Hey friends,
Dropping in briefly to share three great gigs coming up in the next few weeks. I’ll be in Chicago, Traverse City, and Detroit. If you’re around any of these places, I’d love to see you. All this music is very near my heart and I’m thrilled to have some chances to share it.
Out of Time, Out of Place
a look at displacement and self-discovery through the eyes of artists in the Hellenic diaspora.
Friday April 25
7:00pm CST
PianoForte Gallery, Chicago IL
FREE, but RSVP Required
In Person and Live Stream
Michael Malis - piano, compositions
Constantine Novotny - voice
Ellie Falaris Ganelin - flute, arrangements
This concert is made possible by the generous support of the Charles C. Condes Trust, The Greek Women’s University Club, and Hellenic Museum of Michigan. It is presented under the auspices of the Consulate General of Greece in Chicago.
Hellenic-American artists Michael Malis (piano), Constantine Novotny (baritone) and Ellie Falaris Ganelin (flute) explore these concepts through the convergence of music and poetry. The cornerstone of the program is Malis’s original song cycle Another Shore, Another Country set to the poetry of C.P. Cavafy, commissioned by ProMusica Detroit and premiered in February 2024. Cavafy, who lived most of his life in Alexandria, Egypt, is the quintessential voice of the Greek diaspora and a prominent figure among 20th-century poets.
Through Ganelin’s and Malis’s own arrangements, the trio performs songs of love and longing by Greek idols Mikis Theodorakis and Manos Hadjidakis. These masterful colleagues born the same year (1925) each brought a new vision and prominence to Hellenic music through the radio in their homeland and in film worldwide. Also on the program is “6 Short Pieces” for solo flutes by Athens-based composer Constantine Lignos.
Hear No Evil in Boston-Edison
Saturday May 3
6:00pm Dinner
7:00pm Music
$65 (tickets include dinner and music)
Boston-Edison, Detroit in a historic private residence — location revealed after purchase.
Michael Malis - piano
Jaribu Shahid - bass
Jonathan Barahal Taylor - drums
Stephen Grady - saxophones
Zekkereya El-magharbel - trombone
Boston-Edison’s House Concerts series is entering its 16th year — long before house concerts were trendy. Spearheaded by Michelle May, these concerts are unlike any others. Those local to Detroit know the reputation of the Boston-Edison neighborhood — some of Detroit’s most stunning architecture is here, including the famed Barry Gordy, S.S. Kresge, and Henry Ford houses. The only way to find out where we’re playing is to get a ticket! Hope to see you there.
I’ve got a busy summer ahead — some solo shows, a release with my friend Zara Teicher, and some more Hear No Evil shows are all on the docket. I’ve also got a reading list a mile long, a solo record that I’m excruciatingly close to finishing, and the burning desire to write new music. I’ll check back in to keep you updated on the happenings. But for now — please stay safe out here, and take care of each other.
Thanks for everything,
Michael