A history of Greek Jazz

Sphinx   The first group with a distinct jazz character. Markos Alexiou on piano, Lakis Zois on guitar, Giorgos Filipidis on bass, Giorgos Trantalidis on drums. The band is focusing on original compositions. Sphinx (ACBA) 1979 Epta. Diastasis (ACBA) 1980.  Sakis Papadimitriou/Floros Floridis   The first daring duet and the first Greek modern jazz recording at the Jazz Club of Barakos in Plaka. A typical presentation of the two musicians, that more or less indicates the roads they followed later.  Improvising at Barakos (Improvisation series) 1979.  Sakis Papadimitriou   His approach to piano playing is characterized by innovation... His music is full of pictures. It's just a matter of whether one can see...  Pianoepafes (Aftosxediasmos) 1980. Piano Plays (Leo) 1983. First Move (Leo) 1986. Orpheus '85 (Praxis) 1987 With Gunder Sommer. Piano Oracles (Leo) 1989. Piano Cellules (Adda) 1990. Piano Oracles (Leo) 1994.in CD mode this time plus a side of the First Move. Periferia (Adda) 1995. With Daunik,Lazro,Carlos Zingaro,and Jean Bolcato. To Tragoudi tis LULU (Ano Kato) 1996. Plus And Minus (Leo) 1997. Floros Floridis   A musician of colaborations, in international and national level, During his career he has founded some of the most interesting jazz bands, which recorded equally interesting albums.  (n)tzzrrrt (aftosxediasmos) 1980. Adonis 21.10.1983 (JnD) 1984. With paul Lytton,Hans Shneider,Pinguin Moschen. Amore (JnD) 1985 With Mark Charig,Taya Fisher. Ellispontos (JnD) 1986 With Paul Lytton ,Hans Schneider,Phil Wachsmann. Krok Trio (JnD) 1988 With Mixalis SiganidiS,Dimitris Polizoidis. The Manager In Charge I Salute (JnD/Lyra) 1988 With Giannis Murtzopoulos. Human Aspect (Lyra/OM) 1990 With VIncent Chansey, Peter Kowald,Louis Moholo. Duos: Europa (FMP) From Peter Kowald. Pyrichia (Ano Kato) 1991 With Peter Kowald, Ilias Papadopoulos. Goutou Goupatou (Ano Kato) 1994 With Mixalis Siganidis, Kostas Vombolos. To Velos Tou Xronou (Ano Kato) 1996. Syrtis Major (Ano Kato) 1998 With M. Petrovic, V. Nikolic. Aphorisms (Ano Kato) 1998 With P. Kowald, G. Sommer Black Sea Forest (Lyra) Kiriakos Sfetsas   Not a strictly jazz composer, but why should he ? His musicall education is such,that shows the depth of his understanding of techniques, and wise ways of using them. The result is the introduction of a true ' Greek Fusion'.  Without borders (EMI) 1980 With Greek Fusion Orchestra. In the sun stream - Taksim (EMI) 1981. The night with Silena (CBS) 1987. Silent Days (Utopia) 1991. Diplochromia (University Of Creta) 1994.  Mimis Plessas   The link between the traditional and the modern Greek Jazz scene.  Mimis Plessas Quartet (Minos) 1980. 40 Years of Jazz Part 1(EMI) 1981. 40 Years of Jazz Part 2(EMI) 1981. Mimis Plessas Quartet plus 6 Soloists (MINOS) 1985  Giorgos Trantalidis   In continuous touch with the Hungarian scene, a musician which should balance his choices better...  Clarification (EMI) 1981 With George Vukan,Balazs Berkes. One,Two,Three,Four (EMI) 1981 With Tony Lakatos. Hores (Afoi Falirea) 1985. Mesogeios (Afoi Falirea) 1987. Erisma (BMG) 1988. a.m-p.m. (Akti) 1992. 15 Xronia Elliniki Jazz (BMG) 1994. O Xairetismos (BMG) 1996. Dimitris Zafirelis   A guitarist which moves inside an atmospheric rock-jazz space. His music is full of colours...  Fillosies (Lyra) 1982. Rock Oriental (FM) 1992.  Minas Alexiadis   A skillful pianist. Maybe contemporary music and academy has kept him away from jazz. We need him...  Integra (Praxis) 1981. Keyboard Music (MBI) 1987. Stories Among Friends (Lyra) 1997  Nana Simopoulou   A musician of international fame. Creates beautiful songs and her guitar playing is very melodic. She has recorded with big jazz musicians, greek and foreign ones. Pandora's Blues (Banana S) 1983. Wings and Air (Enja) 1987. Still Waters (Enja) 1990.  Thomas Sliomis A talented pianist and composer. He moves, though, mainly inside formalistic borders.  Phonorama (Praxis) 1983 With Daunik Lazro.  Nikos Georgousis  A pianist that showed up and disappeared like a comet.  Pictures 1985.  Kolektiva Halkis   The creative voice of the countryside. With a passion for research and a lot of knowledge. Very good for her time as far as contemporary music matters are concerned. 'Art Duo' followed.  Kolektiva HALKIS 1985.  A Priori A moving side of jazz rock. Not so electric but full of essence.  A Priori (Ano Kato) 1986.  Lito Vogiatzoglou   A unique person and a talented, melodic composer. The need to move on ..  Tili,Tili,Tili (Praxis) 1986.  Vagelis Katsoulis  Not a strictly jazz musician. He has managed to give to us an electronic music full of purity and quality. He is always 'in'...  Minimal Suite / Double image (Praxis) 1986. Keyboard Music (MBI) 1987. The Slipping Beauty (Utopia) 1988. Whispers Of Immorality (Utopia) 1990. Through The Dark (Lyra) 1997.  Iskra   A 'powerfull' fusion team. Lynch, Fakanas, Farazis, Touliatos.. Each one followed his path, later...  A New Day (Polydor) 1986. Parastasis (Utopia) 1990.  Thanos Mikroutsikos  Inside his wide interest for music, Mikroutsikos hides a creative interest for jazz. 'Duo' is exceptional, as an important approach to the realms of contemporary jazz.  Duo For Saxophone and Electric Bass (1987). Music For Two (Minos) 1992.  Andreas Georgiou  An excessive and educated guitarist, his knowledge allows him to enter the core of jazz & Tzaz music.  Spatial Trembling (Praxis) 1987. Ermai .1990 With George Xatzimihelakis,Basilis Stamatiadis Talisman(C+R) 1990. Modus Vivendi (Thema) 1995. Vananda (Libra) 1998. Mixalis Siganidis   Apart from the fact that he's a great bassist, he's a maitre of musical-poetical-theatrical collage, with a unique sense of humour.  Little brother (Lyra) 1988. In the morning and at night(Lyra) 1990 with Theodoros Rellos. To Traino Fantasma Filos (Lyra) 1995. Thanasis Zlatanos  Electronic conceptions inside the borders of a real ambient.  Artificial (Lollipop) 1988.  Giorgos Fakanas  He has made the first notable big band recording. Also he's responsible for a very interesting interpretation of fusion.  Horizon (RCA) 1988. Amorosa (CBS) 1991. Stand-Art (Eros) 1995. Sounds of winter  A 4-lp album... represents in the best way the status of our alternative jazz, pop, rock and FOLK scene in the middle of the 80's.  Sounds of winter  Pantelis Karageorgis   A pianist with an in-depth study on Monk. A musician with an artful personality. Beetwen Speech & Song (Cadense)1994. In Time (Leo Lab) 1994. Lines (Accurate) 1995. Electric Jazz Trio   The group of Thodoros & Nikos Kapilidis, and Giotis Kiourtsoglou from Salonica. They are so good... Feturing Manny Boyd and Dany Hayes (Rotonda) 1990.  Basilis Tsampropoulos   Jazz with a classic background and atmospheric touches.  Sky Scape (Utopia) 1990. Images (Lyra) 1992.  Takis Barberis   Electric fusion, rock melodies, good beat. A promising musician.  Something From July (Lyra) 1990. Are You Happy? (Lyra) 1992. Episodes (Lyra) 1995. Naiva (Lyra) 1998.  Eleni Karaindrou  Movie music? Or maybe real movie poetry? She colaborated with Garberek and ECM records.  L'Africana (Minos) 1990. Music For Films (EMC) 1991. The Suspended Step of the Stork (ECM) 1992. Ulysses' Gaze (ECM New Series) 1995. Eternity And A Day (ECM New Series) 1998. Kostas Liakis   Big Band, many greek jazzmen, standards.. for god's shake...  Coltrane Jazz-Funk-Latin Big Band (Europe) 1991. Coltrane Jazz-Funk-Latin Big Band (Europe) 1992.  Takis Paterelis/Giorgos Kontrafouris Sax and piano. Piano and sax. Really funky...  Funky People (Europe) 1991.  Stigma jazz band Korinthos  The only active dixieland band in Greece, based in Korinthos.  Pegasus (Europe) 1991.  Kostas Xristou  Moody guitarist moving in very personal directions.  Ampira (Lyra-OM) 1991.  Kostas Xanzopoulos Following new age paths.  Totem (Akti) 1991.  Eleni Adoni  A voice phenomenically resembling to that of Nana Mouschouris, with interpretating passion. Lives in the U.S. and works with Ran Blake.  Mistral (Zoning) 1991.  Haris Mathiopoulos Saxophonic musical background.  If (SDM) 1991  Christos Galanopoulos  Following new age paths,also...  A Bird's Eye View (BMG) 1991.  Dimitris Petsetakis   Following new age paths,as well...  Missing Links (Utopia) 1991.  Ioanni  New age aesthetics. More info soon...  Vital Space (Ambrosia) 1992. Ethernal (Ambrosia) 1993.  Korinthos/Politismos 92  An album showing a part of the musical identity of Korinthos. Jazz rock poetry  Korinthos :Politismos '92 (Europe) 1992.  Giorgos Hadjinasios   Music and cinema. Piano improvisation at the omonymous Fritz Lang movie.  Metropolis (WEA) 1992.  Christos Tsiamoulis  Byzantine influences interpretated with much sensitivity.  Athos o Emos (FM) 1992.  From this point on, comments stop, as artits and their albums have been presented- or will be presented soon- into the pages of our magazine...   Basilis Rakopoulos    Roxanni (Lyra) 1993.  Stamatis Mazaris    Oneira (Lyra ) 1993.  KOSTA    Solo Piano (Solo) 1994.  Ixnilates tou Ioyra    Inilates tou Ioyra (Lyra) 1994.  ARC DUO    Skines Hxou (Evdomi Diastasi) 1994.  PAGE ONE    Page One (Utopia)1994. Beyond the Blue (FM Records) 1995.  Savina Giannatou/Nikos Touliatos   Masko (Simadron) 1994.  EAST VISION    East Vision (Utopia) 1994.  Axileas Persidis    Notios Ixos (Polygram) 1994. Notios Ixos -Skia tis Thalasas (Merkury) 1996. Lakis Zois     Esoteric (Eros) 1994.  Marika Kampatsea    La Saradua (Musica Viva) 1994.  Optiki Mousiki    Optiki Mousiki vol.1 Optiki Mousiki Vol.2 (Iamvos)  Markos Alexiou    Flying to the Unknown (Eros) 1994. Giannatou Savina Anoixi Stin Saloniki (Lyra) 1994. Magoulas Giorgos Gaia (New Age Sounds) 1994. Dimosioipaliliko Retire Ianos (Abyssos) 1995. Bombolos Kostas Theatrika (Lyra) 1995. To Domatio Ton Koritsion (Ano Kato) 1996. The Dream of Ro/I Walk In The Forest (Lyra) 1997. MANOS ACHALINOTOPOULOS Hyacinth (SONY) 1998. MAKIS ABLIANITIS & THE JAZZ CREW Flame Keeper (THESIS) 1997. STRATOS VOUGAS QUARTET Breakin' Loose (MBI) 1997. DIOTIMA Diotima (ANO KATO) 1996 IASIS Iasis (LYRA) 1996. Amalgama (LYRA) 1998. THEO KAPILIDIS Blue Jazz Expression (RIA) 1998. ALEXIS BOULGOURTZIS Oriental West (FM) 1996. METAXAS My Friend Mephisto (PALMOS) 1997. JOHN MOURJOPOULOS Drama Music (ANO KATO) 1996. PAPADIMITRIOU/SYLLEOU The Song of Lulu (ANO KATO) 1996. SYLLEOU/PAPADIMITRIOU Open Routes (ANO KATO) 1997. PAPADIMITRIOU/AGOURIDAKIS Plus And Minus (LEO) 1997. TRIO PRAXIS Palmus (ANO KATO) 1996. TAKIS FARAZIS Spells of Music (LYRA) 1996. LEFTERIS CHRISTOFIS Mythoplasia (LIKNOS) 1996. HUMAN TOUCH Human Touch (LYRA) 1998.

jazz & jazzRelated Links