GEORGE SKAROULIS

Athena (The Best of George Skaroulis)

Evzone Music (2004)

review by Bill Binkelman

With nine recordings in his discography, it's probably time for pianist/electronic keyboardist George Skaroulis decided to release a career retrospective. With the bonus of four previously unreleased tracks, Athena offers ample evidence why this artist, who proudly proclaims his Greek heritage frequently in his music, has become one of the premier new age music artists recording today. It's not just the music itself, which wholeheartedly embraces the best elements of melodic new age style piano music (without trying to bring in jazzy or pop elements), but also his elegant sophistication coupled with an obvious sincerity and deep-seated passion. Throw in the fact that few, if any, piano players are as adept at blending in high quality synthesizers with acoustic piano and you start to understand why I hold this artist in such high regard. I described his last CD this way: "...I think Second Nature is just about as perfect a new age piano/keyboard album as anyone could record." If anything, this new collection reinforces my belief in the veracity of that statement.

Skaroulis starts things off with a bang on the first track, which is a new version of his song "Athena" (here referred to as the "Olympia version"). It superbly displays some of Skaroulis' prominent strengths: his use of Greek melodic motifs and rhythms, his integration of electronic keyboards with piano, and his ability to compose vibrant music that never sounds over the top, but instead always comes across as passionate and sincere. "Athena" leaps off of the CD, grabs you, and shakes you, much like some of the songs from fellow Greek Chris Spheeris' Culture does.

Unlike this powerful opening number, most of the album is low-key, pensive, thoughtful and elegantly beautiful, all of which are hallmark characteristics of this under-appreciated musician. One thing Skaroulis specializes in is composing short songs that, despite their brief duration, still hit with true emotional resonance. Here is an artist who can "say" more in three to four minutes than other artists can do in a whole album. Even with that, though, I have learned that Skaroulis never puts any "filler" materail on a recording. It's all good stuff.

Many of the songs on Athena are piano with electronic keyboard numbers, which as I stated earlier, is Skaroulis' forté. Also I stated before, another part of his motif is his steadfast adherence to "classic" new age music structure and style without feeling the need to crossover into pop, adult contemporary, or smooth jazz territory. In lay-person's terms, this means his music is very pretty and filled with a gentility and casual friendliness that is often lacking in those other genres.

Picking my personal favorites from this album would be an academic exercise, but for whatever it's worth, I think the new song "Goddess" is among the artist's best, owing to the muted trap kit rhythms, the subtle synthesizer shadings, and the perfect balance between melancholy and beauty in the melody. "Return to Patmos" fairly oozes nostalgia (yet another trademark of this artist, and so sincere that it's almost palpable), with its sad piano refrain and gentle washes of synth strings. "Reflection" is a short and somber piece whose title perfectly describes the mood set by the solo piano song. "Numinous" (a standout track) is ethereal and somewhat sad, mixing echoed piano with synths, twinkling bells, and haunting wooden flute-like keyboards.

Well, damn, the man can flat out play and compose with the very best. What else is there to say? George Skaroulis may be the best artist recording in this genre right now. I sure as hell can't think of anyone better when it comes to crafting evocative romantic new age piano/keyboard music. His use of electronic keyboards to flesh out his piano is, quite simply, without peer, period. His compositions are like flowers: glimpsed from a distance, they are pretty in their simplicity and soothe us as such, while viewed up close, their complexity and intricacies are awesome to behold and we stare in wonderment. Among the many new age piano/keyboard players in the world today, George Skaroulis is inexorably climbing to the pinnacle, the way a sunflower raises its face to the sun. If you have any love for this kind of music, and have never heard this artist's magic before, Athena will leave you spellbound. It merits, without hesitation, my highest recommendation.