Sophia Bilides - vocals, santouri, zilia
Mal Barsamian - outi, kythara; Mike Gregian - doumbeleki

Wednesday, August 24, 2011
Library of Congress
Noon - 1:00 pm, Coolidge Auditorium
www.loc.gov/loc/events
The Kennedy Center
6:00 - 7:00 pm, Millennium Stage
www.kennedy-center.org/programs/millennium
Washington, DC

Both performances in loving tribute to the memory of Thomas Babbin

Smyrneika ("of Smyrna") is the cabaret tradition of the Greek Asia Minor refugees,
which flourished in the Anatolian cafe-aman of the 1920s, 30s, and 40s, a golden age of Greek songs
rich with intricate melodies, sensual rhythms, and lyrics of nostalgia, endurance, love, and celebration.

The foremost practitioner of the Greek singing style known as Smyrneika (Boston Globe)
Traditional Artist Fellowship Finalist: 2010, 2008, 2006 (Massachusetts Cultural Council)

Photo by Tom Babbin

A CHANGE OF SKY
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 16, 2010
Scullers Jazz Club, Boston, MA
~ with Doug Hammer on piano ~

Celebrating her 10th year at Scullers with a new show about moving forward,
featuring eclectic song choices ranging from the timeless wit and wisdom
of Johnny Mercer, Irving Berlin, Cole Porter, Sammy Cahn, & Yip Harburg
to the contemporary outlooks of Stephen Sondheim, Chris Brubeck,
Stephen Schwartz, Babbie Green, John Bucchino, & Annie Lennox.

"Front and center were her hallmark wry humor, intelligent interpretations,
deft phrasing, and richly textured voice, replete with cello-like lush low notes.
Happily, Bilides introduced us to rarely heard gems, such as Babbie Green's Inside The Wine,
and demonstrated comic mock-gravity with the quirky Tamara, Queen Of The Nile.
Her thematic material included the precocious Evolution paired with A Thousand Beautiful Things
(Annie Lennox), both provocative, teaching us we must become the change we want to see.
Her strong musical prowess was evidenced in her driving Dave Brubeck 5/4 arrangement of
Anthony Newley and Leslie Bricusse's Feeling Good, followed by the sweet
Thinking Of You Thinking Of Me by Brubeck's son, Chris, who was, impressively, in attendance.
The titular piece (lyrics by Yip Harburg) enabled Bilides to display the full depth of her voice,
and she brought a jolt of life to the second half with John Bucchino's Taking The Wheel.
Then turning on a dime, she closed with an exquisite Moon River,
letting the song's wistfulness linger long after she left the stage."
(John Amodeo, Cabaret Scenes Magazine)

Sophia Bilides - vocals, santouri, zilia
Tom Babbin - kythara; Mike Gregian - doumbeleki

Saturday & Sunday, October 10 & 11, 2009
Richmond Folk Festival, Richmond, VA
produced by
The National Council For The Traditional Arts

Wednesday, June 10, 2009
Scullers Jazz Club, Boston, MA
~ with Doug Hammer on piano ~

A savvy and humorous look at the
dreams, challenges, frustrations, and rewards
of creative and performing artists, with songs by
Irving Berlin, Alan Chapman, Comden & Green, Cy Coleman, Mike Craver,
David Friedman, Flanders & Swann, Ann Hampton Callaway, Heisler & Goldrich,
Jerry Herman, Fran Landesman, Jay Leonhart, Frank Loesser, Steven Lutvak,
Don McLean, Cole Porter, Jule Styne, Stephen Sondheim, and Scott Warrender.

Sophia Bilides - vocals, santouri, zilia
Tom Babbin - kythara; Mike Gregian - doumbeleki

Saturday, March 21, 2009
Hellenic Cultural Center, Lowell, MA

acrylic by Portchie

Songs of hopes, wishes, and dreams by contemporary lyricists:
Alan & Marilyn Bergman, Leslie Bricusse, Francesca Blumenthal, John Bucchino,
Craig Carnelia, Mary Chapin Carpenter, Judy Collins, Mike Craver, Dave Frishberg,
Babbie Green, Steven Lutvak, Paul McCartney, Joni Mitchell, Stephen Schwartz,
Michael Smith, Stephen Sondheim, John Wallowitch, and Maury Yeston.

Thursday, September 18, 2008
Le Dome at The Manor, West Orange, NJ
~ with Jason Teborek on piano ~

Wednesday, June 18, 2008
Scullers Jazz Club, Boston, MA
~ with Doug Hammer on piano ~

COMING SOON: HEART'S DESIRE ON CD!

In celebration of International Women's Day...

~ with Doug Hammer on piano ~

Saturday, March 8, 2008
Blacksmith House, Cambridge, MA

Songs from a female point of view, by Lynn Ahrens, Marilyn Bergman, Francesca Blumenthal, Judy Collins,
Betty Comden, Meredith d'Ambrosio, Dorothy Fields, Doris Fisher, Babbie Green, Carol Hall,
Nancy Hamilton, Marcy Heisler, Fran Landesman, Christine Lavin, Carolyn Leigh,
Amanda McBroom, Joni Mitchell, Laura Nyro, Krisanthi Pappas, Dorothy Parker, and Maeve Spain.

watercolor by Meredith d'Ambrosio

CD RELEASE SHOWS
Wednesday, December 13, 2006
Scullers Jazz Club, Boston, MA

Friday & Saturday, December 15 & 16, 2006
Danny's Skylight Room, New York, NY

2007 MAC Award Nominee, New York Debut (Manhattan Association of Cabarets & Clubs)
A new cure for age old winter darkness; as bracing as a shot of brandy (Boston Globe)

Tis the season to celebrate the solstice
with songs for the chill-challenged & daylight-deprived
by Alan & Marilyn Bergman, Irving Berlin, Hoagy Carmichael, Judy Collins, Hal David,
Winnie Holzman, Fran Landesman, Michel Legrand, Gordon Lightfoot, Hugh Martin,
Joni Mitchell, Connie Pearce, George Shearing, Daryl Sherman, and more.

WINTER WARM
To Order

One of the Top Ten Cabaret CDs of 2007 (Cabaret Hotline Online)
A deeply satisfying new album; an accomplished piece of work. (Rob Lester, Talkin’ Broadway)
A great, great voice; a very warm and intimate CD. (Jordan Rich, WBZ Radio, Boston)

watercolor by Elizabeth McRorie

~ with Jon Wheatley on guitar ~

Sunday, March 26, 2006
Cape Cod Museum of Art, Dennis, MA

Sophia Bilides - vocals, santouri, zilia
Tom Babbin - kythara
Mike Gregian - doumbeleki

Saturday & Sunday, August 27 & 28, 2005
American Folk Festival
Bangor, Maine
produced by
The National Council For The Traditional Arts

pastel by Jan Collins Selman

Tuesday, June 21, 2005
Scullers Jazz Club. Boston, MA

Conjures up a warm sun, a cool breeze, and sand beneath bare feet. (Boston Globe)
One of the Ten Best Cabaret Shows of 2005 (EdgeBoston.com)
Bilides not only entertains but edifies her audience,
adding smart anecdotes and insight into her carefully chosen material.
Backed only by jazz guitar, her sultry voice
wrapped itself around Lazy Afternoon and The Summer Knows
but she also served sharp wit in Christine Lavin's Air Conditioner. (John Amodeo)

SOPHIA BILIDES
Doug Hammer on piano
ARE YOU HAVING ANY FUN?

Saturday, March 19, 2005
BACA 10th Anniversary Cabaret Celebration
Jimmy Tingle's Off Broadway Theater, Somerville, MA

Equal to any of the finest cabaret artists in the country today,
Bilides consistently renders a brilliant performance in her material and stage presence.
With her cello-like vocals and her quick, intelligent wit, this Italian-Greek beauty artfully possessed
both audience and stage in another unforgettable performance.
The recipient of the 2005 Independent Reviewers of New England Award for Best Female Cabaret Performer
proved, again, why this award is rightfully hers. (Ida Zecco, Cabaret Hotline Online)

drawing by Julian Williams

Wednesday, June 16, 2004 Scullers Jazz Club, Boston, MA 2005 IRNE Award Winner Best Female Cabaret Performer (Independent Reviewers Of New England) One of the Top Ten Cabaret Acts of 2004. (Bay Windows) Cutting a striking figure in red dress and raven hair, Sophia Bilides celebrated her half-century mark at Boston's Scullers Jazz Club with one of her most rewarding outings yet. Bilides' highly polished show, rich with songs spanning even more than a half-century, was her most varied... Her delightfully eclectic program included a swinging Don't Ask A Lady (Leigh/Coleman), a hilarious country-style Every Time A Friend Succeeds (Green), and a calypso Make Your Own Party (Heisler/Goldrich). She played her Bordeaux deep voice like a cello on a touchingly dramatic Flight (Carnelia) and like an alto sax on a poignant Inside My Body Is A Dancer (Lutvak). On the lighter side, her sharp comic timing bolstered Lutvak's hilarious The Dinner Party, and Rosemary Clooney's hit Come On-a My House, where she made clever use of her Greek vocal technique. I look forward to her next half-century. (John Amodeo, Cabaret Scenes Magazine)

2004 BOSTON CABARET FESTIVAL
The NEW Great American Songbook
A gala concert of songs from the past 20 years
featuring
Sophia Bilides • Brian De Lorenzo • Kent French
Belle Linda Halpern • Erica Leopold • Will McMillan
John O'Neil • Carol O'Shaughnessy • Jan Peters
performing songs by
Ahrens & Flaherty • Peter Allen • Fed Barton • Bergman & Mandel
Francesca Blumenthal • Jason Robert Brown • John Bucchino
Diane Bulgarelli • Craig Carnelia • Alan Chapman • Carroll Coates
Cy Coleman • William Finn • David Friedman • Goldrich & Heisler
Amanda Green • Kander & Ebb • Brian Lasser • Christine Lavin
Ernie Lijoi • Andrew Lippa • Dennis Livingston • Steven Lutvak
Maltby & Shire • Amanda McBroom • Alan Menken • Randy Newman
Laurence O'Keefe • Stephen Schwartz • Cosy Sheridan
Stephen Sondheim • Maury Yeston • Waldrop & Gallagher and more!

accompanied on piano by
Doug Hammer • Tom LaMark • Ron Roy
hosted by
Sophia Bilides, Artistic Director

Saturday, March 28, 2004
2nd Stage, Radisson Hotel, Boston

SOPHIA BILIDES
Doug Hammer on piano
WINTER WARM: SONGS FOR THE SOLSTICE
Friday, December 19, 2003
The Center For Arts, Natick, MA

Sophia Bilides - vocals, santouri, zilia
Tom Babbin - guitar; Mike Gregian - doumbeleki

Sunday, August 3, 2003
Lincoln Center Out Of Doors
Lincoln Center For The Performing Arts, New York, NY

SOPHIA BILIDES
Tom LaMark Trio
W I T C H C R A F T
The Lyrics Of
CAROLYN LEIGH

Wednesday, June 18, 2003
Scullers Jazz Club, Boston, MA

The songlist is wonderful, and you really "get" Carolyn. I'm just thrilled.
(June Silver, sister of Carolyn Leigh)

2003 BOSTON CABARET FESTIVAL
GREAT AMERICAN LYRICISTS
featuring
Sophia Bilides • Mary Callanan • Brian De Lorenzo
Kerry Dowling • Kent French • Belle Linda Halpern • Manny Lim
Carol O'Shaughnessy • Jan Peters • Michael Ricca
singing the lyrics of
Johnny Burke • Sammy Cahn • Betty Comden & Adolph Green
Dorothy Fields • Ira Gershwin • Yip Harburg • Lorenz Hart
Johnny Mercer • Cole Porter • Stephen Sondheim
accompanied on piano by
Doug Hammer • Tom LaMark • Ron Roy
hosted by
Sophia Bilides, Artistic Director

Saturday, March 29, 2003
National Heritage Museum, Lexington, MA

SOPHIA BILIDES
Doug Hammer Trio

MAKE SOMEONE HAPPY
The Lyrics Of
COMDEN & GREEN

Wednesday, May 22, 2002
Scullers Jazz Club, Boston, MA

One of the Top Ten Cabaret Performances of 2002
Bilides spins gold with this show.
She can belt, lilt, swing, and serve up shtick or heart upon command.
The high-point of the evening was her rapid-fire reading of "If You Hadn't, But You Did,"
containing some of Comden & Green's wittiest wordplay, which Bilides handled with aplomb.
Charismatic, honest, and well grounded, Bilides is also one of the most unique vocalists around.
With Bilides, whose deep, sultry voice is like warm honey, you wait for those
lush low notes, and they are worth the wait. (John Amodeo, Bay Windows)

2003 IRNE Award Nominee
Best Female Cabaret Performer
(Independent Reviewers Of New England)

2002 BOSTON CABARET FESTIVAL
featuring
Sophia Bilides • Mary Callanan • Brian De Lorenzo
Erica Leopold • Will McMillan • John O'Neil
Carol O'Shaughnessy • Jan Peters • Ben Sears • Ida Zecco
accompanied on piano by
Brad Conner • Doug Hammer • Tom LaMark • Brian Patton • Ron Roy
hosted by
Sophia Bilides, Artistic Director

Sunday, April 7, 2002
Scullers Jazz Club, Boston, MA

One of the Top Ten Cabaret Events of 2002 (Bay Windows)