The Onassis Cultural Centre is continuing its support of the work of artists based in Greece and is proud to announce the 1st Greek Jazz Showcase which will take place on July 5th and 6th in the Upper Stage of the OCC. There is an extraordinarily rich and bold contemporary jazz scene in Greece, but it is not alwaysas accessible as it could be to the international audience. In the 2-day program of the platform we have the ambition to bring the spotlight to the work of up-and-coming figures of the scene.
Upper Stage of the Onassis Cultural Centre Athens
5 July 2017
G. Kontrafouris Baby Trio
Piano and organ player George Kontrafouris, a long-term collaborator of the Finnish saxophonist Timo Lassy, has toured the world playing everywhere from Britain to India. At the OCC, Kontrafouris will be appearing with his own long-standing combo—another two talented musicians under 25. In the last years G. Kontrafouris has performed as piano or organ player with outstanding musicians such as: Mark Johnson, Arild Andersen, Marcus Stockhausen. Furthermore he has been teaching jazz piano and organ for several years in the Ionian University in Corfu, Greece, in Athenaeum Conservatory in Athens, Greece, and in Sibelius Academy in Finland.
Website: http://kontrafouris.com/
5 July 2017
Harris Lambrakis Quartet
Harris Lambrakis is the John Coltrane of the ney. With his quartet - exceptionally skilled musicians and creative improvisers - he condenses the musical cultures of West and East in the best possible way, without resorting to folkloric cliches. The group is inspired from different genres of music; modal jazz, Greek music, modal music of the Eastern Mediterranean, jazz harmonies of the 1960s and improvisational music. Harris Lambrakis Quartet have recorded 2 CDs, "Théa" and "Metéora".
Harris Lambrakis Website: www.harrislambrakis.com
5 July 2017
Nikolas Anadolis
Pianist and composer Nikolas Anadolis was one of five winners of the contest for composition and interpretation at Berklee University, and had won the Martial Solal award for his incredible virtuosity on the piano before he was 20. Now aged 25, he is much in demand as a soloist and his appearances around the world have earned him universal recognition and delirious reviews.
Website: www.unitedworld.gr/nikolas-anadolis.html
5 July 2017
Spiral Trio
When Spiral hit the stage, the mainstream becomes meaningful; vindicated as a vibrant genre far from cliche and the commonplace, we hear just how much it has to offer. Spyros Manesis and his companions-in-music employ their boundless technique and compositional imagination to create melodious soundscapes. The constant interplay as well as the high level of their musical and improvisation skills bring to the music elements of surprise, variety in the creation of musical images and imagination in the narration. On 2015 Spiral Trio (then as Manesis / Gyftakis / Gouliaris Trio) was awarded the First Prize at “Apollon”, the 1st Greek jazz competition.
Video: YouTube channel "Spiral Trio"
6 July 2017
Stephanos Chytiris Quartet
Drummer Stephanos Chytiris is one of the most creative talents of his generation. He splits his time between Athens and New York, playing with various groups and musicians who share an avant-garde orientation and an appetite for ceaseless exploration and experimentation. His music somehow combines the delicate with the larger-than-life, and his works have a warm, conversational approach.
Website: http://stephanoschytiris.com
6 July 2017
Andreas Polyzogopoulos Quartet
Andreas Polyzogopoulos, trumpet soloist and composer, is equally at ease in Athens, Paris and Copenhagen, thanks to his musical gifts and his ability to create exuberant melodies. He started experimenting with electronics and discovering his own voice inspired by Miles & Chet as well as Paolo Fresu & Nils Petter Molvær, since 2006. With his latest record released in 2015, “Anicca“, the electric bass has replaced the double bass and the Greek-mediterranean sound is even more evident. The band won the first place in “Motives for jazz” competition in Belgium and performed in the most important festivals and venues in Greece, plus concerts in Belgium and the Netherlands.
Website: http://www.andreaspolyzogopoulos.com/
6 July 2017
The Next Step Quintet
The Next Step Quintet are five musicians of immense talent and compositional genius. Though they are still under thirty, they have won over audiences and critics alike in Greece and beyond. In 2016 they won the first place in the "Small band Category" at the Made in New York Jazz Competition and performed as an honoured guest at the Tribeca Performing arts centre in New York with the support of Onassis Cultural Centre and Βodosakis Foundation.
Video: YouTube channel "theNextStep Quintet"
6 July 2017
Alekos Vretos
Oud soloist and composer Alekos Vretos and his quartet bring imagination, creativity and a contemporary spirit to their musical marriage of East and West. It is no coincidence that Vretos has embarked on a host of actual and metaphorical journeys between London and Istanbul.
Website: http://alekosvretos.gr
1st Greek Jazz Showcase
Upper Stage of the Onassis Cultural Centre Athens5 July 2017
G. Kontrafouris Baby Trio
Piano and organ player George Kontrafouris, a long-term collaborator of the Finnish saxophonist Timo Lassy, has toured the world playing everywhere from Britain to India. At the OCC, Kontrafouris will be appearing with his own long-standing combo—another two talented musicians under 25. In the last years G. Kontrafouris has performed as piano or organ player with outstanding musicians such as: Mark Johnson, Arild Andersen, Marcus Stockhausen. Furthermore he has been teaching jazz piano and organ for several years in the Ionian University in Corfu, Greece, in Athenaeum Conservatory in Athens, Greece, and in Sibelius Academy in Finland.
Website: http://kontrafouris.com/
5 July 2017
Harris Lambrakis Quartet
Harris Lambrakis is the John Coltrane of the ney. With his quartet - exceptionally skilled musicians and creative improvisers - he condenses the musical cultures of West and East in the best possible way, without resorting to folkloric cliches. The group is inspired from different genres of music; modal jazz, Greek music, modal music of the Eastern Mediterranean, jazz harmonies of the 1960s and improvisational music. Harris Lambrakis Quartet have recorded 2 CDs, "Théa" and "Metéora".
Harris Lambrakis Website: www.harrislambrakis.com
5 July 2017
Nikolas Anadolis
Pianist and composer Nikolas Anadolis was one of five winners of the contest for composition and interpretation at Berklee University, and had won the Martial Solal award for his incredible virtuosity on the piano before he was 20. Now aged 25, he is much in demand as a soloist and his appearances around the world have earned him universal recognition and delirious reviews.
Website: www.unitedworld.gr/nikolas-anadolis.html
5 July 2017
Spiral Trio
When Spiral hit the stage, the mainstream becomes meaningful; vindicated as a vibrant genre far from cliche and the commonplace, we hear just how much it has to offer. Spyros Manesis and his companions-in-music employ their boundless technique and compositional imagination to create melodious soundscapes. The constant interplay as well as the high level of their musical and improvisation skills bring to the music elements of surprise, variety in the creation of musical images and imagination in the narration. On 2015 Spiral Trio (then as Manesis / Gyftakis / Gouliaris Trio) was awarded the First Prize at “Apollon”, the 1st Greek jazz competition.
Video: YouTube channel "Spiral Trio"
6 July 2017
Stephanos Chytiris Quartet
Drummer Stephanos Chytiris is one of the most creative talents of his generation. He splits his time between Athens and New York, playing with various groups and musicians who share an avant-garde orientation and an appetite for ceaseless exploration and experimentation. His music somehow combines the delicate with the larger-than-life, and his works have a warm, conversational approach.
Website: http://stephanoschytiris.com
6 July 2017
Andreas Polyzogopoulos Quartet
Andreas Polyzogopoulos, trumpet soloist and composer, is equally at ease in Athens, Paris and Copenhagen, thanks to his musical gifts and his ability to create exuberant melodies. He started experimenting with electronics and discovering his own voice inspired by Miles & Chet as well as Paolo Fresu & Nils Petter Molvær, since 2006. With his latest record released in 2015, “Anicca“, the electric bass has replaced the double bass and the Greek-mediterranean sound is even more evident. The band won the first place in “Motives for jazz” competition in Belgium and performed in the most important festivals and venues in Greece, plus concerts in Belgium and the Netherlands.
Website: http://www.andreaspolyzogopoulos.com/
6 July 2017
The Next Step Quintet
The Next Step Quintet are five musicians of immense talent and compositional genius. Though they are still under thirty, they have won over audiences and critics alike in Greece and beyond. In 2016 they won the first place in the "Small band Category" at the Made in New York Jazz Competition and performed as an honoured guest at the Tribeca Performing arts centre in New York with the support of Onassis Cultural Centre and Βodosakis Foundation.
Video: YouTube channel "theNextStep Quintet"
6 July 2017
Alekos Vretos
Oud soloist and composer Alekos Vretos and his quartet bring imagination, creativity and a contemporary spirit to their musical marriage of East and West. It is no coincidence that Vretos has embarked on a host of actual and metaphorical journeys between London and Istanbul.
Website: http://alekosvretos.gr
