Exits By Strat Andriotis

 

Exits

By

Strat Andriotis

Written by

Steve Sheppard

 

I knew this time wouldn’t be far away one day, the day a Cypriot resident would write a review for a Greek born jazz performer, and one of the finest in his trade, a man who has links to many luminaries, bands and artists, and here today we celebrate the release of his stunning new album entitled Exits.

Jazz in Cyprus is huge; our country is far from a little back water only playing localised traditional folk music, and its love of all things jazz is growing year on year, here on Exits I get to explore the music narrative portrayed by Strat Andriotis and his trusty musical weapon of choice his Fender Stratocaster, an instrument that he plays with such soul and craft on the opening piece Dominions.

This masterful composition is followed by Far Away Tears a composition of great colours, textures and rhythms. This would be one of my personal favourite pieces from the release; the onward smooth forward walking bass was sublimely elevated by some of the most artistic jazz guitar from the artist.

Exits is a classy 8 track album of high quality and Andriotis has that delicious and stylish technique that could make a grown man cry with pleasure, pieces like Between You And I would be a good example to point to, another one of my personal favourites, it is quite easy to see from this stand point, that those days spent by Andriotis were not wasted, listening to bands like Cream and Hendrix.

There are a multitude of elements and constructive patterns within this release that are so fascinating, the progressive pattern and nature of Timer for example, a track that wends its way down rain swept alleys and towards cosy coffee shops, with the crisp and fluent style of Andriotis leading the way.

While one must save a mention for a transitionary title track in Exits, the steady bass filled configuration, is driven by the polished and sophisticated performance on guitar by the artist and composer; this one offering took me to an elegant oasis of jazz bliss mixed with a subtle rhythmic blues motif.

Exits by Strat Andriotis is one of those imaginative and eloquent releases that come around rarely, and when they do they must be snapped up in haste, as this release is a class above all others before it. Here is an album that flaunts with a passion it’s self-assured and self-confident tones and vibrations, and is simply a new jazz album that should not be ignored at all costs, and called Exits by Strat Andriotis.