BEPOP PROJECT - 10 year celebration of Technopolis 20
Technopolis 20 Garden, Paphos
3 July - 8pm
Entrance: €15
Reservations are necessary at 70002420.
Bebop Project will open the programme for the 10-year celebration of Technopolis 20 on Wednesday, July 3, 2024, at 8 PM. Bebop Project consists of Aris Constantinou (electric guitar), Charis Ioannou (tenor saxophone), Kyriakos Kestas (double bass), Marios Spyrou (drums), and Marios Staikidis (alto saxophone).
The end of Prohibition and the decline of the Big Band Era marked a pivotal moment in American music history. Bebop emerged as a cultural phenomenon that challenged the status quo and provided a voice for minorities in a segregated society. It was a language of rebellion and resilience, showcasing the intellectual and artistic virtues of its creators. Its impact reverberated far beyond the jazz clubs of Harlem and 52nd Street, influencing generations of musicians and reshaping the cultural landscape of America.
Steeped in the traditions of bebop, the quintet’s repertoire draws inspiration from the groundbreaking recordings of Tadd Dameron, Freddie Redd, Fats Navarro, Coleman Hawkins, Dizzy Gillespie, and more. Guided by their innovative spirit, their arrangements honor the authenticity and vitality of these seminal works while adding their own distinctive voice, with an emphasis on the playful synergy of the tenor and alto saxophones.
Technopolis 20 celebrates 10 years of creativity, a decade of events, and a vibrant presence in the artistic scene of Paphos and beyond!
With the arrival of summer, our concerts will come alive in the enchanting setting of our garden. As part of our 10-year celebration, we've curated a diverse programme that showcases talented musicians across various genres, instruments, and styles. Enjoy jazz, ethnic or fusion music, a rock band, or a traditional ensemble under the starry sky until October.
This year marks a decade of our deep love and passion for the arts and culture, and we're thrilled to invite you to celebrate with us!
A few words about the musicians
Aris Constantinou (electric guitar) was born in Limassol on August 12, 1998, and has roots in both Cyprus and Serbia. He earned his bachelor’s degree in music from the University of Nicosia in 2021. Before delving into jazz, Aris received training in classical guitar. He began performing live jazz with various bands in 2019 and has participated in festivals such as the 9th Cyprus Jazz and World Music Festival at the Rialto Theatre in 2022. Recently, he collaborated with saxophonist Alex Clarke, a BBC Young Jazz Finalist, for performances in Paphos and Nicosia.
Aris Constantinou (electric guitar) was born in Limassol on August 12, 1998, and has roots in both Cyprus and Serbia. He earned his bachelor’s degree in music from the University of Nicosia in 2021. Before delving into jazz, Aris received training in classical guitar. He began performing live jazz with various bands in 2019 and has participated in festivals such as the 9th Cyprus Jazz and World Music Festival at the Rialto Theatre in 2022. Recently, he collaborated with saxophonist Alex Clarke, a BBC Young Jazz Finalist, for performances in Paphos and Nicosia.
Charis Ioannou was born in Nicosia, Cyprus, in 1976. In 1997, he enrolled at Berklee College of Music in Boston, where he studied saxophone performance and jazz composition. Charis won the Woodwind Achievement Award during his final year at Berklee. After graduating in 2001, he moved to New York, where he earned his master’s degree in performance from New York University. During his time in New York, Charis performed extensively and taught across the state.
In 2005, Charis returned to Cyprus, where he collaborated with various musicians and performed at major clubs and festivals throughout Cyprus and internationally. His performances have taken him to countries such as Greece, Kuwait, Kazakhstan, Poland, Serbia, Spain, England, Italy, Luxembourg, Belgium, the Netherlands, Lebanon, Germany, Senegal, and the USA. Charis also participated in the Bi-Communal Jazz programme called Jazz Futures organized by the American Embassy in Cyprus, performing with the group of Ari Roland and Chris Byars for six years from 2007 to 2013.
In 2015, Charis formed BopCy, a quartet featuring Cypriot musicians, which won 2nd place in the first Greek jazz competition held in Athens that same year. He also performed in Syros as part of International Jazz Day 2015. Charis has conducted numerous workshops in Cyprus, Lebanon, Greece, and Italy. Currently, he teaches saxophone and jazz at the University of Nicosia while continuing to perform and record both as a leader and a sideman in Cyprus and abroad.
Kyriakos Kestas is a Cypriot upright bass player from Limassol who began his music career at the age of 15. Since then, he has been an active member of the Cypriot and Dutch jazz scenes, performing at festivals such as the Paradise Jazz Festival, the Rialto Jazz & World Music Showcase, the Leiden Jazz & Blues Festival, and others. He completed his studies in 2022 at the Royal Conservatory of The Hague.
Marios Spyrou (drums) is based in Nicosia. He completed his Master’s Degree at the Koninklijk Conservatorium Den Haag. He has participated in several workshops and private lessons with many influential jazz musicians, such as Eric Ineke, Joseph Farnsworth, George Fludas, Leroy Williams, Adam Nussbaum, Barry Harris, and Harold Mabern. Currently, he teaches private drum lessons at The English School in Nicosia and at the Music High School.
Over the last few years, he has played extensively with top Cypriot and European jazz musicians all over the island and at essential venues across Europe, including the UK, Greece, Italy, the Netherlands, Belgium, and Spain. He has performed at the 1st Apollo Jazz Festival in Greece, the Rialto World Music and Jazz Festival, the Jazz in de Gracht festival in the Netherlands, the Aglanjazz Festival, the Paradise Jazz Festival, and the Jazz a Prop festival in Spain.
Over the last few years, he has played extensively with top Cypriot and European jazz musicians all over the island and at essential venues across Europe, including the UK, Greece, Italy, the Netherlands, Belgium, and Spain. He has performed at the 1st Apollo Jazz Festival in Greece, the Rialto World Music and Jazz Festival, the Jazz in de Gracht festival in the Netherlands, the Aglanjazz Festival, the Paradise Jazz Festival, and the Jazz a Prop festival in Spain.
Marios Staikidis is an alto saxophone player born in Drama, a city in northern Greece. After studying Ancient Greek and Latin literature, he began his music studies at the North Conservatory in Thessaloniki under the guidance of Ioannis Oikonomidis and Charis Kapetanakis. Later, he pursued a bachelor's degree in Jazz Saxophone at the Prince Claus Conservatory of Groningen, where he took personal classes with Jesse Davis, Michael Mossman, Mark Gross, Steve Nelson, and Miguel Martinez. This year, Marios moved to Nicosia to study with the renowned saxophonist Charis Ioannou.
