Rebetiko is often referred to as the Greek blues, but what happens when it merges with free jazz? Australian-based Greek artist KAVOS gives us the answer—Read our discussion below!
Describe your sound in 3 words
Greek jazz fusion
Tell us a few things about Dubious Claim. What is the story behind it?
It’s influenced by a Greek rebetiko song, Χωρίσαμε ένα δειλινό (We parted one afternoon). A dubious claim feels like something is off, so this tune has a lot of discordant intervals, and the melody begins strongly but then descends further and further down, like a claim that might sound reasonable at first but the longer you think about it, the weaker it seems.
How did you come up with the idea to blend urban Greek music and more specifically rebetiko with jazz for your project?
I’ve been a jazz musician since I was a teenager and one of the things I really enjoy about it is its capacity to form fusions with other styles of music. Being of Greek descent on my mother’s side, I’ve been listening to Greek rebetiko since I was born, so it seemed like a natural candidate to blend with jazz.
If someone wanted to listen to just one rebetiko music album, which album would you recommend they choose?
Anything by Markos Vamvakaris
Artists and people that have influenced you?
On the jazz side, John Coltrane, Pat Metheny, Chick Corea.
On the rebetiko side, Markos Vamvakaris, Vassilis Tsitsanis, Grigoris Bithikotsis
If you could change anything about the music industry, what would it be?
I would remove the iniquity among artists, so that the 1% does not get 99% of opportunities, exposure, and funding.
Your music has an experimental tone. Should music as a form of art always challenge the listener?
It depends. If you only want to have boring conversations with the same people saying the same things ad nauseum, then maybe not. But if you enjoy conversations that stretch you, teach you, and expose you to the wider world, then yes.
If you were arrested, what would it be for?
Civil disobedience when Trump and Putin rule the world together.
Thank you!
Follow our Spotify Playlist “Reinvented Eclectic” feat. KAVOS
Secret Eclectic 