“This is a highly assured and engaging debut, offering an enticing and contemporary blend of cinematic, classical and middle-eastern themes. Improvisations are inventive, the arrangements are first rate and the variety on offer ensures the entertainment level is kept high. All in all, a remarkable debut.” (Neil Duggan, All about Jazz)
Piano song, improvisation and modern jazz writing are the means that Maria Grapsa portrays her journey through the interior. As a classically trained, explorative jazz musician, she empowers her sextet to flow free form through original compositions; steam hard in tenor jazz and intricate, emotionally-charged cinematic ballads. Each performance unites a band at the edge of unfolding discoveries and projects shapes that are round and together – as a unit they defy dynamics from pin drop knife edge solo performances from the horns to roars from the rhythm section.
Maria’s Greek roots and folk, middle-East, Latin influences, all meet the jazz tradition in a unique way. A Help-Musicians-supported artist, she is already making an impact through her latest debut single ‘Life’ and is about to release her debut album in Autumn 2023.