# CD review: George Lernis feat. John Patitucci – Between Two Worlds 2022: Video, CD cover

- Link: https://jazzblues.eu/2022/08/08/cd-review-george-lernis-feat-john-patitucci-between-two-worlds-2022-video-cd-cover/
- Published: 2022-08-08T00:04:35+01:00
- Author: https://JazzBlues.EU

**George Lernis is a drummer, percussionist and composer whose unique musical influences
and upbringing meld to create a sound and vision that stands unparalleled in the
present-day jazz and creative music scene. **

Born and raised in Cyprus, Lernis’ musicianship was inspired by the traditions of
the Mediterranean and Middle East and continued to flourish as he developed a passion
for the heritage and performance of jazz. Now, following his album _Shapes of Nature_,
Lernis presents a profound musical and societal statement with _Between Two Worlds_,
due out June 10th, 2022 via DÜNYA. Drawing on his roots, jazz tradition and poetry,
Lernis creates a unified sonic presence that transcends the conventional boundaries
of both nations.

_Between Two Worlds_ is a natural musical outpouring and expression of Lernis’ passions.
As an immigrant himself, he cares deeply about the perception and portrayal of immigrants
within America, as well as the plight of those seeking to escape war on a wider 
scale. The music on _Between Two Worlds_ seeks to respectfully represent and promote
an appreciation of the beauty carried by immigrants and their cultures through Lernis’
careful and thoughtful amalgamation of musical idioms.

Conceptually, this album – and Lernis’ research of the same title – was inspired
by its namesake poem –  a 15th century work by Turkish mystic Hacı Bayram Veli. 
Over the course of his studies, Lernis extracted a parallel meaning between the 
poem and his personal journey immigrating from Nicosia, Cyprus to the United States.
Experientially held between two worlds, Lernis’ musical offering here is appropriately
grounded and proficient in both. America’s rich jazz history and the deep musical
traditions of the Middle Eastern find a distinct and brilliant overlap in _Between
Two Worlds._

Reflecting his hybrid identity, Lernis’ compositional blend on _Between Two Worlds_
introduces a vehicle for improvisation. He incorporates microtonal modes (_makams_),
Turkish rhythmic cycles (_usuls_) and a myriad of traditional Middle Eastern instruments,
while crafting soundscapes that are subtly familiar yet feel entirely new.

The album’s cornerstone work is the suite the album is named for. Containing three
movements and an interlude, “Between Two Worlds” exhibits the musical influence 
from Lernis’ time studying with his friend and mentor, the GRAMMY®-nominated Turkish
pianist Mehmet Ali Sanlıkol.

“Mehmet was gracious enough to take me under his wing,” Lernis says. “He introduced
me to the magical worlds of _sufism_ (Islamic mysticism) and Hacı Bayram Veli, _zikir_(
ostinato used in sufi devotion), _makam_, and _usul _as well as the beauty of gongs
as found in Indonesian Gamelan.” The movements are entitled “Origins,” “Zikir,” 
and “Arrival,” and directly map onto the concepts of Lernis’ journey and duality.
The album’s opening track, entitled “Prayer,” is inspired by the ongoing Syrian 
refugee crisis based on a poem co-written by the leader and his mother, Eliza. It
opens with a recitation of the poem by vocalist Burcu Güleç and leads into dynamic
improvisational sections. “With the poem at the beginning setting up a dark quality,
the solo sections build on that with a sense of storytelling through improvisation,”
reflects Lernis. The closing tune, “Kalinihta (Goodnight)” was inspired by Lernis’
son, Panos. “I turned Panos’ voice saying “goodnight” in Greek into a music composition
which opens up to free improvisation sections,” Lernis explains. “‘Kalinihta’ resembles
the ritual of putting my son to bed every night.”

The personnel chosen by Lernis are a perfectly eclectic blend of backgrounds that
serve the music and the message in the most profound of ways. Notably, this album
features the bass icon John Patitucci on both upright and electric bass. “John is
one of the kindest souls that I have met in my life,” Lernis says. “When he came
in the studio to record with the group he came in with an extremely positive vibe
warming up the environment.” Lernis’s mentor, Mehmet Ali Sanlıkol, is featured on
the album on piano, vocals, and _oud_. “I would like to acknowledge the help of 
Mehmet Ali Sanlıkol as a co-producer from the inception of this project. I have 
participated as a performer in many of Mehmet Ali Sanlıkol’s projects in the past
which inspired me through my research and resulted in the conception of this album.”
One of the elements in the band that allowed this album to work so well was its 
balance in the personnel, exemplified by the combination of vocalist Burcu Güleç
and trumpeter Emiel de Jaegher. “Burcu is an excellent vocalist experienced in a
variety of traditions including jazz and Middle Eastern musics. Emiel de Jaegher,
on the other hand, comes from a jazz background with an ear for contemporary production
techniques and alternative styles,” Lernis adds. Lastly, a longtime mentor of the
bandleader, Berklee faculty member Bruno Raberg, is a featured bassist on “Sailing
Beyond.” Lernis finds himself at the drum set along with a variety of percussion
instruments, and the _mandalli_ _santur _(hammered dulcimer with microtonal levers)_._

On _Between Two Worlds,_ Lernis has fashioned a groundbreaking and salient creative
statement that informs listeners of how cultures, heritages and histories can merge
and blossom together. Where moments of intimacy and introspection find themselves
adjacent to sounds of ferocious cries, _Between Two Worlds _stands as a testament
to the indomitability of the human spirit and the profound wonder of diversity.

1. Prayer
 2. The Passage 3. Sailing Beyond 4. Between Two Worlds (Origins) 5. Between
Two Worlds (Zikir) 6. Interlude 7. Between Two Worlds (Arrival) 8. Kalinihta (Goodnight)

**George Lernis, drums, percussion**
 **Mehmet Ali Sanlıkol, piano, voice, oud****
John Patitucci, acoustic and electric bass** **Bruno Raberg, acoustic bass** **Burcu
Güleç, voice** **Emiel de Jaegher, trumpet**

![Between Two Worlds | George Lernis ft. John Patitucci | DÜNYA](https://f4.bcbits.
com/img/a1293444722_65)

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