Tribute to Carmen McRae

Five well-known musicians of the Cypriot jazz scene present a concert dedicated to the American jazz singer Carmen Mercedes McRae (1920-1994) at Technopolis 20, on Sunday, 3rd of November at 7:30pm.

Carmen McRae developed a style of her own, influenced by Billie Holiday and bebop nuances and she was seven times Nominee for the Grammy Award Recognitions, ‘Best Vocal Jazz Performance’, between 1971-1990.

Kyriaki Steliou (voice), Loukas Loukas (piano), Marios Papares (tenor sax), Nicolas Tryphonos (double bass) and Marios Spyrou (drums) invite you to a tribute to her unique style of interpretation lyrics and ‘flirting with rhythm, behind the beat phrasing’.

Entrance: €12
Reservations are necessary at 70002420 (calls only)

A few words about the musicians
Kyriaki Steliou (vocalist) is a performer, an educator and pedagogue. She was born in Famagusta. She had studied classical music, piano and voice from an early age. Later she graduated from the European University Cyprus major in Music Education. Currently she is completing her Master’s Degree in music, with Nicosia University, and her thesis paper is focused on the interpretations and detailed analysis of Carmen McRae’ singing style. An active member of the Cyprus scene, both in performance and teaching, a freelancer that loves challenge, education, poetry, philosophy. She teaches for many years now, piano, voice, theory of music, aural skills and choir. She has also developed her own research project on improvisation to help her students learn in a fruitful and fun way form, melody, rhythm and structure elements in music. The research was selected and presented in the European School Teachers Association Conference, in Nicosia 2014, at Nicosia University. She has also participated with her composition at the Greek-Balka Exhibition “Transform 2012” Pandora’s Box.

The drummer Marios Spyrou was born in Nicosia in 1990. He was inspired from an early age by his father, who is also a jazz drummer. He has played extensively with the top Cypriot jazz musicians and has a Masters in Jazz from the Koninklijk Conservatorium in Holland.

Marios Papares is a saxophonist and educator, born in Limassol. His musical journey started at the age of 28, busking (street musician) around Europe, Australia, and India. In 2010 he graduated for the European University Cyprus, with a Bachelor’s Degree in Music, major in Jazz Performance. Since then he has worked as a professional musician with numerous appearances around the island. Currently he is teaching music at Lighthouse School composing and performing with various musicians.

Loukas Louka is a Cypriot pianist and music teacher. He started studying classical piano from the age of 8. At the age of 22 he begun studying jazz piano with the Cypriot jazz pianist Marios Toumbas and later he had lesson on jazz improvisation with the Cypriot jazz guitarist Giannos Savvides. He participated for about 2 years in the Jazz Ensembles of the European University Cyprus, under the instruction of Marios Toumbas and also attended the “Jazz Futures” workshops that took place in Nicosia from 2008 until 2011, under the instruction of Sacha Perry, Vahagn Hayrapetyan, Ari Rolland, and Chris Byars. In 2012 he succeeded taking the ALCM diploma in Jazz Piano of London College of Music. Since then he has performed as a member in several jazz combos during various events in Cyprus. Loukas is currently teaching music in elementary schools and also performing jazz music in several jazz venues all around Cyprus.

Nicolas Tryfonos (double bass) was born in Limassol. He studied Jazz Electric Bass Guitar in the Philippos Nakas Conservatory in Athens from 200 until 2003. In 2003 he returns to Cyprus and takes lessons on Jazz Double Bass under the guidance of Mr Irinaeus Koulouras. In 2004 was admitted in the Amsterdam Conservatory in Jazz Performance Double bass. In 2007 he transfers his studies in the Utrecht School of Arts, under the guidance of Mr. Henry Emmery. Takes part in various masterclasses with Richie Beirach, John Clayton, Kurt Rosenwinkel among others. He graduates in 2011 (BMus Hons) from the Utrecht School of Arts. In 2013 he graduates from the Master’s Degree in the Utrecht School of Arts in Jazz Performance in collaboration with the Rotterdam World Music School where he participates in Makam Music Theory Classes and Performance and Classical Ottoman Music Ensembles. From 2013 he lives and works performs and composes in Limassol, where he participates in various projects, theatre plays, and concerts (Award Nominee “Tzitrolemona” 2013, Music Composition, Award winning “ I vasilopoulla tzai oi Maises” 2014 Performance) among others.