Women of Rembetika: 1908-1947

If you haven't heard Marika Papagika singing and her husband playing the Cembalo you are in for a treat. Ottoman scales and rhythms make this music fascinating and add to the exotic feel. Embellishments in the vocals are reminiscent of Southern Asian singing and bring an emotional depth to the songs. A big set of four CD's tracing the women voices of Rembetica from the Ionian coast of Turkey through Istanbul to New York City as conflict and opportunity scattered the music across the Bosphorus to Greece and on the America. Lyrics are provided in English to provide context to each song. A fascinating genre of folk music and song that flourished in the bars, hookah dens and streets of Smyrna and Aegean peninsula.

The only weakness of this and the other releases in the JSP Rembetika series is the lack of more comprehensive information and lyrics.

Another excellent release in JSP's Rembetika series. Many of the great names are here (Roza Eskenazi and Rita Abadzi are very well reprsented) but for me hearing so many unknown or at least unheralded singers who cut just a few sides makes the whole thing especially interesting. Don't expect high fidelity though. These are historic recordings (the oldest dates from 1908) and some are still very crackly in spite of the excellent restoration work that has been done to render them istenable. If you like the Greek blues, this is an essential purchase

Rita Abatzi sings the Blues! There are many other great singers on this great collection (with fine liner notes for us who don't understand Greek) but she stands out: soulfully sad and seductive.

Pensate, scrivo una recensione prima ancora di avere ascoltato il disco! Ho solo ascoltato le anteprime. Ma so, so bene cosa ci sia. Il Rebetico è una musica straordinaria. Abbiate il coraggio di provare ad ascoltarla.Abbiate il coraggio di provare ad ascoltarla, ripeto.

Mir hat gefallen , dass alle Interpreten,die ich mir vorstellte , auf diesen CD `s tatsächlich zu hören sind !!!