Kostas Kouvidis, by G. Hatzialexandrou

Kostas Kouvidis

 It is difficult to measure talent, however in cases when it clearly stands out from a given average it can only be characterised as exceptional. In music fundamental abilities are things like the “musical ear”, the feel of rhythm, musical perception, sensitivity, criterion, perfectionism, heightened sense of beauty. Most professional musicians that distinguish themselves possess some of those abilities, rarely all of them. When all those abilities are possessed by a single person then we can surely speak of an exceptional talent.
   In the case of Kostas Kouvidis all those abilities existed along with an unconditional love of music and the unreserved support of two special persons, namely his parents.
   Kostas begun to play the drums at the age of 12 in Thessalonica, where he grew up. He studied at the modern conservatory up to the age of 18. At the age of 14 (1991) he got involved in jazz music with Haris Kapetanakis and, later, with Giannis Economidis. He developed a strong friendship and a long-term co-operation in various jazz bands with both of them. Jazz music is the single most difficult field that a drummer, especially at such a young age, can be put to the test, a fact that proves his early maturity. At the age of 19 Kostas commenced his studies at the Berklee College of Music in Boston with full scholarship. There he studied under the supervision of top grade musicians, such as: Ron Savage, Joe Hunt, Jackie Santos, Yoron Israel and Ron Mahdi. Upon his return back to Greece he played along with many famous musicians and groups such as G. Kontrafouris, Jazz Frequency Quintet, Jazz Warriors, T. Patrelakis etc. both in clubs and festivals (Demetria, Athens European Jazz Festival and others). He has performed with Craig Bailey, Deborah Davies and Sheila Jordan.
   Kostas Kouvidis’s playing – from the very beginning – was characterised by incredible maturity and modesty something that also characterised his attitude towards his fellow musicians. Usually, exceptional talents and especially prodigies exhibit various signs of caprice and even vanity but not this particular prodigy. His high perception and sensitivity resulted in a remarkable modesty, perfectionism and self astringency thus making him an ideal musical partner. An airy sense of rhythm, a musicality that extracted notes and song from a predominately rhythm organ, a strong grasping of what the other musicians were playing and creating a strong rhythm section that accentuated his musical companions constitute characteristics of an ideal drummer – as was K. Kouvidis.
   At the end of the day, Kostas Kouvidis was the best drummer in Greece. And I finally dare to tell this unquestionable truth – that often our insecurities, our diplomacy, as well as the modesty of the person in question do not allow us to admit it and say it – because this great mind and talent, our friend, totally unexpectedly and untimely has left.
   I do not want this particular writing to be considered an “obituary”. It simply is an attempt to present the great talent and the charisma of Kostas Kouvidis and to reminisce the sweetness that he left behind him as a person. It is a tribute to a friend that probably ought to be written a lot earlier. So that you can all get to know a great musician.