Dimitris Ventourakis

Dimitris Ventourakis

Dimitris Ventourakis (b. 1993) is a music performer, composer and educator. His main instrument of choice is the piano (and/or keyboards of any kind) and he focuses in improvisational music as much as in written compositions. He was born and raised in Athens where he works as a music teacher and as a solo musician or member of groups in the local music scene, theatre and in general the art field, while also being a founder of Athens Arts Collective NPO whose focus is in building environments suitable for artistic creation, education, research and converse. He has studied and has degrees in Musicology (specialised in Anthropology of Music and Ethnomusicology), music theory, classical piano and performance, composition and theory of jazz music.

Don Stavrinos

Don Stavrinos

Don Stavrinos lives in Athens. He is the founder and owner of Studio Ennia (Studio Nine).

 As a musician he is working with dancers, choreographers, visual and performing artists, poets and musicians of a wide spectrum. 
He has performed in a variety of spaces, from squats and street performing events to taverns and bars, theatres and stadiums… 

Jannis Anastasakis

Jannis Anastasakis

Jannis Anastasakis was born in 1984. Today he is considered to be in a league of his own as a guitar player, improvisor and soundscape artist in Greece.
His unique, in-depth approach of the guitar as an ambient sound generator, and the extended use of effects (he is also the builder and designer of the JAM pedals) and analog synths, results in a very personal sound and delivery, that sets him apart from all other players in his country. He is coming up with unique and fresh sounds that take the music from ambient to psychedelic and off limits to new territory!
He has collaborated with great artists such as: Arve Henriksen, Eivind Aarset, Christian Fennesz, Gilad Atzmon, Thodoris Rellos, Savina Yannatou, Floros Floridis, Michalis Siganidis, Lena Platonos, Harris Lambrakis, Haig Yazdjian, Dionysis Savopoulos to name a few.


Projects & Collaborations :

2003 : He joined the progressive rock band “Intravenus” and in 2011 they released their first album, titled “Oiseau”

2006 : He started making his own analog guitar effects under the brand “JAM pedals”. JAM pedals today are considered to be one of the best boutique pedal companies in the world with internationally renowned artists using them, including : Bill Frisell, John Scofield, Nels Cline, Marc Ribot, John Medeski, Lee Ranaldo, Fred Frith, Eivind Aarset to name a few…

2012 : Having found his own personal sound and musical direction, he forms his own personal experimental project “Elektronik Meditation”, combining sound and vision, with Deniz Angelaki performing live painting during the concerts. Together, they have released three independent albums titled, “Live CD/DVD”, “Purgatory” and “Vigeland”.

2012 : He is playing alongside one of the most renowned songwriters, “Dionysis Savopoulos”, a tribute to the music of Manos Hatzidakis, for a series of concerts all over Greece, including performances at the legendary Herodion theater in Athens, the Megaron concert hall, and the Roman Theater in Patra.

During the same year, he is also called to join “Haig Yazdjian Group”, with whom they perform all over Greece, Cyprus and abroad. Haig is an internationally acclaimed artist, both as a composer and an oud virtuoso, with collaborations that include Ara Dinkjian and Loreena McKennitt.

2013 : He forms an experimental project with “Thodoris Rellos” (of Mode Plagal), one of the greatest sax players in Greece and they release their debut album “HORSELOVERFAT” in 2018

2013 : He organizes and participates in “Deteriorate Sound Festival”, an ambient-noise-experimental festival, in Athens, taking place once a year.

2013 finds him touring with Elektronik Meditation project in Oslo, Norway and in Istanbul, Turkey (Impro Festival).

In 2014 Elektronik Meditation collaborate with Arve Henriksen for a live performance in Athens, Greece and same year they participate in LPM (Live Performers Meeting) in Eindhoven, Netherlands.

In 2015 Elektronik Meditation released a new album, live recorded in Emmanuel Vigeland Mausoleum (Oslo, Norway)

In May 2015 Elektronik Meditation performed live in “Onassis cultural center” in Athens, featuring Thodoris Rellos (sax, flute) and Nikos Sidirokastritis (drums).
Jannis Anastasakis did also an opening act for Ben Frost in his performance in Athens.

Since November 2015 he performs once a month in KET (Athens) for a unique performance called “Sound of Color”. Several musicians and visual artists are invited to create an impro audio-visual performance (Eyal Maoz, Gilad Atzmon, Harris Labrakis, Nikos Sidirokastrits, Fotis Siotas, Guido de Flaviis, Giannis Notaras, Floros Floridis, Yorgos Dimitriadis, Antonis Anissegos, Kostas Theodorou, Sebastien Marteau, Ilan Manouach, Dimitris Klonis… )

In December 2015 Jannis Anastasakis organized and participated in the 1st Avant-Garde-Guitar Festival in Athens. He also collaborated on stage with Eivind Aarset (Norway).

In March 2016 “TV BOON” trio is formed with Floros Floridis (reeds, electronics) and Yorgos Dimitriadis (drums, electronics). The trio did a small tour in Greece and they released one CD.

He participates on Stella N.Christou’s, “NI-KO” which was released in May 2016

In August 2016 he participates in one of the biggest projects happened in Greece, the “634 minutes in a Volcano”, where 15 musicians improvised for 10 hours and 34 minutes in Nisyro’s volcano.

In 2017 he collaborated on stage with Christian Fennesz.

He participated in the recording and live performance of Lena Platonos’ latest album.

In 2017 he forms an impro trio with Savina Yannatou & Harris Lambrakis and they perform all over Greece & Cyprus.

2018 finds him releasing his debut album released on vinyl & CD, with Thodoris Rellos, titled “HORSELOVERFAT“

He also contributed to the making of the album “Drums to heal society” by Billy Pod

In December 2018 he collaborated for second time with Arve Henriksen on stage in St.Paul’s Anglican church in Athens.

In 2019 he collaborates with the National Theatre of Greece for the music theatrical composition by Theodore Abazis, “The man who laughs”

In 2020 Jannis was invited to perform with Michalis Kalkanis group & Haig Yazdjian for a special 2-nights concert in Ancient Epidaurus Little Theatre.

 

Sofia Zafeiriou

Sofia Zafeiriou

Sofia Zafeiriou is a musician, composer and sound artist born in Naousa and based in Athens, Greece. Part of her research circulates the cross-pollination of lived rhythms and modalities with electronic and stochastic interfaces, noise, improvisation, and acoustic performatives. 
Her work captures music for ensembles and DIY orchestras, field recordings in nature and in camps, sound that comes from relations of things, sometimes strangely located in the deep.
 
She has performed her work in Diyarbakir, Tirana, Beirut (Irtijal festival), Suleimaniyah (Iraqi Kurdistan, Space21 festival), Berlin (CTM Musicmakers hacklab) and Athens (Greek National Opera, Onassis Stegi, OnOff studio, Chimeres.space, Romantso, Communitism, Lycabettus festival etc.).
 

Dimitra Kousteridou 

Dimitra Kousteridou

Dimitra Kousteridou(GR) is composer, researcher and sound artist, currently lives and works in Athens, GR. Her work is driven by a desire to invent a language in composition that examines tactile and sound aspects within site-specific installations and performances, originating from improvisation. Through multidisciplinary forms that include ephemeral situations and fractures of objects, she creates a space for research while using the sound and natural attributes of materials in time. Recently working on improvised sound compositions with handmade instruments (interactive sound circuits). She has presented her research at conferences and festivals, solo and group exhibitions in Greece, Germany, the Netherlands, Portugal, Norway, Lebanon, Serbia, and the United Kingdom. She is a founding member of the experimental intermediate project “6.8KOhm Improvisation Series,” an ongoing improvisation action, in collaboration with musicians and artists.

Nicky Kokkoli

Nicky Kokkoli

Nicky Kokkoli was born in Athens, Greece. She is an active member of the Greek Jazz and Free improvisational music scene, developing her own solo projects as well as participating in various music ensembles. Nicky has toured and continue to do so in big stages across Europe, in venues such as Fylkingen – Stockholm, Cafe ‘Oto – London, and performed in many international music festivals such as Aarhus Jazz Festival  in Denmark, Irtijal Festival in Lebanon, and Borderline Festival in Greece etc.

She has collaborated with the London Improvisers Orchestra and professional musicians, among others: Sofia Jernberg, Maggie Nicols, Lisa Ullén, Christer Bothén, Martin Küchen, Bram De Looze, Sharif Sehnaoui and others.  

She is a member of the Swedish-Greek band “Ahanes” which in 2022 released their first album, “Petrichor”, released by “Clean Feed” – a Portuguese record label considered to be one of the most important in the world. The album was selected among the label’s best releases by legendary magazine New York City Jazz Record. 

She is currently in the process of releasing her first album with her sextet, while also working on a solo project for saxophone and electronics. Nicky explores the limits of the saxophone while playing with contrasts, using melodies and vocabulary from Jazz, Improvised Music, Traditional Music of Greece and the Middle East. Her vision is to be able to create her own unique music sound based on all musical influences that inspire her, and through her music, to question current political and social issues. 

Η Νίκη Κοκκόλη γεννημένη το 1996 στην Αθήνα, είναι σαξοφωνίστρια που ασχολείται ενεργά με την Jazz και Αυτοσχεδιαστική Μουσική. Είναι μέλος της Ελληνοσουιδικής μπάντας Ahanes που πρόσφατα εκδόθηκε η πρώτη τους δισκογραφική δουλειά με τίτλο Petrichor, από την θρυλική δισκογραφική Clean Feed όπου έχει εκδώσει δίσκους των Pharaoh Sanders, Anthony Braxton, Craig Taborn, Evan Parker κλπ. Ταξιδεύει στην Ευρώπη δίνοντας πολλές συναυλίες σε μεγάλες σκηνές όπως Fylkingen – Στοκχόλμη, Cafe ‘Oto – Λονδίνο κλπ. Έχει συνεργαστεί με τους London Improvisers Orchestra, Sofia Jernberg, Maggie Nicols, Lisa Ullén, Christer Bothén, Martin Küchen, Bram De Looze, Sharif Sehnaoui κ.α. Ενώ επίσης έχει εμφανιστεί σε μεγάλα φεστιβάλ ανά τον κόσμο όπως Aarhus Jazz  Festival – Δανία 2023, Irtijal Festival – Λίβανος, Borderline Festival 2022/2023 – Aθήνα.
Τα τελευταία χρόνια μελετάει την μουσική της Μέσης Ανατολής και την Ελληνική παραδοσιακή μουσική. Στόχος της είναι να καταφέρει να δημιουργήσει τον μουσικό της ήχο, βάσει όλων των μουσικών της επιρροών και βεβαίως βάσει των κοινωνικών και πολιτικών συνθηκών που επικρατούν.
Αυτή την περίοδο ασχολείται με το solo project της, για σαξόφωνο και ηλεκτρονικά ενώ επίσης είναι στην διαδικασία έκδοσης του πρώτου της προσωπικού δίσκου με το σεξτέτο της.

Dimos Vryzas

Dimos Vryzas

Dimos Vryzas is a violinist, improviser, sound artist and composer from Thessaloniki, Greece.

For several years now his focus in music has moved toward free improvisation. He studied improvisation with Fred Frith and Alfred Zimmerlin.

With a unique approach that comes out of a comprehensive spectrum of influences, from classical and folk music to rock, noise and ambient music, he is interested in exploring the limits of his instrument, working with the contrasts of acoustic / electric sound and exploring new ways of expression within music.

While the violin is the main source of his sound, he often uses his voice as well as other instruments.

Creating various soundscapes, podcasts, working with noises, composing music for film and theater are also at the core of his work.

As an improviser he performs solo as well as in a variety of other formations.

He has collaborated with many composers, visual artists, directors and dancers in various interdisciplinary projects all over Europe.

In recent years, he has been traveling, recording and performing with many great musicians in Greece, Switzerland, Portugal, France, Belgium, Germany and more. 

Education / Diplomas 

-High School Diploma, French College De La Salle (2010). 

-Bachelor’s Degree, Political Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (2015). 

-Diploma of Classical Violin, Aristoxenio Conservatory of Thessaloniki (2016).

-Master’s Degree, Specialized Performance Improvisation, Musik Akademie Basel (2019).

-Master Classes with Fred Frith, Harald Kimmig, Joelle Leandre, George Ε. Lewis, Marcus Stockhausen, and Lucas Nigli, among others.

 

dimosvryzas.com

https://www.facebook.com/dimos.vryzas

https://www.instagram.com/vryzasdimos

Artemis Vavatsika

Artemis Vavatsika

Artemis Vavatsika is a musician and improviser specializing in the accordion. She was born in Thessaloniki, Greece. Her relationship with music started at a young age. She graduated from the Athenaeum Conservatory with an accordion diploma. She has also completed Music B.A. and M.Phil. programs at the University of Macedonia in Thessaloniki. She has performed in concerts, theatre and opera productions, and festivals in Greece and abroad. She has been improvising on stage since 2018. Collaborations: Nefeli Stamatogiannopoulou (Oν Off Studio), Tasos Stamou (London Improvisers Orchestra), Georges Pilali, Stelios Mihas (Grey Studio), Gianni’s Arapis, Stephanos Chytiris, Alexis Porfyriadis, Danae Stefanou, Pascal Niggerkemper, et al.
 
Contact info:
Instagram: @artvavapewpew https://www.instagram.com/artvavapewpew/

giannis despotakis

Giannis Despotakis

Yannis Despotakis (GR) is a percussionist, overtone singer and instant composer born in Greece. He received piano and electric guitar lessons and studied Indian classical music with Satnam Ghai and Nihat Yersaloglu. At the same time he studied drums under the guidance of Nikos Kapilides. He began his artistic career in 2005 and 3 years later a long standing collaboration begun with the New Zealand saxophonist and composer Hayden Chisholm as with the Greek singer and composer Savina Giannatou ,

which continue up until today. Since 2008 he has devoted himself to the research and practical application of free experiencial musical improvisation, the primal vocal traditions of the globe, vocal sound creation and the vital connection between the heart, voice and improvisation. He has released 10 albums in the last 10 years.His first solo album entitled “The Silent Cry of an Urban Orangutan”, in which there are obvious references to the affinity of musical traditions between Greece and the Central East (Kazakhstan, Mongolia etc) was released in 2021. This album is dedicated to the work and memory of the recently lost Dr. Milford Graves (1941-2021) and the very early lost Demetrio Stratos (1945-1979). 

 Since 2014 together with Antonis Stavrinos they have created the artistic ensemble Meating For Business. In 2017 he collaborated with the theater group PYR for the performance of ARRIVAL that took place in the ancient theatre of small Epidaurus within the framework of the Athens-Epidaurus festival, where he instantly composed the live improvisational music of the play. His in-depth engagement with traditional Mongolian singing for more than 15 years is one of the things that have vitally contributed  to the harmony of his artistic expression. He collaborates with notable artists such as:

Gareth Lubbe,Sebastian Gramms,Philip Zoubeck, Joe Tornabene, Zakari Frantz, 

Moritz Koether, Antonis Anissegos, Agamemnon Moustakas, Stelios Mihas, 

Yannis Anastasakis, Natalia Manda, Nefeli Stamatogianopoulou, Dimitris Pantelias and many others.

https://linktr.ee/despotas

Ο Γιάννης Δεσποτάκης είναι κρουστός, ηχοποιός και συνθέτης γεννημένος στην Ελλάδα. Ελαβε μαθήματα πιάνου και ηλεκτρικης κιθάρας, ενώ μελέτησε συστηματικά ινδική κλασική μουσική και ρυθμολογια με τον Satnam Ghai και τον Nihat Yersaloglu. Παράλληλα σπούδασε drums υπο την καθοδήγηση του Νίκου Καπηλιδη. Ξεκινησε την καλλιτεχνική του σταδιοδρομία το 2005 και 3 χρόνια αργότερα προέκυψε η έκτοτε μόνιμη συνεργασία με τον Νεοζηλανδό σαξοφωνίστα και συνθέτη Hayden Chisholm καθώς και με την Ελληνίδα τραγουδίστρια και συνθέτη Σαβίνα Γιαννάτου. Από το 2008 έχει αφοσιωθεί στην έρευνα και πρακτική εφαρμογη του ελεύθερου βιωματικού μουσικού αυτοσχεδιασμού, των αρχέγονων φωνητικών παραδόσεων της υδρογείου, της φωνητικής ηχοποιίας και της ζωτικής σύνδεσης μεταξυ καρδιάς, φωνής και αυτοσχεδιασμού μέσα απ το πρίσμα της ελεύθερης μουσικης δημιουργίας. Έχει κυκλοφορήσει 7 δίσκους τα τελευταία 6 χρόνια με πιο πρόσφατο το πρώτο σόλο άλμπουμ του με τίτλο “The Silent Cry of an Urban Orangutan”, στο οποίο ενυπάρχουν εμφανείς αναφορές στη συγγένεια των μουσικοφωνητικώνπαραδόσεων μεταξύ Ελλάδας και Κεντρικής Ανατολής(Καζακστάν,Μογγολία κτλ) . Το αλμπουμ αυτό είναι αφιερωμένο στο έργο και την μνήμη του πρόσφατα χαμένου Dr. Milford Graves (1941-2021) και του πολύ πρόωρα χαμένου Demetrio Stratos (1945-1979). Από το 2014 μαζί με τον Αντώνη Σταυρινό έχουν δημιουργήσει το καλλιτεχνικό σύνολο Meating For Business. Το 2017 συνεργάστηκε με την θεατρική ομάδα ΠΥΡ για την παράστασηΑΦΙΞΗΣ που έλαβε χώρα στη μικρή Επίδαυρο στα πλαίσια του φεστιβάλ Αθηνών-Επιδαύρου όπου και συνέθεσε αυτοστιγμεί τη ζωντανή αυτοσχεδιαστική μουσική του εργου. Η εις βάθος ενασχόληση του με το παραδοσιακό μογγολικο τραγούδι για περισσότερα απο 15 χρονιά είναι ένα απ τα πράγματα που έχουν συμβάλει ζωτικα στην αρμονία της καλλιτεχνικής του έκφρασης. Συνεργάζεται με αξιοσημείωτους καλλιτέχνες οπως: Gareth Lubbe, Sebastian Gramms, Philip Zoubecκ, Joe Tornabene, Αντώνης Ανισσεγκος, Δημήτρης Παντελιας, Στέλιος Μίχας, Μέμος Μουστάκας, Ναταλία Μαντά, Γιάννης Αναστασάκης, Νεφελη Σταματογιαννοπούλου και πολλούς άλλους.-Απευθύνεται σε καλλιτέχν/ες, μουσικούς, ηθοποιούς, performer,τραγουδιστ/ες, συνθέτ/ες, σκηνοθέτ/ες και οποιοδήποτε θέλει να εξερευνήσει αυτόν τον τομέα.

https://linktr.ee/despotas

 

Stephanos Chytiris

Stephanos Chytiris

Stephanos Chytiris is a drummer and improviser from Athens Greece. He has worked on a wide range of projects from avant-garde jazz to contemporary classical music. Keeping the balance between tradition and modernism on drums and cymbals, his projects function as a free base for musicians to explore and interact with personal and collective unconscious, aiming to reach a cathartic experience.

He has studied sound art, at Dartigton college of arts (England) and trained in Long Island University (New York) under the tutelage of Sam Newsome and renowned master drummer, Michael Carvin. Since then he has collaborated and developed projects such as Flux Project with Bram De Looze and Luca Rosenfeld with “Pyrin” (2014) being the first album of the trio produced by Michael Carvin, featuring Daniel Carter, Todd Neufeld and greek actress Calliroee Myriagou. “Egata” is his large ensemble unit with Ingrid Laubrock, Todd Neufeld, Pascal Niggenkemper, Rema Hasumi, Lester St. Louis and Joe Moffett. He has performed with Tony Malaby for several concerts in Greece and many more artists and musicians from Athens creative scene.

https://stephanoschytiris.com/

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