottoman classical, Cypriot/Greek/Turkish traditional and other modal music cultures. With a variety of musical instruments (violin, oud, rabab, fretless guitar, hardy gardy and lute), they introduce us in a unique musical world, full of sounds and colours.
The two musicians also co-teach workshops on Makam music
RECENT CONCERTS:
Ayia Napa Medievel Festival, October 2019 (CY)
NEXT CONCERTS AND WORKSHOPS:
May 2020 @ Galicia, (SP) - postponed
CONTACT:
Çiğdem Aslan is an Istanbul-born singer who sings in many languages and regional styles. Coming from Kurdish Alevi background, in which music is one of the pivotal elements of the culture, she grew up with the rich sounds of her culture and then gradually met with the other sounds of Istanbul and beyond. While studying English literature at Istanbul University, she regularly performed Rebetiko, Sephardic and other ethnic music of Turkey.
Cigdem has been performing and touring her debut album Mortissa which has been released from Asphalt Tango Records in October 2013. The album focuses on Rebetiko and Smyrnaic songs from Asia Minor and Greece mainly from 1930s.
The album received great reviews from all around the world and entered the World Music Charts Europe. It was chosen as one of the best albums of 2013 by Roots and Songlines Magazine which nominated and shortlisted Cigdem in the 'Best Artist' category for Songlines Music Awards 2014. In 2014 Mortissa won the prestigious “Preis der deutschen Schallplattenkritik/ German Record Critics Award"
"On stage Aslan is a fresh, natural and relaxed performer with a beautiful voice. Her facility to slip from Greek to Turkish and several other languages is a real asset."
Simon Broughton, Songlines Magazine
Cigdem Aslan is about to release her second album titled "A thousand cranes".
Çiğdem Aslan - Voice
Nikos Baimpas - kanun, artistic direction
Michalis Kouloumis - violin
Colin Somervell - double bass
Antonio Romero - percussions
NEXT CONCERTS:
30 Apr 2017 @ WOMEN IN JAZZ FESTIVAL, Halle (DE)
29 Apr 2017 @ Waiblingen (DE)
01 Feb 2017 @ ALHAMBRA MUSIC HALL, Paris (FR)