This is world jazz that feels authentic and personal, effortlessly blending tradition and innovation.
PK Musik
Maria Manousaki – Violin; Dimitris Verdinoglou – Piano; Michael Evdemon – Electric Bass; Alekos Roupas – Percussion GUESTS: Ziv Ravitz – Drums (tracks 2, 6) Petros Klampanis – Double Bass (tracks 2, 4, 6). Andreas Polyzogopoulos – Trumpet (track 2) Christos Rafailidis – Vibraphone (track 1) Stratis Skarakis – Voice (track 6) Kyriakos Stavrianoudakis – Lute (track7) Thomas Meleteas – Oud (track 3)
In her third solo offering, Greek violinist Maria Manousaki delivers a deeply felt album that firmly establishes her as one of the most distinctive voices in contemporary world jazz. BEHIND CLOSED DOORS is both a personal statement and a thoughtful exploration of cross-cultural musical dialogue.
Recorded following her return to her hometown of Chania, on the Greek island of Crete, after years in New York, the album carries the weight of transition, loss, and renewal. The title track, ‘Anapolo’—composed during the first pandemic lockdown—sets the tone with its contemplative piano introduction from Dimitris Verdinoglou before Manousaki’s violin enters with a melancholy refrain that speaks to isolation while hinting at the possibility of reinvention. The interplay between violin and vibraphone, courtesy of guest Christos Rafailidis, creates a textural richness that balances romantic sentiment with harmonic sophistication.
What distinguishes Manousaki’s approach is her remarkable ability to honor her Cretan musical heritage while pushing its boundaries into new territory. ‘Introversion 2’ features some of the album’s most striking textures, with Thomas Meleteas’s oud creating a fascinating counterpoint with the bass. The juxtaposition of these instruments—one ancient, one modern—mirrors Manousaki’s overall artistic vision, creating moments where tradition and innovation not only coexist but actively enhance one another.
“Dragonfly” shifts through multiple moods and tempos with graceful ease, allowing each musician space to shine while the music flows smoothly, carrying everything with it. Particularly noteworthy is the rhythm section of Michael Evdemon (electric bass), Petros Klampanis (double bass), and Alekos Roupas (percussion), whose sensitive underpinning provides both structure and freedom for the soloists.
The two covers—The Cure’s ‘Lovesong’ and Nikos Xylouris’s ‘Pon tis Panayias’—show the breadth of Manousaki’s musical range. ‘Lovesong’ holds onto its rock edge while folding in touches of her Mediterranean roots, while ‘Pon tis Panayias,’ with Stratis Skarakis’s soulful Greek vocals, stays deeply rooted in its origins. Manousaki’s violin moves between them, threading together rock, folk, and a centuries-old music tradition, pulling it all into the present.
Her playing throughout BEHIND CLOSED DOORS is captivating—sometimes tender, sometimes melancholic, always deeply felt. Guest spots from trumpeter Andreas Polyzogopoulos, double bassist Petros Klampanis, vibraphonist Christos Rafailidis, and others add even more color to the mix.
This album is dedicated to Manousaki’s late father, exploring themes of loss and the path to healing. The closing track, ‘Departed,’ sums up this journey, starting with a beautiful piano intro before Manousaki’s violin and Kyriakos Stavrianoudakis’s delicate lute create a conversation that feels like a bittersweet goodbye, gently shifting into a celebration of what comes next.
With BEHIND CLOSED DOORS, Maria Manousaki has created a fine album that blends her musical roots with a new sense of direction. It’s a powerful reminder of how music can connect different cultures while staying true to its origins. This is world jazz that feels authentic and personal, effortlessly blending tradition and innovation.
