Greek Jazz-events dit weekend in Thessaloniki

Greek jazz emerged in the early 20th century as a sophisticated fusion of American swing and bebop with traditional Hellenic folk melodies and Byzantine modes. The instrumentation typically features standard jazz rhythm sections—piano, upright bass, and drums—often integrated with traditional Mediterranean instruments like the bouzouki, oud, or santouri. Rhythmically, the genre is distinguished by the use of asymmetrical time signatures, such as 7/8 or 9/8, which are deeply rooted in Greek folk dances like Kalamatianos. Its mood balances technical improvisation with a distinct Mediterranean lyricism, creating a semantic bridge between Western experimental jazz and the traditional dromoi scales of the Levant and the Balkans.