ORIGINAL MUSIC
DEBUT ALBUM: LIFE
5/5
LIFE
reviews & press
united kingdom
A highly assured and engaging debut, offering an enticing and contemporary blend of cinematic, classical & middle-eastern themes. Inventive improvisations, first rate arrangements & variety on offer keep the entertainment level high.
All in all, a remarkable debut.
All in all, a remarkable debut.
A highly impressive debut from a composer and band leader who is clearly going places.
As you step back from ‘Life’ you recognise that this is an album that has drawn its own subtle arc, that’s taken you back and moved you forward, remembering the familiar and finding new ground. The Maria Grapsa Sextet have written excellent first chapter in a story that looks set to run and run.
Athens born Grapsa beautifully fuses her classical background, her love of modern jazz plus her Greek roots, middle eastern and latin influences.
The sextet’s sound is highly dynamic, moving from pin drop/knife’s edge individual spotlights & emotionally charged balladic melodies, to the untamed energy of burning saxophone solos over a roaring rhythm section.
Brimming with Grapsa's distinctive compositional voice and powerful musical performances from the players, Life marks a stunning debut from a composer clearly destined for big things.
Twisted Soul Music
europe
The music of Life has a boldness that is not easy to find in a first work.
“Life” is a listening option you cannot afford to miss. Grapsa’s music is a celebration of life itself, and this celebration resonates powerfully in every note of this extraordinary album.
After a debut album as varied, poetic, and moving as this one, Maria Grapsa is well on her way to making a significant mark on the current English music scene, which she enhances with her many talents.
"Life" is an album that touches you with its poetic form, its sense of beauty—beautiful in the sublime voices, composition of the tracks & quality of the instrumentalists’ play. Throughout ‘Life,’ poetry sets in, taking different forms, like scenes on a cinema screen—slices of life unfold, atmospheres from here or elsewhere.
You will find this album in our ‘Essentials.
You will find this album in our ‘Essentials.
Beautiful work where the defined compositions allow the free expression of each person and a coherent collective.
In ‘Life,’ a new collection of touching and intricate pieces can be found, promising an enriching musical odyssey for jazz enthusiasts.
Maria Grapsa “creates” expectations for more to come. "Life" is a thoroughly well-crafted and extremely decent work from a very young girl who is very focused on what she does.
The six-member band is dynamic yet sensitive, balancing between torrential improvisational solos and melodic ballads.
The greatest value of this album lies in Maria's judicious use of musical means to convey emotions. Captivating compositions that blend diverse musical currents into a coherent, eclectic whole! Fans of this approach will not be disappointed – they will find powerful energy, intriguing textures, and above all, moments of mesmerising musical interplay.
usa
“Life” is an impressively assured debut album from the Maria Grapsa Sextet. It is a testament to Grapsa’s unique compositional style and her ability to bring together a diverse group of musicians to create a cohesive and engaging musical experience.
Life is a very impressive debut from the Maria Grapsa Sextet that will leave you energized and looking for more!
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