3rd Cyprus Jazz & World Music Showcase

Friday 18

Leonid Nesterov Trio

The three Cypriot musicians of the Leonid Nesterov Trio will present their own original compositions, a blend of the mainstream jazz and fusion music genres. 

Leonid Nesterov: Piano - Keyboards
Nicolas Tryphonos: Bass
Andreas Stefanou: Drums

Trio Frisson

Trio Frisson is a three-member band based in Cyprus, presenting a unique sound, which has been defined as ‘Hip-Soul’ - a blend of elements taken from soul, hip-hop & groove, and fused with the band’s range of influences from world music & reggae to jazz and RnB. Their debut album Great Escapes, released in 2013, features 11 original songs and a host of guest musicians including trumpet, violin and guitar. They have performed at some of the island’s finest music and arts events including Windcraft Music Festival (2016), Farma Projekt Festival (2016), Fengaros (2014), Museum Nights (2015) and Fête de la Musique (2015). With a growing list of original material to perform and strong international ambitions for the coming season, Trio Frisson are currently finalising their second studio album, which they will present at the Showcase together with songs from their debut album.

Jamie Paul: Vocals & Keyboard
Byron Athinodorou: Bass & B’ vocals
Lefteris Lefkatis: Drums

Rumba Attack featuring Christina Polycarpou

Rumba Attack is a Cyprus-based trio performing original instrumental material in their distinctive flamenco-rumba style, blended with sounds from rock, bossa nova and Middle Eastern origins. The band has a portfolio of over 15 original compositions, which for the most part have been organically pieced and arranged through mutual communication, improvisation and experimentation. In an attempt to highlight and expose their influences, their live shows regularly feature guest musicians with notable instruments including trumpet, flute, saxophone, percussion and lyra. They have performed island-wide, from live venues and bars to the major arts and music festivals including Fengaros Festival (2016/14), TedXLimassol (2015), Rialto Ethnic Music Festival (2015), Afro Banana Festival (2015), Windcraft Music Festival (2014) and Pafos Ethnic Music Festival (2015/14). They are currently recording their debut studio album, due to be released in the following months.

Constantinos Lyras: Guitar
Memnon Arestis: Guitar
Savvas Thoma: Cajon – Percussion
Christina Polykarpou: Cretan lyra

Takoushis Karapatakis Project

A contemporary jazz ensemble from Cyprus formed in 2008, with a discography that already counts three albums Sympnoia (2010), Seven Miles East (2012) and Colours of Another Sky (2015). Their discography has received critical and audience acclaim in Europe, and their music has been included in the EBU’s jazz album The Music of Europe. They have given concerts and performed in numerous festivals in Cyprus and abroad (Berlin, Cologne, Munich and the oldest festival of Europe “Ruhrfestspiele Reckinghausen a World Stage”). Today, they will present music from their three albums, as well as new tunes, with Zacharias Spyridakis, a virtuoso new generation lyra player from Crete. They wish to deepen their lyricism and unfold their expression into new areas of interaction. Τhey aim to develop their music based on the fundamentals of jazz improvisation and individual self-expression. At the same time, their source of inspiration for original ideas and compositions derives from the Mediterranean culture and tradition.

Marios Takoushis: Piano
Gabriel Karapatakis: Fretless Bass
Zacharias Spyridakis: Cretan lyra

Cahit Kutrafali Quartet

A four-piece jazz band, which performs original music composed by Cahit Kutrafali. The members of the band got to know each other in the Netherlands while studying at the Rotterdam Conservatory. The band has performed at various venues and festivals in the past and the most significant point of the band is bringing both Greek and Turkish Cypriots together in the same ensemble. The band recorded together Kutrafali’s debut album As It Is, which has been released last year both in Cyprus and Turkey.

Cahit Kutrafali: Electric bass
Ermis Michail: Guitar
Andreas Panteli: Piano
Stelios Xydias: Drums

Saturday 19

The Original Quartet

The Original Quartet was created by 17-year-old Marios Charalambous (saxophone) and Kyriacos Kestas (double bass) in 2014. Aiming to present its own compositions, the band creates a unique and original sound that is influenced by the wider jazz idiom. Following their successful first show at the Paradise Jazz Festival in 2014, the band continues its journey to other local jazz festivals and music stages. The Οriginal Quartet constantly renews its repertoire, always promising an original style of playing and an authentic sound.

Marios Charalambous: Saxophone
Kyriacos Kestas: Double Bass
Andreas Panteli: Piano
Andreas Combos: Drums

Nikos Charalambous Trio

A band that was formed informally within the walls of ArtEZ Conservatory in the Netherlands. Three friends were simply jamming for themselves, but slowly a repertoire had started to develop.  Original compositions by Nikos Charalambous had shaped the sound of the band and took the musicians to certain directions of melodies, rhythms and soundscapes, looking for beauty in moments of intensity and melodic/rhythmic development, as well as attempting to extend the meaning of tension and release within the boundaries of what sound is.

Nikos Charalambous: Electric Guitar & Compositions
Jort Terwin: Double Bass
Thomas Jaspers: Drums

Fuzz Bus

Fuzz Bus is a quartet that was formed a few years ago by Andreas Panteli and Lefteris Moumtzis out of a need to improvise on open forms with solid grooves. They re-arrange known and unknown soul, funk and pop-rock songs, whilst composing their own material; with improvisation being the main element, their work is influenced by various music genres, jazz and beyond. They will present new original material, to be included in their first EP, that draws elements from all their influences and the music they have been covering over the last two years. Τhis material will be part of their first EP.

Lefteris Moumtzis: Bass - Voice
Ermis Michail: Guitar
Andreas Panteli: Piano - Keys
Giorgos Koulas: Drums

Urban Trio featuring Andreas Polizogopoulos

The Urban Trio was formed 3 years ago and has already presented its work in the EUNIC Jazz Festival in Berlin, Technopolis Jazz Festival in Athens etc. They recorded their first album titled Simplicity with Alkis Agathokleous on the ney, who then continued performing with them. Andreas Polyzogopoulos recently joined the band on the trumpet, and together they perform music from Andreas Polizogopoulos’ album Annica, as well as from Andreas Rodosthenous’ Simplicity and the Urban Trio’s compositions.

Andreas Polizogopoulos: Trumpet
Giorgos Morfitis: Piano
Andreas Rodosthenous: Bass
Stelios Xydias: Drums

TriCoolOre featuring Pantelis Stoikos​ & Dimitris Lappas

The world jazz trio came together in 2013 in Nicosia and two years later the band released its debut album titled Oregano Infused, which includes nine of their own compositions. They have performed at music venues in Cyprus, Greece and the United Kingdom. A huge part of the philosophy of TriCoolOre is the fusing of different musical styles: explosive rhythms are mixed with more nostalgic, traditional melodies. The combination of these distinctive elements gives the trio a unique identity as they bring a Mediterranean touch to the global sound of jazz. Using special rhythmic forms blended with a strong element of improvisation, they manage to break away from stereotypes and follow their personal musical path. TriCoolOre will be performing compositions from their first album, as well from their upcoming second album (early 2017). 

Angelos Doukas: Keyboards
Vasilis Vasiliou: Drums & Percussion
Nikos Doukas: Electric Bass & Loops
Pantelis Stoikos: Trumpet
Dimitris Lappas: Guitar