In the Greek urban folk music which spans from the late 19th century to the first decades of the 20th and is usually labeled "rebetiko", there exists a long tradition regarding instrumental pieces. For the musicians of that era performing compositions solely with musical instruments, without the use of any voice, was not only expected but also intriguing.
Instrumental pieces highlight in the best possible way the often forgotten dancing nature of this music and transport us in spirit to those circumstances in which music and dance co-exist and interact with each other. At the same time, they showcase the composers' roots which sometimes trace back to the Greek traditional music, sometimes to the music of the Balkans or of the wider Mediterranean area, and sometimes to the music of the Anatolia.
Rebetiko group Neta Sketa selects ten favorite instrumentals from the '20s, '30s, and '40s and handles them in a way that aims to reveal interesting aspects of the source recordings while simultaneously adapting them to its own personal style. By showing respect towards the original compositions and at the same time by applying subtle yet distinctive touches, the group wishes to express not only its admiration towards this great music but also its conviction that the style of that era as a whole constitutes a school of playing which anyone can adopt and that is valid over time.
The instrumental ensemble Dt/IG straddles the line between folk and classical, stirring acoustics augmented by sumptuous arrangements. Bandcamp New & Notable Oct 29, 2023
Gorgeous fingerstyle guitar playing from this Portland, Oregon musician that captures the spirit of American Primitive in dazzling detail. Bandcamp New & Notable Aug 30, 2021