GEORGE CARDAMIS: The Benny Goodman Of Greece

A pioneer of jazz in Greece George Cardamis became famous in the late 40s & thru the 50s as a clarinet & sax alto soloist. Born in Corfu -the island of the musicians- he was involved in music from a very early age violin being his first instrument.
He arrived in Athens in his 20s & soon after the war he formed his own band & worked at the best nite clubs of Athens attracting the Athenian elite who would go to the clubs" to listen to Cardamis " the same way nowadays they go to clubs listen to famous singers.
Indeed it seems incredible that a musician who had never travelled abroad had developped such a refine sound & attitude just from the sounds of the vinyl he was exposed to!!!!!!
Besides his fame as a superb exponent of jazz clarinet & sax he also composed several pop hits of his era in swing bolero rumba mambo tango fashion.Among his hits are the swing songs "S'EHASA MA EGO THEN SE KSEHASA (1948)" "IRTHES" 'POS THELO NA SE KANWO DIKI MOU (1951) " OLI MAS ZILEVOUN (1945) " etc as well as his great bolero hit " GIATI NA SE LATREYW TOSO (1950) "
George continued performing with his own band till the late 60's a period where bouzouki music had started getting the attention of middle & high class society in Greece becoming the in thing.Result of this was that musicians who played horns & clarinet gradually found themselves without jobs for lack of demand.Most of them had to give up their main instrument & replace it with guitar or bassguitar or piano or keyboard.
George followed the same trend & in the 70s made the transition from a bandleader & clarinet & sax to playing solo piano at well known Hotels (hilton divani etc).
After the transition he did not seek publicity but most importantly he did not merge into the new style of music that was spreading ...simply put it was too PLAIN for him....As he used to say " They Are Taking Us Back To Cantathes(cantabile songs before the war)..
His love for music (with first & foremost jazz) was immense-a born musician who remained faithful to the music he loved & of which he was a great exponent !!
It is though because of his not seeking publicity & not merging with the new trends in music that George Cardamis has not YET been recognised in Greece for who he was & what he offered ( In my eyes the greatest pioneer of the Jazz of the swing era in Greece).
That is why i am thrilled to be given the opportunity thru YouTube to rectify that & do justice To George Cardamis' invaluable offer.LET THE WORLD KNOW NOW......
The swing bigband piece you are listening to is for the time being the only sample I have of George's playing.
It is from his weekly radio program in the early 50s " THE GEORGE CARDAMIS SEXTET ".
Later on George -after listening to the great American clarinetist Tony Scott- he improved his sound even more by adding that irreplacable breathy sound to a sound that was already gorgeous.
Oh...by the way....George Cardamis is my father....lol..
Dad i'm proud of you & your artistry...JOB WELL DONE ....YOU SERVED MUSIC RIGHT...& NOW JUSTICE IS BEING DONE.......THANK YOU!!

Category:

Music

Tags:

• jazz
• goodman
• clarinet
• greek
• greece
• pioneer
• cardamis
• swing
• sextette
• mouskouri
• voyagis
• vembo
• kouroukli
• trio
• wolmer
• kokotas

[spiramus]

Thank you guys!! Your comments are really appreciated!

George Cardamis is alive & well in Athens,Greece. The Greek State has not YET acknowledged his great achievement & contribution to the music scene of his country during the height of his big career (1940-1960).

I am thrilled & grateful to YouTube for giving me the opportunity to DO JUSTICE to this great artist,a true pioneer of the Jazz Swing Era in Greece.

Great Job Dad!!!! Thank You!

[spiramus]

@chaoscontrol99

I agree with napashotgunner...Definitely Artie Shaw...My father had studied his sweet tone ( nothing classical about it ) and his incredible glissandi...and although George Cardamis was called The Benny Goodman Of Greece I think he sounded much closer to Artie.

[nkorf]

Is your father from Corfu ? Has he written a song called nostalgia ? check the last video on my Chanel.

[napashotgunner]

Was it Artie Shaw?

[chaoscontrol99]

Ahhh, Maybe you can help me then. I'm trying to brush up on good clarinet solos from the bid band era. There was one clarinetist who really stuck out and inspired quite a few of my solos, but I can't remember his name, at all, only that it starts with an 'A', American, too I think..

Perhaps you can help?

[terrestial63]

Ναί! Είναι πολύ καλός!!! ...καί όλοι τους!!

[tenorbanjo4]

Afta ta praghmata einai poli kala . Efcharisto me tin kardia mou.

[napashotgunner]

As an American jazz clarinetist, I would like to add my appreciation of George Cardamis's work. What spectacular music! His work continues to inspire my efforts, and I am grateful for his unique style in the history of jazz.

[XRISTINAT]

Spoke with Doukissa today and mentioned George Cardamis, her reply was yes she remembered George Cardamis the "Maestro" of Athens. Still remembered by his colleages!!

Says alot for "The Maestro" imagine how good he was to be so remembered!