Petros Klampanis: Minor Dispute

The follow-up to bassist Petros Klampanis’ 2011 debut, Contextual, Minor Dispute further explores his unique compositional vision and delivers a set with a strong emotional core. Released on Greg Osby’s Inner Circle Music and inspired by “how we embrace and express the bright and dark aspects of our character during the process of becoming better human beings,” as Klampanis writes in the album notes, it presents four originals and three interpretations, and features guitarist Gilad Hekselman, pianist Jean-Michel Pilc, drummer-percussionist Jon Hadfield and a string quartet.

The Greek-born Klampanis moved to New York in 2008, and has since played with Osby, drummer Antonio Sanchez and other luminaries. Classical training as well as the Balkan and Mediterranean folk music of his homeland inform his distinctive jazz sensibility.

The temperamental opening title track, inspired by an actual argument, flows into “Monkey Business,” with its divergent sections that capture the disjointed thought process of an unfocused mind. Klampanis beautifully arranges Hekselman’s “March of the Sad Ones” for strings, adding an ethereal dimension to an already compelling tune. “Lily’s Promenade,” opening with Klampanis’ haunting bowing, cinematically narrates a little girl’s journey through mysterious woods, while Jobim’s timeless ballad “Luiza” is transformed into a chamber-jazz vehicle during which Hekselman carries the melody with poignant tenderness. The Greek folksong “Thalassaki,” featuring santuri innovator Max ZT and previously arranged by Klampanis for the Greek Public Symphonic Orchestra, closes the album in acknowledgement of the leader’s roots.

Throughout Minor Dispute, the leader’s uniquely emotive technique, melodicism, tone and voice, reflected both in his compositions and inspired arrangements, deliver on the promise of his first recording.