Step into the time machine and journey back to the captivating era of Greek music, arts, and fashion from the 1960s and 1970s as Artemis presents a Night of Greek Jazz at the Melbourne’s Brunswick Ballroom on Thursday 26 October.
Artemis combines her remarkable vocal talents with theatrical elements designed to transport the audience to downtown Athens’s vibrant, terrazzo-floored clubs.
In an interview with Neos Kosmos, Artemis said, “I’m experimenting with Greek music and giving it a jazz sound with a theatrical performance style. It’s something that I’ve been wanting to do for a long time.”
“Greek Jazz” is a narrative-driven journey through love’s tapestry woven with Greek culture and music. Artemis delves into how Greeks express love as she spans the spectrum of emotions, from the birth of love to the unravelling of disappointment, pain, loss, grief, and acceptance, and finally, to its rebirth, all conveyed through the prism of Greek jazz.
Artemis is Inspired by divas like Tzeni Vanou, Vicky Mosholiou, Mery Linda, and Melina Mercouri. It pays homage to the “retro Greek aesthetic” infusing the music and style of that era with a modern twist. She arranges Greek laika and contemporary songs into jazz instrumentations, creating a delightful fusion of sounds that appeal to Greek and non-Greek audiences.
The inspiration for “Greek Jazz” came from Artemis’s experience working in Greece, where she played a role in the famous Greek TV series “Glikanissos.” She was deeply touched by how Greeks express their emotions, especially the “laikos erotas” concept and the pain of loving someone, known as “dertia.” These emotional nuances are not commonly seen or understood in Australia, and Artemis wanted to bridge the gap between these two worlds.
The Brunswick Ballroom also holds special significance for Artemis, the venue’s Hellenic history and aligns perfectly with her vision to create an atmosphere reminiscent of the Greek kentra, clubs, adding an extra layer of authenticity to the performance.
Artemis Ioannides was born in Melbourne and raised in Athens; her father, renowned composer and producer Tassos Ioannides, nurtured her deep love for Greek music and culture.
Artemis – A Night of Greek Jazz
6:30pm, Thursday 26 October, 2023