Greek, Berlin-based vibes player, percussionist, vocalist, and composer Evi Filippou, the Improvisor in Residence at the Moers Festival for 2026, and German, fellow-Berliner double bass player and composer Robert Lucaciu are best, almost inseparable friends, and as Filippou claims, this is the best thing «in a world where we get obsessed with romantic relationships». Therefore, Filippou and Lucaciu chose the title Love at Last Sight for their debut duo album, and mention that the album represents a journey of three years in friendship and music, which took place in Berlin, Leipzig, Budapest, Athens, New York, Mexico City, Italy, and in our dreams. The album was recorded at BMC Studio in Budapest in July 2025.
British sax player Hayden Chisholm, who contributed liner notes to the album, produced it, and plays on one piece, describes Filippou as «speaking the language of sun and sea” while Lucaciu is “versed in shadows and structure». So, the meeting of these kindred souls promises a constant, imaginative play between composition and improvisation, embracing modern jazz, «lucid geometries» of contemporary notation, and «the ancient pulse of folk songs whose origins are no longer known».
Love at Last Sight offers thirteen short pieces that capture Filippou and Lucaciu as deep listeners who have profound, intimate, and playful rhythmic conversations, always finding new ways to spark, inspire, or tease the other with a mysterious melodic theme, a surprising quote, an infectious groove, an amusing story, or even a daydream. The album explores Filippou and Lucaciu’s rich, inclusive, and at times even openly romantic musical (listen to Filippou and Lucaciu sing together on «Missing») and deeply humane universe, delivered in an imaginative, elegant, and graceful manner.
The album begins with Filippou’s hero, the late pianist Geri Allen’s «Feed the Fire», and moves between Filippou’s and Lucaciu’s compositions or improvisations, as well as those of their friends, German sax player Uli Kempendorff, the standard «I Love the Way You’re Breaking my Heart» (made famous by Peggy Lee, and sung by Fillipou), a piece by Greek composer Leo Rapitis, an Irish traditional song, and ends with another of Filippou’s heroes, a beautiful composition by the Mexican composer María Grever.
Eyal Hareuveni
Evi Filippou (vibraphone, percussion, voice), Robert Lucaciu (double bass), Hayden Chisholm (saxophone)
