Demetrius Spaneas (USA)

New Jazz

Demetrius Spaneas

Saxophone, clarinet and electronics

Agenda of the Program:

- "Magnolias & Speed" by Molly Thompson, for solo saxophone - a World Premiere!

- "Water Crossing" by Alex Shapiro

- "Music for Alto Saxophone and Electronics", by Pablo Furman

- "Interludes" by Demetrius Spaneas

35-40 minutes
Demetrios Spaneas

Classic/Modern multi-wind soloist/composer/recording artist Demetrius Spaneas shares his varied career between New York City and Boston. He has commissioned, recorded, and premiered works by many prominent composers including John Cage, John Harbison, Donald Martino, Bernard Rands, Gunther Schuller, Joan Tower and many others.

By now he has two solo recordings on Capstone Records, "When Wind Comes to Sparse Bamboo" (2003), and "From a Far-off World" (2006).

His major interests include combining improvisation within classically structured forms, work with electronics and video, and world music. He was a member of the Auros Group for New Music, the Boston Modern Orchestra Project, and the Harvard Group for New Music, as well as many other chamber and symphonic ensembles in the Northeast.

In demand as a guest lecturer/performer of New Music, he held conferences and arranged concerts at Harvard University, the California Institute for the Arts, Tanglewood, and the New England Conservatory, as well as other music programs and venues.

As a commercial performer, he shared the stage with many top acts, including the Funk Brothers (featured soloist, 2005-06), Ray Charles, Aretha Franklin, and many others. He is also a founder and leader of the world music ensemble BALKANASIA which combines music from the Balkans and Near East with jazz and rock, and co-director of the New York chamber group, the Sapphire Ensemble. Demetrius plays exclusively Gonzales Reeds (clarinet and saxophone). As a composer he is a member of ASCAP. Demetrius was given honorable rank Composer-in-Residence for the Bay Area Chamber Symphony based in Oakland, CA.