Características
With “Petrichor,” Greek trumpeter and composer Andreas Polyzogopoulos, who is still relatively unknown in this country, presents his fifth album as bandleader – a thoughtful, airy, and deeply soulful trio work consisting entirely of his own compositions. At his side are the bassist of the moment, Petros Klampanis, and the gifted pianist Wajdi Riahi. Without a drummer, the trio succeeds in creating an intimate sound with sparse textures, which the famous trumpeter and Blue Note artist Erik Truffaz describes in his liner notes to the album (in the form of a personal letter to the bandleader) as follows: "Your music honors silence and creates dreams. Your way of playing the trumpet is so sensitive that it praises this sometimes ungrateful instrument. You have a round, velvety sound, even when you play muted... Your accompanists... are also excellent. They groove, have perfect timing, and equally participate in this dream that the three of you create together."
“Petrichor,” as Polyzogopoulos explains, "is the earthy scent that arises when rain falls on dry ground, my favorite scent since childhood. I grew up in Greece, where summers are dry, and the first rain in autumn marked the end of summer and the beginning of the new season. It was a bittersweet feeling because I had to accept that the holidays were over, but it was also a new beginning, full of dreams and goals I wanted to achieve over the coming year." The subtlety of these emotions and the natural, organic scent of that first rain are brilliantly evoked by the trio in their haunting, expressive, atmospheric lyrics.
Polyzogopoulos grew up in Samiko, a small village in southwestern Greece. In 2008, he released “Perfumed Dreams,” his debut as a bandleader. His other albums include a tribute to his favorite band Pink Floyd (“Heart Of The Sun”), followed by ‘Annica’ and the ambient album “One Inch Of Love.” After a stay at the Cité International des Arts in Paris, he moved to Brussels and began collaborating with Diederik Wissels. He has also worked with Savina Yannatou, Tania Giannouli, Jacques Morelenbaum, Michel Portal, Gunter “Baby” Sommer, Markus Stockhausen, Tony Lakatos, and other important musicians.
More than 15 years ago, “jazz from Greece” was still flying under the radar of experts. That is no longer the case: the Greek jazz scene is growing, thriving and truly blossoming. Just think of the great releases by Petros Klampanis or Melina Plaxinos. The Hellenic Jazz Society record label began operations in June 2024 with the aim of producing high-fidelity albums from the local jazz scene. The steady rise of the Greek jazz scene has prompted HJS to promote talented Greek musicians at home and abroad. All Hellenic Jazz Society albums are recorded and pressed to high quality standards. Originally released on Trumpetfish Records, Petrichor is now being reissued by the Hellenic Jazz Society as a double LP for the first time. The album, which was enthusiastically acclaimed by the international trade press, has been pressed on high-quality 180-gram vinyl (33 rpm) and is also absolutely convincing in terms of sound.
MUSICIANS
Andreas Polyzogopoulos: trumpet, fluegelhorn, electronics
Petros Klampanis: bass
Wajdi Riahi: piano
LP 1
Side A:
1. Petrichor
2. The Coldest Summer
3. Kountouri
Side B :
4. CPH Melodrama
5. Barbas
6. Kaiafas
LP 2
Side C:
7. First Time In Times Square
8. Ariadne's Scent
9. Petit Salon
Side D:
10. Miru
11. Sah
12. Se Lismono