SPOTLIGHT ON….

GROOVEJET

Groovejet pop up all over Paphos and have done for the past four years – but what’s the story behind this musical twosome?

Paul Hope was an accomplished bass player working in the UK and Germany with bands such as ElanoB and the Barkin’ Spiders before forming his own duo, Hi-Jinx, which toured the South England circuit. Meanwhile, singer Jezebel was giving up her west end theatre manager career to front a string of pop and rock bands. The two met in 2000 and thus began one of Paphos’s most talked about are-they-or-aren’t-they relationships (as they’re still singing harmoniously seven years later, my money's on the latter). Groovejet – Paul on guitar, vocals and producing the backing tracks; and Jezebel on lead vocals - worked the UK circuit for a year, before, on Jezebel’s behest, packing everything they each owned in to Paul’s transit van and drove first to Zakynthos for two years, and then onto Paphos.

The pop duo have played at most of Paphos’s hotels and bars and now specialise in weddings, parties, dinner dances and big events, exercising their 250 plus song repertoire which includes the last five decades and all styles including C&W, show songs, an acoustic set and classic party hits, along with a little rock and blues when they get the chance. Jezebel’s belly dancing training adds a little colour! The occasional addition of Dave Robinson on drums completes the party band Atlantis. The duo now runs a recording studio and guitar school whilst Jezebel is a regular at Rock FM, Paphos TV, The Village Players and Stage One.

Groovejet Unplugged are appearing at Terebinth Tree Art Cafe,  Mesa Chorio, on the Paphos to Polis road on Saturdays 2 February, 1 March and 5 April. Tel: 99376128.

NENAD BOGDANOVIC

Nenad Bogdanovic was born in Serbia in 1975. He holds a Diploma with highest honors and a Master of Fine Arts degree from the Ukrainian National P. I. Tchaikovsky Academy of Music, Kiev, Ukraine specializing in accordion, and an MA in Cultural Management, from Northumbria University, UK. Since January 2001 Nenad has been residing in Cyprus. In April 2002, he performed as soloist with the Cyprus State Orchestra. He has also cooperated with many famous Cypriot artists and organizations. Since September 2003, Nenad has been the conductor of the mixed choir of the Epilogi cultural movement in Limassol. He is founder and president of Mousika Niata Kyprou - Jeunesses Musicales Cyprus, coordinator of Cyprus Big Band, artistic leader of MediTango orchestra specializing in tango music and the Danube quartet specializing in Central European and Balkan music.

The repertoire of Nenad Bogdanovic is inspired by famous Roma virtuosos from the Central European and Danube regions, French Valse Musette and the most famous Argentinian tangos. The attractive pieces performed by this well-known charismatic musician, describe the character and passion of the people from various continents and lead the audience through romance, love, comic or sometimes deeply sad emotions.  His programme includes: Monti: Czardas, Russian Gypsy: Two guitars, Matos Rodrigues: La Cumparsita, Piazzolla: Oblivion Libertango and Dinicu: Hora Staccatto.

He performs a special accordion recital at Lofou Wine Cellar on Friday 28 March. Reservations - Tel: 25470202.