Kontaxakis Michalis

Michalis Kontaxakis was born in 1984 in Heraklion of Crete where he is still residing. He is considered one of the most influential specialists of the mandolin on the island. He has introduced a distinctive style and new elements of expression and has played a major role in the evolution and expansion of the Cretan playing of the mandolin. One interesting idea he introduced first in his discography is the use of the microtonal mandolin, with the purpose of approaching musical intervals that we encounter in the folklore music of Crete and not only. His assets include three personal albums with sounds inspired by sounds and landscapes of Crete and the world. He has experienced the Cretan musical tradition through cooperations with major folk musicians of Crete such as Vasilis Skoulas, Michalis Alefandinos, Dimitris Sgouros, Michalis Stavrakakis. He respects the music of Crete and the styles that preexist, yet today, he is presenting his sound through original musical patterns (mandolin – percussion, mandolin – contrabass, Mandolin – oud – percussion, and more) which he is maintaining with his co-operators on the island of Crete and in Athens. He has presented his work in significant venues, like the “Alternative Scene of the Greek National Opera” and has participated in the country of Oman and Tunisia in concerts of the Naseer Shamma.