Elias Kacomanolis In A Bubble in OUTSIDELEFT

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CSB Bitesize Spring Series
With Elias Kacomanolis
Saturday March 20th 7pm

Celebrating Sanctuary Birmingham works through the arts to celebrate and raise awareness of the contributions that refugees make to Birmingham and more widely the UK. This Saturday their super-impressive Bitesize Spring Series of online musical events featuring artists recorded in their homes, continues, with drummer and percussionist, Elias Kacomanolis. Before I go any further there are two things you should know, I just love those drummers, (I think it began when I used to see H from Selector or Zeke Manyika with Orange Juice), drummers who make things look effortless, they’re not thrashing around, while all sort of incredible creative sounds emanate from behind the kit. Oh and I love anything filmed in homes - often resulting in me wanting to reach for the emulsion, in shame, but somehow, I regain my equilibrium and never do.

The first show in the series, featured one of our all-time favorites, the sensational Zimbwaean mbira musician, Millicent Chapanda. This week, Elias Kacomanolis introduces his solo project. Elias is an award winning artist from Mozambique. He was 10 when civil war rocked the country and his family moved to Portugal. Within a couple of years Elias was performing with local bands.

Elias Kacomanolis

Elias moved to the UK in 2006 and is now an Internationally renowned drummer, percussionist, teacher and arranger. His inspiration comes from his African roots mixed with European and Latin music. Most recently he has been touring with Carmen Souza, performing with Ngumbe Jazz, La Tocha, La Tinto Bros, Afro-Samba Trio and preparing his own project “Almadia” which consists of a live percussion set in collaboration with special guests (DJ, Saxophone, Bass, Guitar, Singer, Piano or any other instrument) and audience interaction.

Here’s a video of Elias in action during a show with Carmen Souza recorded prior to the pandemic lockdown.

But what action Elias brings with his solo project is certain to both surprise and delight. We're sure all sorts of incredible and creative sounds will emanate from behind the kit. Just our thing. We can’t wait to hear.