Back at the end of 2023, Giotis Damianidis and Aleksandar Škorić, while finishing their tour with Entasis, began talking and dreaming about a tour of the Balkans—starting from Thessaloniki
(Damianidis’s hometown) and heading north to Novi Sad (Škorić’s hometown).
Next came deciding the lineup. John Dikeman on saxophone and Petros Damianidis on double bass were the obvious choices, as Škorić, Dikeman, and the Damianidis brothers have worked together for many years.
On March 16th, 2024, the tour was ready to begin: 11 concerts in 8 different cities, from Thessaloniki to Subotica and back—across Greece, Serbia, North Macedonia, and Bulgaria. This CD captures the raw, live energy of the quartet during their 2024 Balkan tour, including their very first show in Thessaloniki and one of the final performances in Kragujevac. It's a vivid documentation of the music played by four improvisers—a perfect time capsule showcasing the evolution and magic of improvised music. Play loud and enjoy!
Recorded on a Zoom H6 during live sets at Giapi (Thessaloniki) and in Kragujevac (Serbia), and mastered by Lasse Marhaug.
Artwork by Jeroen Wille.
The cover is an ode to all our favorite live records of the '70s and '80s!
Noise Below, 2025