Marios Toumbas is one of the most precious collaborators of our Organization. Further to his outstanding performing skills he has his own unique way to lead and guide our bands as well as be a team member when needed. His multiskilled personality is an asset to us for having him with us!
MARIOS TOUMBAS (Pianist, Educator)
Berklee College of music
Jazz pianist Marios Toumbas has a Bachelor of Music, Cum Laude, in Music Synthesis (Berklee College of Music, Boston, MA) and a Master of Music with Honors in Jazz Studies (New England Conservatory of Music, Boston, MA). He was a student of internationally renowned jazz educator Charlie Banacos and famous jazz pianist Danilo Perez.
He has performed all over the world with famous jazz musicians such as, electric bassist Anthony Jackson (creator of the 6-string el. Bass), saxophonist Tony Lakatos and guitarists Jeff Richman and Brett Garsed. He has also performed at International Jazz festivals such as, the Montreal Jazz Festival in Canada, the Krakow Jazz Festival in Poland and the Blues North City Festival in Serbia, the Dusseldorf Jazz Rally and concerts in Berlin and Cologne Germany. Concerts venues include the Royal Festival Hall in London and Sun City Music Hall in Johannesburg South Africa.
He has been an instructor and lecturer of Jazz music at European University Cyprus since 2009. He is also a teacher of the international association Jazz Education Abroad which teaches Jazz all over the world.
GEORGIOS TSOLIS (Pianist, Composer,Orchestrator, Educator)
Short Bio:
Georgios Tsolis is an amazing Greek pianist and composer. He did his bachelor and masters degree in jazz piano performance at the Royal Conservatory of the Hague in Netherlands where he had been living and working for the last years. He counts numerous collaborations with international jazz artists and had been, as a leader, on the stage of many profound festivals in the world. His four personal albums gained some really fine reviews from all over the world.
His diverse musical background from classical, to traditional Greek music, from, Latin to free improvisation, alongside his deep knowledge of the tradition of jazz and influences from masters like Chick Corea and Herbie Hancock can be met in his music.
Recently, Tsolis was given the honorable title of the Cultural Ambassador of Greece by the Hellenic Institute of Culture in the USA.
We’ll have many news for G.Tsolis very soon since he is currently in the studio, recording a new album with his international quartet.
Below are some photo shoots by photographer Mavros Michalis during the quartet’s participation at the 11th Syros Jazz Festival in Greece.
With great respect to the jazz tradition Georgios is creating the sound of jazz in our century!
GLAFKOS KONTEMENIOTIS (Pianist, Composer, Educator)
(to visit his official web page please click on the photo)
A jazz pianist and composer originally from Cyprus, “mesmerized” by the sounds of jazz at an early age, Glafkos Kontemeniotis has been an active performer, arranger and composer since he moved to New York in 1988. A side man, pianist and arranger for many well received recordings, he has released his first recording as a leader entitled “Progress” in 2010. His second release as a leader entitled “Yugen” released in August 2019 , features a program of all original compositions and a few of New York’s finest musicians, Joel Frahm, Marcus Maclaurine and Dave Meade. His work has been described as “unmistakably personal”, a sound that incorporates elements and echoes from various musical and emotional experience
GEORGE KONTRAFOURIS ( GREEK PIANIST, COMPOSER, ACADEMIC)
New Album
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New Album 〰️
Ο Γιώργος Κοντραφούρης είναι Έλληνας πιανίστας, οργανίστας, συνθέτης και ακαδημαικός. Σπούδασε κλασικό πιάνο στο Εθνικό Ωδείο και στην εφηβική του ηλικία έκανε μαθήματα τζαζ αυτοσχεδιασμού με τον Μάρκο Αλεξίου. Επίσης, παρακολούθησε μαθήματα με τους Jim Beard και Jarmo Savolainen.
Αποφοίτησε με Bachelor’s και Master’s degree in Jazz Performance από την Ακαδημία Sibelius στη Φινλανδία. Έχει συνεργαστεί, ως πιανίστας ή οργανίστας, με πολύ σημαντικούς μουσικούς της παγκόσμιας σκηνής και έχει συμμετάσχει σε μεγάλα φεστιβάλ και jazz clubs στην Ευρώπη , Αγγλία, Ινδονησία και Αμερική.
Διδάσκει τζαζ πιάνο και όργανο στο Ιόνιο Πανεπιστήμιο και είναι συνεργάτης της Ακαδημίας Sibelius της Φινλανδίας. Έχει δώσει σεμινάρια σε διάφορες σχολές στην Ελλάδα, την Ιρλανδία, την Ινδονησία, Ελλάδα, Κύπρο και Εσθονία. Ο Γιώργος Κοντραφούρης είναι επίσης ένας ιδιαίτερος συνθέτης και ενορχηστρωτής. Μετρά σήμερα πολυάριθμα προσωπικά άλμπουμ ως leader και sideman.
Δισκογραφία (ως leader)
London 3, (George Kontrafouris organ, Jim Mullen guitar, Billy Pod drums, AVJ Productions, 2022.
Little Daddy’s Blues, (Chicken Coup Records, 2007) with George Kontrafouris: hammond organ; Manuel Dunkel: tenor sax; Sami Linna: guitar; Jussi Lehtonen: Drums
My only way, (Europe Records, 2002), solo piano.
Too Close, (Legend, 2000), George Kontrafouris: piano; featuring Ralph Peterson Jr. on drums; John Papatriantafillou: bass;
Don’t Be shy, (Lyra, 1997) George Kontrafouris: piano; John Papatriantafillou: bass; Christos Andrianos: drums.
Δισκογραφία (ως sideman)
Manuel Dunkel, Darn that Dream, (KS Jazz Records, 2007)
Dalindeo, Open Scenes, (Ricky-Tick Records, 2007)
Eero Koivistoinen Music Society, (Wolfgang Records, 2006)
Dimos Dimitriadis, The Game, (A&N Records, 2006)
Mandy Gaines & the Wade Mikkola Quintet, Taking a Chance, (AMK, 2006)
Timo Lassy Quartet, (Ricky-Tick Records, 2005)
Ionian Jazz Ensemble, Ionian University, (JAZZ & ΤΖΑΖ magazine, issue 120, March 2003)
Lydia Fylipovic, Nekada (2002)
Dimitris Vasilakis, Labyrinth, (Candid, 2001)
Sofia Noiti, Agios Hronos, (Legend, 2000)
Benny Golson, The Athens Sessions, (Legend 2000)
Giorgos Polichronakos, Blink, (Legend, 2000)
Stratos Vougas, A tribute to Hank Mobley, (Legend, 1999)
Balkan Voices, (FM Records, 1999)
Dimitris Vasilakis, Secret Path,
DANIELE GORGONE (IT)
DANIELE GORGONE (pianist, composer, educator)
Daniele Gorgone, an energetic and brilliant pianist born in 1977, is among the jazz musicians who most care about the sense of tradition and American jazz culture in Italy.
He trained through various seminars and courses with Italian (Dado Moroni, Riccardo Zegna, Stefano Bollani) and American (Barry Harris, Norman Simmons, David Hazeltine) teachers.
Given the predominantly swing, blues, gospel language that characterizes his pianism, he had the opportunity to collaborate with several international jazz stars both at the record level and by participating in tours in Italy and abroad. Among the musicians with whom he collaborated: Jason Marsalis, Garrison Fewell, Joe Lee Wilson, Bucky Pizzarelli, Andy Gravish, Rachel Gould, Claudio Chiara, Fabrizio Bosso, Patrice Soler, Max Ionata, Mattia Cigalini, Emanuele Cisi, Marlene Verplank, Marco Panascia , Jesse Davis, Joahnnes Faber, Scott Hamilton, John Davis, Tino Tracanna, Grant Stewart, Luciano Milanese, Flavio Boltro, David Schnitter, Dave Glasser, Peter King, Tom Kirkpatrick, Perico Sambeat, Joe Cohn, Jim Rotondi, Stjepko Gut, Deborah Carter, Carlo Atti, Battista Lena, David Pastor.
Countries and festivals in which he has played: France, Switzerland, USA, Ireland, Germany, Slovenia, Montopoli Jazz Festival (PI), Piacenza Jazz festival (PC), Gallarate Jazz Festival (MI), Villa Imperiale Jazz (GE), Beat Onto (BA), Sile jazz (TR), Fermo Jazz Festival (FE), Francavilla Jazz (BR), Peperoncino jazz festival (CS), Roccella Jonica (RC), Jazz at Metastasio (PO), Turin Jazz Club (TO), Seravezza jazz Festival (LU), Latina Jazz Festival (LT), Darry Jazz Festival (Northern Irl), Summer Jazz Open air (New Jersey, USA), Jazz a la Bellevilloise (Paris), Istanbul Jazz Center (Turkey), Jazz Club Luzern (CH), Le Controtemps Geneve (CH), Le jam Montepellier (FR), Jemboree Barcelona (SP).
Among the prizes he received: winner of the Barga Jazz competition (LU) section emerging groups (Sep 2006), finalist at the Urbani Prize (MC) in 2009 and critical acclaim for the Chicco Bettinardi competition (PC) in 2010.
Among the record publications as leaders:
Daniele Gorgone NY trio feat. Marco panascia and John Davis (reg in New York October 2008).
Daniele Gorgone 4tet feat Dave Schnitter Daniele Gorgone - piano, Max Rolff - double bass, Elisabeth Keledjian - drums, David Schnitter - tenor sax (Geko records 2010).
Daniele Gorgone trio - Lucky Man feat. Luciano Milanese and Giovanni Paolo Liguori (Blue Art 2014).
Come sideman: Mingus sound of love (Federica Gennai 4tet - Samjazz, 2007), Mindfullness Giovanni Sanguineti feat. Grant Stewart - video radio, 2009), Mira Que Parla (Perico Sambeat italian 4tet - Blue Art, 2013), Angel Song (Guazzo, Melani, Rolff, Gorgone - JC records, 2016), Move the Joy (Kirkpatrick, Paoli, Zunino , Palopoli, Ranalli - Full Heads, 2014).