Giorgos Xylouris
Giorgos Xylouris | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Background information | |
| Born | September 25, 1965 |
| Origin | Anogeia, Crete, Greece |
| Occupation(s) | Musician |
| Instrument(s) | Laouto |
| Member of | Xylouris White |
Giorgos Xylouris (Greek: Γιώργoς Ξυλούρης, born September 25, 1965), also known as Psarogiorgis (Greek: Ψαρογιώργης), is a Cretan laouto player and singer. Giorgos Xylouris was born and raised in Anogia, a village in Crete with a great musical tradition, within the well-known musical family of Xylouris. In such an environment, with the sounds of Cretan music ever present, he quite naturally took to music at a very early age, beginning with the mandolin and later the lyra and the lute, which would eventually become his main instrument of expression.
He has been guided initially by his father “Psarantonis”, a highly innovative lyra player and composer of Cretan music, whom George accompanied for many years and still does. Very early on, through demanding and deeply human experiences in his musical career, George in essence experienced the new dimension his father was creating in Cretan music. From the age of 11 he already accompanies him intensively in very different venues. From the nightclubs where his father was performing in Heraklion, to social events, but also to festivals and concerts all over Greece, Europe and further abroad.
This journey, from the theaters and music venues of the world, to the folk festivals, being next to Psarantonis, with the rich dynamics of his musical personality, shaped George's identity and matured him musically. This taught him to transmute tradition in a personal and active way and to take a sensitive and empathetic position in the society in which he grew up and was nourished.
He was also deeply influenced by his two uncles: the "Psarogiannis" (Yannis Xylouris), a leading lute player of his time, and the legendary Nikos Xylouris ("Psaroni") an outstanding lyra virtuoso as well as an unparalleled singer. He still remembers very vividly as a child the feasts that both of them played in the village and then Nikos' historical performances in the bouquets of Plaka during the years when the dictatorship in Greece was coming to an end. These three family figures for George, defined the later course of Cretan music at that time and will be a compass and a legacy for him. At the young age of seventeen, he began working with Labyrinth, a musical organization established by Ross Daly, based on the music of the Eastern Mediterranean. And until today he continues to teach lute within the Labyrinth, conducting workshops, recordings and participating in performances.
In the early 90s, he lived in Melbourne for eight years, where he formed the band "Xylouris Ensemble" with musicians from different backgrounds who created an authentic sound with traditional roots. Together they recorded five albums and toured in many festivals in Australia and Europe and they gained an enthusiastic and diverse audience. During the same period he also got involved in the local music scene in Melbourne. He collaborated and participated in concerts and recordings with bands such as the 'Dirty Three', which much later led to the formation of “Xylouris White”.
In 1997 he returned to Crete and collaborated, performed and recorded with well-known musicians developing an authentic style with a wide range. His sound fits many contexts and has been a model and inspiration for the younger generation of Cretan lute players. He collaborates with artists such as Ross Daly, Yannis Angelakas, Nikos Veliotis, Stelios Petrakis, Achilleas Persidis and many others. In 2013 he started his collaboration with the Australian drummer Jim White in the band “Xylouris White”, which has released five albums (Drag City), all produced by Guy Picciotto (Fugazi). They have toured extensively around the world taking part in music festivals of different genres (such as world, jazz, rock, country).He is part of Jem Cohen's 'Gravity Hill', a show featuring Jem's short films, where along with Jim White, Guy Picciotto, DJ Rupture perform live for the screenings.
He has toured the US, Europe and Australia extensively with 'Godspeed You! Black Emperor', Marisa Anderson, Emmett Kelly, Bonnie Prince Billy, PJ Harvey, Bill Callahan, Jonathan Richman and many others. He recently performed 'Rameau and the Greeks' with his children, Nikos, Antonis and Apollonia Xylouris and the Netherlands Blazers Ensemble which was performed at the Athens Concert Hall and the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam. He also presents a live solo program with the sound engineer Markos Pinacoulakis, which stands for his musical experience, independent expression and personal style. His music is the soundtrack of the film
"A Family Affair", in which the director, Angeliki Aristomenopoulou (Anemon, 2015) approaches George's life and his relationship with music. He has composed music for films with Jim White and on his own. He wrote and performed music for Efthymia Zymvragakis' creative documentary Light Falls Vertical (Gris Medio, 2022) which had its world premiere at the IDFA Envision Competition 2022. He collaborated with Jim White for the soundtrack of Rebecca E. Marshal's documentary "The Forest in Me" (LUSH film production, in post production), soon to be released.
Restless by nature, resourceful and spontaneous in the face of new challenges, he is currently recording and preparing his first solo album, which reflects the challenging and innovative choices he has made over the years.[1][2][3][4]
Xylouris has performed extensively both in his native Crete, in his second home Australia, and internationally at world music festivals, collaborating with musicians from both folk and rock traditions, including Australian drummer Jim White in the duo Xylouris White.[4]
Discography
Albums
| Title | Details |
|---|---|
| Xylouris Ensemble |
|
| Daphne |
|
| Antipodes |
|
| Drakos |
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| Antipodes 2 |
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| Live in Melbourne |
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| In a Strange Land / Επί Γης Αλλοτρίας [5] |
|
See also
Awards and nominations
ARIA Music Awards
The
| Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1998 | Antipodes | Best World Music Album | Nominated | [6] |
| 1999 | Drakos | Best World Music Album | Nominated |
References
- ^ Περιοδικό: "Δίφωνο", Τεύχος 130, Ιούλιος 2006 (in Greek) ("Difono" Magazine - Issue 130, July 2006)
- ^ Musical Workshop Labyrinth (in English)
- ^ "Lute master returns, Neos Kosmos 11 March 2010 (in English)
- ^ a b "Xylouris White". Xylouris White. Retrieved 6 April 2018.
- ^ An anthology of Greek-Australian songs and music. It features the musicians of the Xylouris Ensemble on two tracks: "Pink Lakes" and "There Are Moments". The latter is a Giorgos Xylouris composition.
- ^ ARIA Award previous winners. "ARIA Awards – Winners by Award – Best World Music Album". Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA). Retrieved 12 November 2020.
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