Jazz Club В Джаза / Jazz Insights

A meeting of two worlds — the warmth of Greek tradition and the wandering, free spirit of jazz.
At the heart of this project stands the oud — a traditional instrument that carries the stories of centuries, weaving tender melodies and sounds that awaken memory.
In the hands of Sofia Glavopoulou, the oud becomes a bridge — a voice that enters into dialogue with her singing, moving freely through the landscape of Greek folk songs.
The essence of the project lies in coexistence: the thread of tradition unfolds in conversation with the harmonies and improvisational language of jazz. In every performance, we seek that fleeting moment when past and present merge into one — where sounds unite to retell the story of our place with respect, imagination, and love.
This project would not have been possible without the artistic contribution and friendship of three exceptional musicians:
• Miroslav Turiyski — piano
• Alexander Lekov — bass guitar
• Nacho Gospodinov — drums
The story of the oud
The oud is an ancient musical instrument with a rich and enduring history that travels through the Arab and Persian worlds before reaching the Ottoman Empire. Its very name means “wood.” The Persian barbat — a traditional folk instrument — strongly resembles the Egyptian oud, which was used as far back as the time of the pharaohs — more than 3,500 years ago.
In the 15th century, the oud reached Constantinople, where it became a principal instrument in court orchestras. From the 17th century onward, it could be heard in cafés, taverns, and tekkes, accompanying the songs and dances of the many peoples of the Eastern Mediterranean.
Over time, master makers such as Manolis Venios (1845–1915) refined and reshaped the instrument, giving it a smaller body and a more powerful sound — the form that has been preserved to this day. In Greece, the oud spread widely with the arrival of refugees from Asia Minor after the catastrophe of 1922.
With its unique, hypnotic timbre, the oud continues to resonate in Greece, Turkey, and the Arab world, connecting traditional sound with contemporary jazz and world music — creating magnetic atmospheres that carry the listener beyond borders and time.
Tickets: 15€
An online ticket guarantees a reserved seat for the event.
Seats are allocated in the order tickets are purchased.
Doors open: 19:00
Start: 20:30

BALKAN SURPRISE
Bulgaria – Greece
Balkan Surprise is a jazz quintet founded by five popular and well-loved musicians from Bulgaria and Greece. They share not only a deep love for jazz and diverse experience in this music of free expression, but also a strong interest in and profound respect for the authentic and rich musical heritage of the Balkans — that colorful, vibrant part of Europe from which all members of the band originate.
Balkan Surprise is a meeting of colleagues, neighbors, and friends, and the band’s music reveals the many layers of this connection. It is warm and sincere, beautiful and vivid, calm and dynamic.
Balkan Surprise creates and performs jazz that is contemporary and modern, harmonic and rhythmic, yet honest and unpretentious. Music that effortlessly touches the senses. While speaking the language of jazz, Balkan Surprise subtly pays tribute to the richness and diversity of Balkan sounds.
The repertoire of Balkan Surprise includes original compositions written by the members of the band.

Balkan Surprise are:
Mihail Yossifov – trumpet
Andonis Andreou – trombone
Vasil Spasov – piano
Kimon Karoutzos – double bass
Alexandros “Drakos” Ktistakis – drums
 Tickets: 25€