Microcosmos: MOb

A trio that has made an impression, internationally, with the dynamics and freshness of their music, which spans a wide range of musical idioms, expanding the boundaries and meaning of contemporary jazz.
 
Marios Valinakis (saxophone and live electronics), Alexandros Delis (bass, guitar and effects) and Panagiotis Kostopoulos (drums) seem to be setting out from a foundation that is widely recognized as punk jazz, but featuring strong melodic and rhythmic elements that render their music — at least, as this was recorded in their first album, MOb1 — charmingly irresistible and full of surprises.

Their compositions are poised on open-form melodies with a strong improvisational background, and draw material from a variety of stylistic sources such as electronic jazz, krautrock, post-punk and other musical idioms, while featuring a narrative reminiscent of the best moments of cinematic music scores. Moreover, the fact that they don't belong to a “strictly jazz” context helps expand their acceptance by a diverse audience, rendering them recognizable very early on. MOb's debut album has already won a prominent place in BBC Radio 1's playlists – including those of legendary DJ Gilles Peterson. What particularly impressed the international audience was how this Athenian trio produced such a rich orchestral sound and, of course, how creatively it combined experimental/futuristic sound with the excitement of dance music.
  
MOb have been performing with this lineup in occasional live gigs in Greece, Edinburgh and London since 2019, but it is their exciting first album that has placed them in a prominent position of both the domestic live scene and the international discography. Three musicians with excellent studies and lots of creative ideas offer us one of the most interesting musical projects of the year.