Described by George Dalaras as “one of the best musicians I have encountered in the recent years” encouraging listeners to “keep an eye on him, embrace him, and love him,” Greek folk vocalist Panayotis Lalezas has earned the title of the master of the vast repertoire of the mainland and island Greek folk music.
He was born in ancient Corinth and from an early age was initiated in singing by his father. He learned by ear recordings from gramophone records by Papasideris, Roukounas, Eskenazy, and Kazantzidis. He also mastered the craft of the “amane” style in smyrneiko, rembetiko, and laiko (music of the peoples). Meanwhile, he conducted research and documentation of traditional local folk songs. At the age of nine, he recorded his first album, which helped him to receive wide recognition with appearances in major TV and radio programs, as well as awards and first places in competitions.
At age eleven, Panayotis started to perform as a leader professionally in folk dances (panigyria) and other major festivals in Greece and abroad. Gradually, his repertoire expanded reaching the entire folk repertoire from all regions of Greece.
He studied voice and byzantine music at the famous Simon Karras music school and also laouto, clarinet, and oud.
Panayotis Lalezas has served as a professor at the Epirus Institute of Technology, where he taught Greek folk vocal styles both in classes and in private lessons.
He recorded 40 albums as a leader and 38 as a guest/sideman. He collaborated with the most prominent musicians of the folk idiom such as clarinetists Vasilopoulos, Filippidis, Kapsalis, violinist Yorgos Koros, and vocalists Tasia Verra, Sofia Kollitiri, Domna Samiou, Hronis Aidonidis, George Dalaras, Eleni Vitali, and Glykeria.
In the year 2000, he worked with composer Nikos Mamagkakis recording the works “Grant Oratorio for Greeks” and “Freedom Fighters,” which were presented at the Athens Concert Hall and the Petra Theater. In 2003, he participated at the production of the album "SMYRNE" of the Estoudiadina orchestra singing the vocally challenging Smyrneiko “Manes of the Goodnight.” The album became platinum and received the prestigious “Arion” award. In 2012, Panayotis created the “Workshop of Greek Folk Music” in his hometown, where he teaches Greek Folk vocal styles and traditional instruments to young students. Today, his “workshop” is hosted at the Simon Karras music school, at the Lykeion Ellinidon of Kiato, and the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Greece.
His future projects include the production of a series of records with lost or unknown folk songs from his personal archive, a result of his research and documentation. His goal is to help with the preservation and dissemination of Greek traditional music.
Youtube links:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IXi1X22hGq0 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eJQtUjn08LI https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fBdgEclFvuU
