A corner of paradise
Cyprus’ biggest ever jazz fest will be held in Polis this coming weekend. What better way to unwind as the summer draws to a close?
What’s your idea of paradise? Perhaps a tropical white sandy beach comes to mind, cocktail in one hand, engrossing novel in the other. For Socratis Efstathiou, paradise is all about good quality music under the stars. As the founder of the annual Paradise Jazz Festival, he has managed to bring his own ideas to life when it comes to utter bliss.
The festival now celebrates its 8th anniversary and all fans of the event will be interested to know that this year it is moving from its usual location in Pomos to the centre of Polis Chrysohous at Ayios Andronikos park. When Socratis organised the first festival, he envisioned it would become an important international jazz event, bringing in great performers to give crowds from all corners of the island a real treat. His wishes came true as word spread that the festival was unlike anything locals had experienced before, becoming one of the island’s premiere music events.
The aim is for next weekend’s festival to become the biggest jazz event that has ever taken place so far in Cyprus, attracting both local and foreign visitors. But why the move? Socratis explains that for the festival to grow in size, attract more people and receive better funding, moving to the centre of Polis seemed like the best thing to do. “The festival is becoming more successful each year and the music-loving public deserve the best experience possible. With the help of Polis municipality, we’ve been able to raise the standard this year and have put even more effort into the whole occasion.”
Go down to the park and the new setting won’t disappoint. With a view all the way down to Polis campsite, the sunset is magical and the park itself is characterised by tall palm trees and the charismatic Ayios Andronikos church. Expect a brilliantly decorated stage and trees accentuated with fairy lights as the nights fill with tunes.
On Saturday, the event will commence with performances by the Oriole Brazil band and Julia Biel. The music of Oriole Brazil is a sensory banquet of soaring melodies, colourful South American folklore, lively dances and emotional ballads. It’s music that creates a rich, emotionally disquieting world that is at once familiar and dreamlike, bringing to life a world of freedom, of movement, of dusty roads and travelling musicians in shaded market squares.
While Oriole have been described by Jazzwise as “a musical mosaic that feels as spiritually uplifting as a Paulo Coelho novel”, Julia was nominated in the BBC Jazz Awards of 2006 and secured a place in The Independent’s ‘top 5 best live performances of 2006’. Her exceptional voice, that has often been described as ‘Billie Holiday meets Bjork’, weaves a magical spell out of folk, jazz and soul.
As the festival moves into full swing on Sunday night, be sure not to miss the mesmerising sound of Danish musician Thomas Clausen, regarded by many as one of Europe’s top pianists. He has performed and recorded with Miles Davis, Dexter Gordon, Dizzy Gillespie and Stan Gets, among others. At the festival, he will appear on stage as part of a quartet with Fernando De Marco on bass, Ingrid Laubrock on tenor sax and Sebastian Rochford on drums. While Ingrid was nominated for the rising star category of the BBC jazz awards in 2005, Sebastian is a deeply creative drummer and composer who won the Mercury Prize of 2007. If you missed Oriole and Julia Biel play on the first night of the festival, then you can catch them after the performance by Thomas and his band on Saturday.
If you feel that two nights of music is not enough and you fancy listening to some home grown talent, then keep in mind that there will be an opening night ‘pre-party’ at Paradise Place in Pomos on Friday. The programme will start as the sun sets with music by Steps, a power trio with Ioannis Vafeas, Michael Messios and Charis Ioannou. They will be followed by the Brazilian and Latin Fusion band, Morfitis Trio.
If you want to make a weekend of the whole occasion and are interested in looking for accommodation close by, the organisers have set up a special Polis Chrysohous guide on the Paradise Place website, where you will find the contact details of hotel apartments in the area. Kick off your shoes and let your imagination run riot as a little bit of paradise is handed over to you this week.
Paradise Jazz Festival
With performances by Oriole Brazil, Julia Biel and Thomas Clausen among others. September 8 and 9. Agios Andronikos Park, centre of Polis Chrysohous, Paphos district. £15 per day and £25 for both days. Tel: 26-342537/ 99-516932. www.paradiseplaceproductions.com
