Manos Hadjidakis - Gioconda's Smile

Fifteen years have gone since the death of Manos Hadjidakis (Μάνος Χατζηδάκις), one of the greatest Greek composers. An irreconcilable pioneer, an enemy of pomposity and solidified views, a lover of “youth”, nonconformist to the core, and armed with Greek and world culture, he was able to combine classical with folk music, thus creating a “new” sound, a “new” type of song, with roots both in the East and the West. Today I post one of his best albums (and my personal favourite), Gioconda's Smile (Το χαμόγελο της Τζοκόντας). It was recorded in New York in 1965, with Quincy Jones as producer and it is one of the classic albums of 20th century music in Greece. A must!

Artist: Manos Hadjidakis (Μάνος Χατζηδάκις)
Album: Gioconda's Smile (Το χαμόγελο της Τζοκόντας)
Year: 1965
Genre: neo-classical, folk, instrumental, cinematic

Tracks:
1. When The Clouds Come (Όταν έρχονται τα σύννεφα)
2. Countess Esterhazy (Κοντεσα Εστερχάζυ)
3. Virgin In My Neighbourhood (Η παρθένα της γειτονιάς μου)
4. Rain (Βροχή)
5. Portrait Of My Mother (Προσωπογραφία της μητέρας μου)
6. Concerto (Το κονσέρτο)
7. Mr. Noll (Ο κ. Νόλλ)
8. Assassins (Οι δολοφόνοι)
9. Returning In The Evening (Βραδινή επιστροφή)
10. Dance With My Own Shadow (Χορός με τη σκιά μου)

More Info:
Official Website
Wikipedia
Last.fm: English, Greek
MySpace (tribute page)

Check the comments to listen before you buy.