Georgios Tsolis is a greek jazz pianist, arranger, and composer that was born and raised in the island of Kefalonia western Greece, currently living in the Hague the Netherlands. He is an active jazz performer since 2005 both in the Greek and Dutch jazz scene. He studied at the royal conservatory of the Hague and he holds a bachelors and masters diploma in jazz piano performance.
He is mainly performing with small groups and most of his personal work refers to jazz piano trios. As a bandleader, he participated in many jazz festivals in Greece and Holland with his trio performing his original compositions. He has received very good Reviews from both Greek and Dutch magazines and newspapers for his performances as well as his first personal album. His diverse musical background from classical, to traditional Greek music from Latin to free improvisation, his conservatory years studying the tradition of jazz, and Influences from masters like Chick Corea and Herbie Hancock meet all together in his music.
A constant quest for oneself as the key to continuous progress is a view of life for Georgios and music is his vehicle to this quest. ” I improve my self as a person along with my music ”
“daring to diverge” is an expression of creativity for him. His idea of structured and well-executed arrangements coexisting with the freedom of spontaneous improvisation sets the main direction at his musical search. As a performer, He likes often to go out of his comfort zone trying new ideas and techniques. Interactive performance and collectivity in the improvisations are what he asks from his bandmates. As a composer, he tends to experiment with the “ expansion “ of the traditional harmony and forms. He aims for strong and narrative melodies that they can “dress” his idea about harmony, form, and improvisation at his compositions.
With great respect to the jazz tradition he eager to carry on the sound of jazz with his own point of view to the nowadays.
Over het project
The brand new project of Netherlands Based Greek pianist and composer Georgios Tsolis brings on stage some of the most active and creative musicians of the European and international jazz scene A quartet Joined by the Cuban Trumpetist Jorge Vistel and the American Josh Ginsburg on Double Bass the Austrian drummer Klemmens marktl and Him on Piano.
The quartet performs mainly original music composed by Georgios Tsolis as well as arrangements of renowned jazz standards.
The interactive playing and the focus into collective Improvisation sets their musical direction. The deep routed Cuban tradition in combination with his incredible jazz performance can be heard in Jorge Vistel’s playing , the extended vocabulary and jazz sound of drummer klemens marktl , the strong , mature and creative playing of josh Ginsburg on double bass in combination with the drive of Georgios performance the story telling melodies with complex but yet listenable rhythmic approach in his compositions are making the sound of this quartet.
As their meeting point the hague the netherlands this latest album of georgios bring in connection musicians from all over europe in an exciting international project.