George KONTRAFOURIS

George Kontrafouris is a distinguished jazz pianist and organist, born in Athens in 1967. He possesses a profound background in both classical and jazz music, having transitioned from classical piano to jazz improvisation at a young age. Kontrafouris studied classical piano at the National Conservatory in Athens and, at the age of 16, shifted his focus to jazz, taking lessons in jazz improvisation with Markos Alexiou, as well as studying under Jim Beard and Jarmo Savolainen. He holds both a Bachelor’s and a Master’s degree in Jazz Performance from the Sibelius Academy in Finland.

As a performer, Kontrafouris has collaborated with numerous significant musicians, including Marc Johnson, Arild Andersen, Marcus Stockhausen, Andy Sheppard, Ralph Peterson Jr., David Liebman, Eric Alexander, Lou Donaldson, and Benny Golson, among many others. He is the leader of the George Kontrafouris Trio and the Baby Trio, and he also performs with George Trantalidis Trilogia and Timo Lassy.

In addition to his performance career, George Kontrafouris serves as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Music Studies at Ionian University in Corfu, Greece. He has also taught at the Athenaeum Conservatory in Greece and the Sibelius Academy in Finland. Furthermore, he has held academic positions such as a guest lecturer and has conducted seminars and master classes in various countries, including Greece, Ireland, Indonesia, Estonia, Japan, and Cyprus.

His debut album, "Don’t be Shy," was released in 1999, marking the beginning of his journey as a leader in the jazz genre. With his extensive experience and dedication to music education, Kontrafouris continues to influence the jazz community both as a performer and as an educator.