In the organizer's words:

The dynamic collaboration between the Greek vibraphonist and the German-Romanian double bassist has given rise to an artistic partnership that defies the constraints of rigid genre categorization. Their musical journey of exploration is based on a variety of sources: from the intricate compositions of 20th and 21st century classical music to the spirited rhythms of jazz and evocative stories interwoven in the traditions of folklore. This collaborative sonic exploration transcends the boundaries of predefined labels: the essence of their work lies in the realm of boundless creativity.

The interweaving of their unique backgrounds results in an exquisite tapestry of sound in which the vibrancy of the Balkans merges with the cosmopolitan influence of contemporary European musical landscapes. Like a delicate thread of free improvisation, their performances unfold in an unscripted dance that mirrors the flow of life itself. In this tapestry, the notes flow like rivulets of emotion, merging and separating to capture moments of sorrow, joy and the indefinable spaces in between.

The duo's explorations are characterized by a shared pursuit of personal expression. In a world defined by diverse influences, they create a listening experience that is both timeless and contemporary - a testament to how musical traditions and innovations intermingle at the rhythmic core of the human experience.

Short bio Evi Filippou
Evi Filippou (*1993) started playing the drums at the age of 7. She graduated from the Volos Conservatory with a scholarship from the Athens Concert Hall and moved to Berlin in 2011, where she continued her Bachelor's and then Master's studies at the Hanns Eisler School of Music (BA and MA degrees with distinction). Evi also took jazz vibraphone lessons.

Her professional experience includes playing with orchestras and chamber music ensembles throughout Europe, as well as solo performances and duo collaborations ("ff duet" with Katerina Fotinaki, Filippou [&] Lucaciu with double bassist Robert Lucaciu, BISOUS with Lara Alarcón). Also active in the jazz scene, Filippou has worked with Chris Dahlgren, Arne Braun, Elias Stemeseder, Uli Kempendorff and Angelika Niescier, among others. Evi is also part of the n ï m Dance Company of Austrian choreographer Naïma Mazic.

Evi performs her own music and arrangements with her project inEvitable. The project's first record won the German Jazz Award for "Debut Album of the Year 2023".

As a curator, Filippou has been promoting diversity in jazz and Berlin's improvisation scene since 2019 - with the concert series Balance for Better (WdK 2019), Das ist nicht eine Frauen concert series (ZigZag Jazzclub, 2021) and, together with Jacobien Vlasman, the Bitches Brew Festival (House of Music 2021, Gretchen 2022).

Music theater also makes up a large part of her artistic life. She is involved in numerous music theater productions (including at the Neue Werkstatt of the Staatsoper Berlin, Rimini Protokoll, Hauen und Stechen Musiktheater Kollektiv, DNT Weimar).

Since 2016, Evi has also been a lecturer at elementary school in Berlin, supported by "Vincentino e.V. - Kultur stärkt Kinder in Berlin".

Constantly occupied with the coexistence of composition and improvisation, precision and authentic personal expression, Evi lives and works in Berlin.

Short bio Robert Lucaciu
Robert Lucaciu is a versatile musician who has established himself as an integral part of the German jazz scene in recent years. His collaboration with vibraphonist and percussionist Evi Filippou and his sextet Fallen Crooner are particularly noteworthy. With Filippou, he shares a creative approach to jazz and free improvisation. The duo is characterized by a unique musical chemistry. In the sextet Fallen Crooner, Lucaciu explores themes such as masculinity and humor together with musicians from Cologne and Berlin.

In addition to these projects, Lucaciu is also a sought-after sideman in various European band projects. His musical spectrum ranges from contemporary jazz to classical music and experimental sounds. Lucaciu has received several awards for his work, including the Leipzig Jazz Newcomer Award and the Kathrin Prize. His influence can be heard on over 20 albums, and his concert tours have taken him to over 30 countries around the world.