The Wonder–fall Quartet

It all began during the fall of 2009...when a drummer (Thanos Hatzianagnostou) started playing and composing at the piano...and a jazz singer (Irini Konstantinidi) started writing down in words, the stories that each melody was “suggesting”... A year later, during the fall of 2010, with the significant participation of Dimitris Theoharis (piano) and Haris Mermigas (double bass) and due to their astonishing musicality, this early duet expanded to...The Wonder-fall Quartet! The rich colors of the autumn scenery, nature as a symbolism, the eternal circle of life, the magic of the existence and the intense sensations are some of the features that inspire the quartet’s music. Mutual trust and freedom flow naturally throughout the group’s playing, expressing its deepest will to raise and exalt the Music itself. Atmospheric sound, powerful improvisations, lyricism and outbursts of energy constitute the quartet’s musical identity, which is mostly influenced by the exquisite sound and atmosphere of the European jazz scene. In its debut album (which was released in November 7, 2011 through the group’s official Web Site), the quartet interacts with an exceptional musician and composer, a real virtuoso and renowned player of ney, Harris Lambrakis!

Dimitris Theoharis was born in Athens, where he began his piano studies at the National Conservatory. In 1996 he graduated from “Aristoteleio” University of Thessaloniki with a Bachelor degree from the Department of Music Studies. He completed his education with a fugue degree and a piano diploma. He has been teaching jazz piano and music theory at the Department of Music Studies of “Ionian” University and he currently works as a music theory teacher at Public Music Schools. He has composed music for the theatre and the cinema and in 2002 he had been awarded for his music in the film “The dress”, by the International Film Festivals of the cities of Drama (Greece) and Angeres (France). As a pianist and arranger he has been working with many Greek musicians, while he’s also been very active in the Greek jazz scene, recording and performing in festivals in Greece and abroad with “Harris Lambrakis Quartet” and “The Wonder–fall Quartet”.

Irini Konstantinidi was born in Athens and began her music studies, taking piano lessons at the age of five. She attended Music High school of Pallini and in 2001 she graduated from University of Athens with a bachelor in Pedagogic. From an early age she started singing and recording with several groups and later she participated in theatrical and dance theatre festivals, contributing in the musical scores with her singing and improvising performance. In 2006 she obtained her diploma (winning the first prize) in Jazz vocal performance and improvisation, from Athenaeum Maria Callas Conservatory. Since 2006 she teaches vocal technique, vocal jazz and improvisation. As a lead singer, she has formed several groups, arranging and performing jazz standards, on some of which she has written lyrics of her own. In 2009 she started writing lyrics for Thanos Hatzianagnostou’s compositions and by the fall of 2010 they had both formed the group: The Wonder–fall Quartet. In April of 2011 the group recorded its debut album, which was released on November 7, 2011, through the group’s official web site.

Haris Mermigas was born in Athens and graduated from “Fillipos Nakas” Conservatory with a diploma in acoustic bass. Due to his devotion and love for music and his will to master and excel his technique, he continued practicing his skills, attending seminars with Mc Tier, Toshev and Barbier and studying with various musicians and teachers such as Christos Komisopoulos. Since 1993 he has been a member of the “National Symphonic Orchestra” of the National Radio and Television. He has also performed with many orchestras such as the “National Opera”, the “Chromaton Orchestra”, the “Municipality of Athens’ Orchestra”. Apart from the classical repertoire, the last few years he has also turned to improvisational music, playing and recording with several jazz groups. In the fall of 2010 he became a member of The Wonder–fall Quartet.

Thanos Chatzianagnostou was born in the city of Volos and from the age of 13 he started playing drums. Within a very short time he was incorporated in the local metal scene, recording and performing in festivals all over Greece. In 2005 he moved to Athens, in order to complete his music studies in Modern Music School. With the guidance of the renowned teacher Nikos Sidirokastritis he turned his attention towards jazz and improvisational music. He graduated in 2007, having attended several jazz workshops and master classes with various jazz musicians and drummers. Since then he has been performing with many jazz groups and in the meantime he is teaching drums. In 2009 he started composing his own music and in the fall of 2010, along with the vocalist Irini Konstantinidi, he formed The Wonder-fall Quartet, where his compositions began to “shape up” and obtain the sound of contemporary jazz. In April of 2011, the group recorded its debut album named The Wonder–fall Quartet.