Pericles Kanaris - Up For Air

Greek, New York based composer and performer Pericles Kanaris returns to live performances for the first time after the pandemic with a powerful message.

Up for Air signifies the vital need to reconnect with community through music, after a long period of isolation.

As a composer and songwriter, Pericles Kanaris belongs to the Greek tradition of setting poetry to music which has its origins in the generation of mid-twentieth century Greece and the likes of composers Manos Hatzidakis and Mikis Theodorakis. His latest songs are composed on lyrics by a wide variety of poets, from Constantine P. Kavafy, and T.S Eliot, to Manos Eleftheriou and the younger generation of Greek poets, as well as lyrics written by the composer himself in Greek, English and French. The repertoire also includes songs from other Greek and international artists who have inspired the composer over the years and are presented in his own, signature orchestration.

Pericles Kanaris is joined by his band which features some of New York’s finest musicians including Gary Schreiner (accordion, harmonica, keys), Richard Hammond (bass), Peter Douskalis (guitars, laouto, bouzouki) and Giancarlo DeTrizio (drums/percussion).

The International New York Times has recognized in his music “a Greek identity with global sounds” while the National Herald has hailed the unique sound of Pericles Kanaris and his band, emphasizing “the ease with which they moved across different musical genres with the same mastery”.

Pericles Kanaris is dedicating this concert to the outgoing, Honorable Consul General of Greece in New York. Dr. Konstantinos Koutras and his tenure.

The concert is presented under the aegis of the Consulate General of Greece in New York.