ELIAS DENDIAS needs no introduction on Paxos, where he was born and raised. Highly regarded as both a student and master of Rebetiko (the Greek Blues), his musical career has been built on meticulous study combined with a notably fluid and effortless precision of playing. As well as being steeped in 20th century (and earlier) Greek forms, Elias’s own compositions betray influences darting nimbly between Vivaldi and Django Reinhardt. Throughout a varied career he has performed with acts as diverse as Senzasian, Africa Black Mambazo, Jackie Leven, Andy White and Daniel Melingo as well as Mimis Plesas, Yannis Spanos, Stamatis Kokotas and Maria Katinari. With the Paxiot band Maistrato he has toured Australia with Crowded House and for Irish Wings he has appeared with Chrysoula Kechaiglou and Apodomi Compania, Andy Irvine and Dónal Lunny and the Hellas Ensemble.