Mavrothi Kontanis & The Maeandros Ensemble

The Maeandros Ensemble specializes in traditional folk, urban and classical music of Greece and the Near East, weaving together a distinctive sound of Turkish, Armenian, Persian, Arabic, Jewish, Gypsy and Assyrian cultural influences. The result is an effortless blend of rich and varied traditions, a musical travelogue of the region. Founded by oud player, singer and songwriter Mavrothi Kontanis, the group’s repertoire includes songs representing historic significance and contemporary appeal.

“These aren’t musty re-creations,” notes the Chicago Reader, “the arrangements are lively, the performances are vigorous, and Kontanis’s singing glows with soulfulness and sorrow.”

The Village Voice called the Maeandros Ensemble, “emotional yet virtuosic, Kontanis and company unwind their sensuous dance tunes and nostalgic laments with vigor and deliberation, reimagining a world in which Greek, Turkish, and Armenian styles blended together.”