The Chris Byars Quartet Returns to Cyprus for an Encore
June 2008
The Chris Byars Jazz Quartet has returned to Cyprus this June to carry out an intensive, two-week bi-communal jazz program that includes a series of island-wide public concerts as well as a training program for twenty-five Greek and Turkish Cypriot music students. The quartet is being joined in this endeavor by the Cypriot jazz group The Petsteppers as well as local guitar virtuoso Okan Ersan. The program is being sponsored by the U.S. Embassy's Bicommunal Support Program.
Concerts are being held at the Buyukhan in Nicosia, Jazzy B in Limassol, as well as Lotofagoi and Chateau Status in Nicosia. A special bicommunal concert featuring the two quartets as well as Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot students of jazz will be held on Sunday June 8 at Faniromeni Square in Old Nicosia in honor of the recent opening of Ledra Street. The Honorable Eleni Mavrou, Mayor of Nicosia, will open the event, which is being sponsored by the Nicosia Municipality.
Bicommunal Ensemble Hits High Note in Honor of Ledra Street
June 8, 2008
On June 8, 2008 The Chris Byars Quartet organized a concert for more than 300 at Faniromeni Square in old Nicosia in honor of the opening of Ledra Street. Thirty Greek and Turkish Cypriot musicians and students of jazz performed music for the crowd using techniques they had recently learned in the week-long workshops. Well known Turkish Cypriot classial violinists joined young Greek Cypriot rock musicians in performing jazz for the first time. Sponsored by the U.S. Embassy and the Nicosia Municipality, the event was opened by Tom Miller, Counselor for Public Affairs and Eleni Mavrou, Mayor of Nicosia. A young Turkish Cypriot pianist sang jazz for the first time and the concert unveiled a Greek Cypriot vocalist who is destined for music fame. The musicians performed as if they had been playing together for years. The concert featured jazz standards and new arrangements composed by Chris Byars.
The Chris Byars Jazz Quartet has returned to Cyprus this June to carry out an intensive, two-week bi-communal jazz program that includes a series of island-wide public concerts as well as a training program for twenty-five Greek and Turkish Cypriot music students. The quartet is being joined in this endeavor by the Cypriot jazz group The Petsteppers as well as local guitar virtuoso Okan Ersan. The program is being sponsored by the U.S. Embassy's Bicommunal Support Program.
On June 8, 2008 The Chris Byars Quartet organized a concert for more than 300 at Faniromeni Square in old Nicosia in honor of the opening of Ledra Street. Thirty Greek and Turkish Cypriot musicians and students of jazz performed music for the crowd using techniques they had recently learned in the week-long workshops. Well known Turkish Cypriot classial violinists joined young Greek Cypriot rock musicians in performing jazz for the first time. Sponsored by the U.S. Embassy and the Nicosia Municipality, the event was opened by Tom Miller, Counselor for Public Affairs and Eleni Mavrou, Mayor of Nicosia. A young Turkish Cypriot pianist sang jazz for the first time and the concert unveiled a Greek Cypriot vocalist who is destined for music fame. The musicians performed as if they had been playing together for years. The concert featured jazz standards and new arrangements composed by Chris Byars.
