Album Notes

Voted One of Indie-Music.com's Top 25 Independent Albums of 2008 Esthema: Apart from the Rest This disc features a sharp blend of Middle Eastern and Eastern European melodies with American jazz, played on oud, bouzouki, violin, bass, drums and more. Some cuts make me want to order a few beers and dance; others, sit still and nod my head, a martini in front of me. I love that there's a very in-the-moment feel with some songs, like a good jazz jam. I'll bet Coltrane and Parker would have loved this release. (http://www.indie-music.com/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=7948) ABOUT Esthema’s music is a fusion of sounds from different cultures and genres. Elements taken from the musical traditions of the Eastern European/Balkan and Near/Middle Eastern regions are intertwined with Progressive Rock and Jazz to create the sounds of a World Fusion Ensemble. The five musicians that shape the sound of Esthema bring together both Western and Eastern instruments to form a unique blend. Bouzouki, Oud, Doumbek, and Violin color the compositions with their beautifully Eastern tone while Guitar, Bass, and Drums elicit the many Western influences that shape the sound of Esthema. The members of Esthema bring together lifetimes of education and experience. Onur Dilisen (violin) was born, raised, and began his studies in Turkey and is currently in the Master’s violin performance program at the Boston Conservatory. 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. Bruno Esrubilsky (drums/percussion), from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil has studied, taught, and toured throughout Europe (Ireland, England, Portugal, Belgium, and Spain), Brazil, and the States and is currently enrolled in Berklee’s Performance and Music Business and Management programs. Ignacio Long (bass), born in Patagonia, Argentina, has studied in Buenos Aires, New York, and Boston, where he concentrated in Composition and Film Score at Berklee College of Music. Ignacio graduated in 2007. 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. 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. The six compositions that make up the CD were written by Andy Milas and arranged by the entire ensemble. Throughout, you will hear the elements of Eastern and Western music: Western Jazz improvisation and Eastern Taxims, Latin Samba and Eastern Kasilama, Western modes such as Aeolian and Phrygian and Eastern Scales/Maqams like Hijaz, Sabah, and Nihavent. 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. “This recording is nothing less than a true celebration of a number of different styles of world beat, jazz, rock, ethnic European and Middle Eastern traditional music.” - Joel Simches, The Noise “a seamless blend of Eastern and Western motifs: Ethnic scales and meters intertwine delightfully with jazz-rock drums and bass beneath jazzy improv and winding melodies.” - John Collinge, Progression “Esthema has added something else to the normally staid jazz-rock sound – a heavy Eastern European influence – that makes the six instrumentals on Apart From The Rest a unique listening experience.” - Todd Sikorski, Skope Magazine Since early spring 2007, Esthema has been performing throughout the Boston area. In September of the same year they had their first performance in New York City and