the drummer

Early period in Greece

-   Since the age of 14, he appears in local jazz clubs and participates in concerts and festivals with jazz, rock and punk bands from Thessaloniki, always being the youngest musician of the bands. On a regular base he is a member of the “NARIZ” jazz band (H. Kapetanakis -sax, Y. Economides –trumpet, Ag. Mardas –bass, D. Mpohtis –guitar) and also (in 1994)  joins the “GULAG”, a historic Greek punk group, with whom, at the age of eighteen, he appears for the first time in discography ( “Step Firm”, 1996, Lazy Dog Records)

On his return from the USA

-     He collaborates in live performances, concerts and recordings with almost every jazz and blues musicians in Greece (G.Kondrafouris, D.Vasilakis, D.Tsakas, H.Kapetanakis, G.Oikonomides, A.Andreou, A.Thermos, K.Konstantinou, L.Tzimkas, I. Koulouras, P.Trivolis, D.Hristopoulos, S.Noiti, A. Papastamatakis, K.Baltazanis, T.Barberis, N. Dimopoulos,  A.Leventopoulos, Y. Kassetas etc).

-    He is founding member of the bands: “Jazz Frequency Quintet” (2001-04) with H. Kapetanakis- sax, Y. Economides- trumpet, M. Stefanidis- guitar, L. Tzimkas- bass, "Cinnamon Free" (2003-2004) with G. Kontrafouris- keyboards, A. Thermos- sax, Y. Papatriantafylou- bass, A. Leventopoulos- quitar, “Out to Lunch Trio”(2004-06) with D. Tsakas- sax and K. Konstantinou- bass, “The Beatdrop”(2004-06), F. Brouzakis- vocals, Mc Yinka- vocals, D. Sevdalis- Keyboards, D. Hristopoulos- bass and the “Jazz Roots”(2005-07) with A. Thermos- sax and P. Trivolis- bass , and regularly performs with the: “Jazz Warriors”(2003), “Funk Wizards”(2004-06), “Hammond Trio”(2006-07) and “Zoe Tiganouria & Senso Latino”(2006-07).

-     He appears with a great number of internationally acclaimed musicians that tour Greece (Greg Bailey, Sheila Jordan, Deborah Davis, Rex Richardson, Shelley Burns, Paris Strother, James Casey – USA, Olivier Gatto – France, Michel Hadjigeorgiou – Belgium, Helen Schuttevaer – Holland, Oleg Chaly – Ukrain, Daniel Tilling – Sweden etc).

-     He represents Greece in the European Jazz Festival (2002) ( jazz trio with G.Kontrafouris on piano and K.Konstantinou on bass). He also participates in a great number of other Festivals with various artists: Dimitria-Thessaloniki (2003), Lefkada Jazz Festival (2003), Music Day- Tehnopolis Athens (2004), Sea Festival- Halkidiki (2004), Patra Festival (2005) etc.

-     He participates in the “Ionian Jazz Ensemble”, a mixed band consisting of  professors and students from the Music Department of the Ionian University that toured Greece and produced a CD in 2003 (Co-production of the Ionian University and the “Jazz&Jazz” Magazine).  

-      He is the main coordinator, organizer and drummer for two great gospel concerts (the first and only such events ever to take place in Greece) in December 2005 with the over a hundred-people strong African Communities Choir of Greece.

-      He has appeared in numerous recordings of fellow Greek musicians (Yusef, Lakis Tzimkas Quartet, etc)

-     To honor his memory fellow musicians and friends organized two large, free entrance, concerts, on the 9^th and 11^th of June 2007, in Athens and Thessaloniki.