Grigoris Maninakis and the Mikrokosmos Ensemble put on a free concert
at the East Flushing Library in Queens, New York, on June 27. In attendance were the priest from St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Shrine Church and individuals from its choir.
From the article:
“Rebetiko originated in the music of the larger Greek cities, most of them coastal, in today’s Greece and Asia Minor,” Maninakis said. “In the wake of the population exchange of 1923, huge numbers of refugees settled. They brought with them both European and Anatolian musical elements and instruments. These Greek musicians from Asia Minor were highly competent, educated musicians."