Banda Magda brings music of the world to Green Music Center

Whenever Greek-born composer, singer and musician Magda Giannikou performs, her act is billed as Banda Magda, but the group only has just one truly permanent member, and that is Magda herself.

“We have many rotating musicians,” Giannikou said by phone from Miami during a stopover on her current tour. “It’s never the same on every tour.”

Banda Magda will play a sold-out show Thursday, Feb. 28, in The Loft in Weill Hall at Sonoma State University’s Green Music Center. As always, the music the band plays will draw on musical influences from all over the globe.

“Our shows are very malleable,” she said. “We make sure we are experimenting, and we’re also inspired by many different styles. It’s hard to describe the live experience of the band, because it’s influenced by the audience. That brings out different sides of our music.”

Giannikou, an accordionist and pianist, sings in six languages and her compositions combine South American rhythms with jazz improvisations, mid-century classics and more. Her focus is international, and she has performed in 28 countries.

“The music resonates more in some countries than others,” said Giannikou, 38, who now lives in New York between tours. “We have a have a big following in Argentina, Italy and specific cities in the U.S. Both New York and Los Angeles are great for us, and the whole West Coast.”

After graduating from the National Conservatory of Greece, Giannikou went to study film scoring at the Berklee College of Music in Boston, where she graduated in 2008. The following year, she was selected to be a Fellow at the Sundance Institute Composers Lab.

“I’m not doing film scores now,” she said. “When you’re forced to travel so much, it’s hard to pursue both.”

While Giannikou has traveled widely, she relies on listening carefully to music from many countries, rather than always drawing on first-hand experience.

“I don’t live in Brazil, and I haven’t studied there.” she said. “Instead, I internalize the music and let it creep up on me so I know how to play it.”

You can reach staff writer Dan Taylor at 707-521-5243 or dan.taylor@pressdemocrat.com. On Twitter @danarts.