Vocalist, performer, researcher, and vocal educator.
Aggeliki Toubanaki uses the human voice as a musical instrument, in order to express herself, communicate, improvise, experiment with it. She considers that it’s probably the most complex instrument and the richest one on expressive nuances.
She is creator, producer, and lead vocalist in various musical projects. Her approach – theoretical and empirical – is based on jazz music and research (collection/study of traditional scales, rhythms, and extended vocal idioms and sounds). Furthermore, it promotes artistic expression far away from clichés or common practices. Her creation is often related to the audio-visual arts.
After a long term period of studies on music and scientific research (PhD on Molecular Biology, Medical School, University of Athens, Greece), she chose the first. At the present time, she is entirely devoted to singing vocalism and music.
For Aggeliki Toubanaki, interaction is a deep need and source of joy. So her artistic endeavor is based on experimentation and aims for the free communication of people, crossing musical boundaries.
“On stage we belong to music”
«Being on ‘patari’ (as the traditional Greek musicians call the stage) is about sounds, lyrics, stories. We don’t chase perfection but most of all we crave to connect with the authentic. Our artistic purpose is, in other words, to express our uniqueness within a team. In addition methexis is our aim. That’s why we are conduits of music in order to communicate using it, sharing it, and achieve an emotional connection with the audience».
AGGELIKI ‘S ARTICLE FOR THE MAGAZINE CultureNow.grAggeliki Toubanaki’s Musical projects
“Toubanaki & the Buzz Bastardz”
(World Jazz music)
Balkan rhythms, East’s musical roads and Mediterranean Sea’s melodies blended with contemporary musical harmony and form.
In 2008, Aggeliki creates an explosive group with six virtuoso musicians of Greek traditional and jazz music. In 2015, the band releases its first album, titled “Toubanaki &The Buzz Bastardz”. The recording took place in Athens and mixing in New York. Without doubt is one of the most unique and multi-culturally musical proposals of World Jazz Scene in Greece.


“Drums & Voice Jazztronica duet”
(Nu Jazz).
Jazz improvisation and contemporary electronic music, based on interaction and sonic experimentation.
In 2014, Aggeliki Toubanaki and the drummer Ilias Doumanis create the “Drums & Voice Jazztronics Duet”. The two musicians compose a polymorphic sonic universe using electronic media and programs. Project’s aim is to search and seek for the limits of their instruments’ sound.
[Collaborators: Sound engineering: Paschalis Koletsis, Visual, Media, Real time video projections: Luizos Aslanidis, Lighting Design: Valentina Tamiolaki]
“Jazz Plus” project
(Contemporary Vocal Jazz)
A purely jazz band. Its repertoire covers the modern Vocal Jazz scene and is based not only on spontaneous, in real time, reconstruction of rhythm, harmony and form, but also on the vocal jazz and extended vocal improvisation. Aggeliki Toubanaki created the “Jazz Plus” Project in 2010 along with two distinguished Greek musicians, Grigoris Danis (guitar) and Kostas Konstantinou (contrabass). The project’s main purpose is open and free interactive musical communication. The band has played and shared the scene with many outstanding musicians such as: Nikos Sidirokastritis, Nikolas Anadolis, Andreas Polyzogopoulos, Serafim Bellos, Dimitris Papadopoulos, Dimitris Klonis.


Ulalum
(Contemporary avant-garde Greek music)
Experiential interpretations and subtractive orchestrations of Modern Greek landmark songs. A project based on Greek discography that indicates at the same time Aggeliki’s unique artistic imprint. She created “Ulalum” in 2017 with the cooperation of great Greek musicians: Apostolos Kaltsas (electric bass), Vangelis Paraskevaidis (vibraphone) and Ilias Doumanis (drums). “Ulalum” is a show that combines the past of our musical memories with the contemporary sound.
Toubanaki & “Colpo Grosso” group
(World music)
Music and dance show that brings together musical traditions of the Balkans, Mediterranean Sea, Africa, Middle East and Latin America. The show, presented in 2007, was Aggeliki’s first appearance on stage. She conceived and directed “Colpo Grosso” as an on stage dialogue of music, dance and picture. During the show, original videos of Aggeliki’s journey in Tripoint – Bulgaria/Greece/Turkey – (where she filmed music festivals, gypsies, street musicians, people and places that impressed her the most) were projected on video screen. This project was the “musical laboratory” from which emerged and developed in 2008 the “Toubanaki & The Buzz Bastardz” band.


«Syndesis»
(show)
A musical show–narration in which various musical styles and genres are connected in an experimental approach and imprinted through Aggeliki Toubanaki’s unique performance and exceptional orchestration. In a spectacular voyage in Modern Greek music scene and the musical tradition of the Balkans and the Mediterranean Sea, Aggeliki shares the stage with great musicians, Vasilis Ketentzoglou (guitar), Stathis Anninos (piano), Apostolos Kaltsas (bass), Ιlias Doumanis (drums), and the 5-piece alternative female polyphonic ensemble “Terra Voce”. They create all together a multi-dimensional environment with natural and electronic sounds, loops and counterpoints. At the same time the award-winning cartoonist Soloúp sketches the songs’ stories (live-drawing), connecting emotions with picture and sound.
Distinguished partnerships/collaborations

Kostas Baltazanis, jazz guitarist, composer (Half Note, 27/02/2020)
George Kontrafouris, Jazz pianist, In the context of 11th Pan-hellenic Congress “BIO-SCIENCES In the 21st century-Biology is changing society” (2018).
Nikolas Anadolis Jazz pianist, «8th Jazz Festival on Tinos», (2016)
Christiane Karam, singer and composer, responsible in the department of Ethnic music at the faculty of Berklee College of Music, co-leader of the Vocal Circle of the performer Bobby McFerrin, creator of the award-winning ZilZALA ensemble (New York 2015 & Zografou Festival-Athens/Greece, 2016)
Alekos Orfanos, pianist in the project “Oh, No Frank Zappa” (Half Note 2014)
Maria Christina & The 7 pedals, Electric harpist (Harp & Voice Duet, 2014)
Onur Il, percussionist (Descarga project, Athens 2013)
Cameron Brown, bass player (Bassano del Grappa, Italy 2010)
Participations in musical groups
Sam Roma (traditional Gypsy music, 2015)
Anthypnic Flow (ambient soundscapes, 2010)
Mare Yiem (ethnic music, 2008)
Sanades (9-piece polyphonic ensemble, 2007)
& Music-theatre performance in Yiannis Kostaris’ «Passport project», directed by Valentini Siova, in Zp87, 2015
Theatrical performance “The awaking of memory”, Athens and Epidaurus Festival, 2017
Theatrical performance “From Crete to Smyrna, From Yesterday to Nowadays”, a co-production of “Megaron – The Athens Concert Hall” and the group “Playing Ecologically & Interculturally”.
Jazz musical by the composer and jazz pianist George Anamateros, «Μιὰ βεβαιότης φώλιασε στὴν καρδιὰ τῆς φωτισμένης τυράννου» [“Mia vevaiotis foliase stin kardia tis fotismenis tyrannou”].

Music curator & voice preparation in theatrical productions

2017- today: «MUSA» Voice training and teaching in the Voice Workshop for actors and performers, which follows Musa (Musical System of Acting) method of the director, researcher and acting coach Sotiris Karamessinis.
2019: Musical supervision and vocal training of actors in the theatrical performance “13 objects” of Howard Barker.
2017: Musical curator, musical score (original compositions) and voice training of the actors in the theatrical production “The awakening of memory”, Athens & Epidaurus Festival, 2017.
Aggeliki Toubanaki’s Musical projects

“Toubanaki & the Buzz Bastardz”
(World Jazz music)
Balkan rhythms, East’s musical roads and Mediterranean Sea’s melodies blended with contemporary musical harmony and form.
In 2008, Aggeliki creates an explosive group with six virtuoso musicians of Greek traditional and jazz music. In 2015, the band releases its first album, titled “Toubanaki &The Buzz Bastardz”. The recording took place in Athens and mixing in New York. Without doubt is one of the most unique and multi-culturally musical proposals of World Jazz Scene in Greece.

“Drums & Voice Jazztronica duet”
(Nu Jazz).
Jazz improvisation and contemporary electronic music, based on interaction and sonic experimentation.
In 2014, Aggeliki Toubanaki and the drummer Ilias Doumanis create the “Drums & Voice Jazztronics Duet”. The two musicians compose a polymorphic sonic universe using electronic media and programs. Project’s aim is to search and seek for the limits of their instruments’ sound.
[Collaborators: Sound engineering: Paschalis Koletsis, Visual, Media, Real time video projections: Luizos Aslanidis, Lighting Design: Valentina Tamiolaki]

“Jazz Plus” project
(Contemporary Vocal Jazz)
A purely jazz band. Its repertoire covers the modern Vocal Jazz scene and is based not only on spontaneous, in real time, reconstruction of rhythm, harmony and form, but also on the vocal jazz and extended vocal improvisation. Aggeliki Toubanaki created the “Jazz Plus” Project in 2010 along with two distinguished Greek musicians, Grigoris Danis (guitar) and Kostas Konstantinou (contrabass). The project’s main purpose is open and free interactive musical communication. The band has played and shared the scene with many outstanding musicians such as: Nikos Sidirokastritis, Nikolas Anadolis, Andreas Polyzogopoulos, Serafim Bellos, Dimitris Papadopoulos, Dimitris Klonis.

“Ulalum”
(Contemporary avant-garde Greek music)
xperiential interpretations and subtractive orchestrations of Modern Greek landmark songs. A project based on Greek discography that indicates at the same time Aggeliki’s unique artistic imprint. She created “Ulalum” in 2017 with the cooperation of great Greek musicians: Apostolos Kaltsas (electric bass), Vangelis Paraskevaidis (vibraphone) and Ilias Doumanis (drums). “Ulalum” is a show that combines the past of our musical memories with the contemporary sound.

Toubanaki & “Colpo Grosso” group
(World music)
Music and dance show that brings together musical traditions of the Balkans, Mediterranean Sea, Africa, Middle East and Latin America. The show, presented in 2007, was Aggeliki’s first appearance on stage. She conceived and directed “Colpo Grosso” as an on stage dialogue of music, dance and picture. During the show, original videos of Aggeliki’s journey in Tripoint – Bulgaria/Greece/Turkey – (where she filmed music festivals, gypsies, street musicians, people and places that impressed her the most) were projected on video screen. This project was the “musical laboratory” from which emerged and developed in 2008 the “Toubanaki & The Buzz Bastardz” band.

«Syndesis»
(show)
A musical show–narration in which various musical styles and genres are connected in an experimental approach and imprinted through Aggeliki Toubanaki’s unique performance and exceptional orchestration. In a spectacular voyage in Modern Greek music scene and the musical tradition of the Balkans and the Mediterranean Sea, Aggeliki shares the stage with great musicians, Vasilis Ketentzoglou (guitar), Stathis Anninos (piano), Apostolos Kaltsas (bass), Ιlias Doumanis (drums), and the 5-piece alternative female polyphonic ensemble “Terra Voce”. They create all together a multi-dimensional environment with natural and electronic sounds, loops and counterpoints. At the same time the award-winning cartoonist Soloúp sketches the songs’ stories (live-drawing), connecting emotions with picture and sound.
Distinguished partnerships/collaborations

Christiane Karam, singer and composer, responsible in the department of Ethnic music at the faculty of Berklee College of Music, co-leader of the Vocal Circle of the performer Bobby McFerrin, creator of the award-winning ZilZALA ensemble (New York 2015 & Zografou Festival-Athens/Greece, 2016)
Alekos Orfanos, pianist in the project “Oh, No Frank Zappa” (Half Note 2014)
Maria Christina & The 7 pedals, Electric harpist (“Harp & Voice Duet “, 2014)
Onur Il, percussionist (Descarga project, Athens 2013)
Cameron Brown, bass player (Bassano del Grappa, Italy 2010)
Participations in musical groups

Sam Roma (traditional Gypsy music, 2015)
Anthypnic Flow (ambient soundscapes, 2010)
Mare Yiem (ethnic music, 2008)
Sanades (9-piece polyphonic ensemble, 2007)
& Music-theatre performance in Yiannis Kostaris’ «Passport project», directed by Valentini Siova, in Zp87, 2015
Music curator & voice preparation in theatrical productions

2017- 2018: «MUSA» Voice training and teaching in the Voice Workshop for actors and performers, which follows Musa (Musical System of Acting) method of the director, researcher and acting coach Sotiris Karamessinis.
2017: Musical curator, musical score (original compositions) and voice training of the actors in the theatrical production “The awakening of memory”, Athens & Epidaurus Festival, 2017.
CONCERTS
FESTIVALS
Tinos Jazz Festival
Full Moon Jazz Festival
Jazz In July Festival
Athens Jazz FX Festival
4th Summer Festival of Guitar Music Academy Arion
Academy classical guitar Arion
Μelijazz festival, Jazz + Praxis (2014)
Fougaro Jazz Festival
Frank Zappa Festival
Festival Athens World Music Festival
Athens Christmas Festival
Athens Christmas Jazz Festival
Art Resistance
Music Heaven
Resistance Festival
International Festival of Patras
Festival Theatre ‘Vrachos’-Melina Mercouri
Polyphonic Song Festival
CONCERT PLACES
Stavros Niarchos Foundation
Michael Cacoyannis Foundation
Megaron - The Athens Concert Hall
Technopolis
Gazarte
Mikro Pallas
Ianos
Passport
Bios
Kitaro-Live club
Stavros tou Notou Club
Half Note
Gialino-Music Theater
ABROAD
London
Oxford
Reading
Newcastle
Bassano del Grappa
FESTIVALS
Tinos Jazz Festival
Full Moon Jazz Festival
Jazz In July Festival
Athens Jazz FX Festival
4th Summer Festival of Guitar Music Academy Arion
Academy classical guitar Arion
Μelijazz festival, Jazz + Praxis (2014)
Fougaro Jazz Festival
Frank Zappa Festival
Festival Athens World Music Festival
Athens Christmas Festival
Athens Christmas Jazz Festival
Art Resistance
Music Heaven
Resistance Festival
International Festival of Patras
Festival Theatre ‘Vrachos’-Melina Mercouri
Polyphonic Song Festival
CONCERT PLACES
Stavros Niarchos Foundation
Michael Cacoyannis Foundation
Megaron - The Athens Concert Hall
Technopolis
Gazarte
Mikro Pallas
Ianos
Passport
Bios
Kitaro-Live club
Stavros tou Notou Club
Half Note
Gialino-Music Theater
ABROAD
London
Oxford
Reading
Newcastle
Bassano del Grappa
TEACHING/SEMINARS
Aggeliki teaches Voice technique, Vocal cycle, Improvisation, Phonetic preparation for theatrical productions and she organizes seminars on voice.
- 2017-today: Annual music education of the children in «Kivotos tou Kosmou», within the framework of the humanitarian initiative “KALESMA project”.
- 2017-today: Member of the Interdisciplinary Team of Voice “Voice Mentoring”, planning treatment and rehabilitation of patients with voice disorders.
- 2014-today: Teaching, “The technique of the voice”, “Vocal Jazz improvisation” and “Theory of Music” at the ‘Philippos Nakas Conservatory’.
- 2018-today: An alternative sailing educational camp, ArtVenture Camp.
- 2014-today: Teaching, “Circle Singing” (Vocal circle), a technique that she was taught by Bobby McFerrin, New York.
- 2014-today: Organization of vocal training-educational seminars with the participation of distinguished vocalists from abroad (Christiane Karam, Jay Clayton, etc.)
STUDIES
- 2019-2020 Byzantine Music, Georgios Demelis (Ecclesiastical Foundation of Byzantine and Traditional Music of the Archbishopric of Athens).
- 2017 Integrated Voice Therapy (3rd level), Phono-therapy with Elpida Koutsoubakis
- 2016 Jazz Master Classes (Improvisations, Free Improvisation), Jay Clayton
- 2015 – 2015 Circle Songs, New York, «Omega» Campus, Bobby McFerrin
- 2013 – 2015 Jazz master classes, New York, with Bob Stoloff, JD Walter
- 2005 – 2015 Jazz (Repertoire, Improvisation, Harmony, Piano, Theory, History of Jazz), Athenaeum Conservatory, with Silvio Syrro (CIM Paris)
- 2014 Indian classical song (Dhrupad) with Uday Bhawalkar
- 2011 Persian classical song with Mamak Khadem
- 2010 – 2011 Jazz Improvisation, Italy, «Veneto Jazz Workshops», in cooperation with the “New School for Jazz & Contemporary Music of N.Y.”
- 2010 Rhythmology, with the dancer Francisco Jose Suarez Barrera
2010 Flamenco song with Vicente Gelo - 2009 Jazz master classes, Rene Marie, Sheila Cooper, and Deborah Carter
- 2008 – 2009 Classical Ottoman Song with Ahmet Erdogdular in Ross Daly’s musical workshop “Labyrinth”.
- 2006 – 2013 Vocal technique method SLS (Speech Level Singing) with Sofia Noiti
- 2005 – 2006 polyphonic song of Epirus at Museum of Greek popular Musical instruments
- 2005 – 2006 Bulgarian song with Tzvetanka Varimezova in Ross Daly’s musical workshop “Labyrinth”.
- 2004 – 2012 PhD on Molecular Biology with honour, Faculty of medicine, University of Athens
- 2002 – 2007 Classical Song, harmony, classical guitar and percussion traditional musical instruments (tabor, bendir)
- 1997 – 2002 Molecular Biology, University of Newcastle Upon Tyne