Every once in a while, I’ll come across a new-to-me artist on YouTube who is adding to the world of rebetiko, with something that’s old and familiar and new and expressive at the same time.
That’s the case with this version of The refugee, the 1933 song by Vangelis Papazoglou that was first recorded by Armenian oud player and singer Marko Melkon in 1938.
Ilias Markantonis, who is in his mid-30s, recorded his version of The Refugee in 2022 and posted it to YouTube in 2024. He’s an oud player and singer and his take on the song is impressive. The driving rhythm of the original is still evident, but there are also flowing lines on the oud, some stops and starts that bring a touch of pathos to the song, and minor changes to the melody that speak more of this century than last. Performing a mid-song solo on this song is a brave choice, because the original solo by Marko Melkon is great. Fortunately, Markantonis’s solo is outstanding. In a nice, non-musical touch, he dedicates the performance to “all people were forced to leave their homeland.”
Markantonis, who currently lives in the Netherlands, is an accomplished musician who has been a teacher at the Musical Praxis Conservatory in Athens, and a frequent performer, especially for Karagiozis (Greek puppet theatre) performances. He has also studied music and instruments extensively, and has been the oud player for one of Athens best luthiers. His talent and skill are wonderful to hear.
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