Apart From The Rest by Esthema

Tery Lemanis (oud/bouzouki), a graduate from Berklee College of Music’s guitar performance program has studied Bouzouki, Oud, and Byzantine music in Greece as part of Berklee’s exchange program. Carl Sorensen (drums/doumbek), whose experience is steeped in the drum corps idiom and is currently enrolled in Berklee’s performance program, has lived in parts of Europe, Thailand, and Myanmar. Jack Mason (bass), when not backpacking his way across Ireland has been studying, recording, and performing Jazz, Fusion, Top 40, traditional World, and Rock throughout New England for 25 years. Andy Milas (guitar) has been performing traditional and contemporary Greek music for over a decade throughout New England. He has also written and arranged for Progressive Rock, Greek, New Age, and Jazz musical projects that he has been a part of for the past two decades. As people, the individuals in Esthema come from very different places with very different experiences. As musicians, they bring those places and experiences together into one musical setting.

Esthema’s collaboration can be experienced on their first CD, Apart from the Rest, recorded at Squam Sound Studio in Ashland, New Hampshire. The six compositions that make up the CD were written by Andy Milas and arranged by the entire ensemble. Throughout the compositions you will hear the elements of Eastern and Western music: Western Jazz improvisation and Eastern Taxims, Latin Samba and Greek Sirto rhythms, Western modes such as Aeolian and Phrygian and Eastern Scales like Hijaz and Niavent. All boundaries were erased in the creation of this music to allow the worlds to collide and become one. The music is a true synergy of Eastern and Western musical elements.

Since early Spring, Esthema has been playing throughout the Boston area at clubs like the All Asia, Kirkland Café and the Lily Pad working on their live sound and performance. With the recording completed Esthema plans on working as much as they can playing throughout the New England area. With Carl, a versatile drummer/percussionist they will be performing with a drum kit for larger venues and percussion for smaller, more intimate spaces. Given the music’s and the ensemble’s versatility, Esthema believes their sound can be taken cross-genre: Jazz, New Age, World, Acoustic, and even Progressive Rock. No listener will be out of reach.

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