The Café Aman were a type of folk coffeehouse that flourished in the major urban centres of Asia Minor where Greeks lived before 1920. In these venues, singers and musicians from all the communities living together would improvise freely in rhythm and melody. Within this environment, the rich musical tradition of the Asia Minor Greeks took shape. Later, after relocating across the Aegean—mainly to the port of Piraeus—they gave birth to the Rebetiko movement.

The Café Aman, along with many of the instruments used by the refugees (such as the kanun, oud, and others), disappeared from Greece following a prohibition order issued by the regime of dictator Ioannis Metaxas in 1937. Nevertheless, the music born in those venues continued to live on among the refugees, who became the first “rebetes,” the marginalised figures of the time. A variety of rhythms, but above all the distinctive dromoi (modes) and melodies, had taken deep root in the artists of that era, managing to express their passions and emotions, and resonating—then as now—with a wide audience.

The music ensemble Aman Rebetiko brings to life the beauty of these instruments and the magical voices of its members, carrying us back to the enchanting sounds of these melodies, just as they began in Asia Minor and found their way to the port of Piraeus.

Line-Up

Chrysa Papadopoulou: Voice – Percussion
Christos Sagonas: Oud – Voice
Daniel Barbas: Guitar – Vocals
Alkis Zopoglou: Kanun- Vocals