The Greek, New York-based composer, and performer Pericles Kanaris returns to live performances for the first time after the pandemic with a powerful message. Up for Air marks the vital need to reconnect with the community through music, after a long period of isolation. Pericles Kanaris belongs to the Greek tradition of composers who set poetry to music that originated in mid-twentieth century Greece with composers like Manos Hatzidakis and Mikis Theodorakis. His latest songs are composed on lyrics by a wide variety of poets, from Constantine P.Cavafy, and T.S Eliot, to Manos Eleftheriou and the latest generation of Greek poets, as well as lyrics written by the composer himself in Greek, English, and French. Pericles Kanaris' repertoire also includes songs by other Greek and international artists who have inspired him throughout his career, all presented in his own orchestration. Pericles Kanaris is joined by his band which features some of New York’s finest musicians including Gary Schreiner (accordion, harmonica, keys), Richard Hammond (bass), Peter Douskalis (guitars, laouto, bouzouki,) and Giancarlo DeTrizio (drums/percussion). The International New York Times has recognized Pericles Kanaris' music as having "a Greek identity with global sounds," and the National Herald has praised the unique sound of Kanaris and his band, highlighting their ability to easily move across different musical genres with mastery. Pericles Kanaris is dedicating this concert to the outgoing, Honorable Consul General of Greece in New York. Dr. Konstantinos Koutras and his tenure. The concert is presented under the aegis of the Consulate General of Greece in New York.