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Tassos Spiliotopoulos

Greek guitarist and composer Tassos Spiliotopoulos is known for combining lyrical compositions with melodic, high energy improvising into a style that is rooted in Jazz tradition but often expands beyond it.

With a solid reputation as a "technically gifted musician," Tassos has built an impressive résumé of collaborations "in a relatively short time," as praised by All About Jazz (US). The progressive website Jazz-rock.com (US) labeled Tassos ‘..simply a master improviser with his own unique chording and melodic phrasing.’

Drawing from his vast musical influences, Tassos crafts compelling compositions with a "dark, modal jazz" . Time Out, London (UK) praises him as a guitarist to watch out for, leading bands with an enthralling energy that captivates listeners.

Building upon the works of classic and modern jazz masters alike, Tassos displays his virtuosity with "impressive chops" on the six-string, as acclaimed by Bill Milkowski of Jazz Times (US).

Tassos Spiliotopoulos has to date recorded five albums of all original music.  His latest album ‘Ballad for a New World’ is hailed by The JazzMann (UK) as ‘A collection of intelligent, varied and highly melodic original compositions..’

With a modest approach and unwavering dedication to his craft, Tassos Spiliotopoulos continues pushing contemporary jazz's boundaries. From intimate club performances to international stages, Tassos's "lucid flow of elegant ideas," as Evening Standard (UK) described, transports listeners on a mesmerizing journey through a rich tapestry of emotions. As his reputation grows, so does the admiration for his musical prowess and the genuine passion he brings to each performance.

 

Gear

PRS guitars, Ibanez guitars, Roland amps, Line 6 effects


Tags

158
Take Five With...

Take Five With Tassos Spiliotopoulos

Read "Take Five With Tassos Spiliotopoulos" reviewed by AAJ Staff


Meet Tassos Spiliotopoulos: Tassos Spiliotopoulos is a Greek guitarist/composer based in London, UK. His compositional approach blends contemporary jazz with modern classical, folk and even rock fusion. He has released two albums under his own name: Wait for Dusk (Konnex, 2006), and Archipelagos (F-IRE, 2010.Instrument: Guitar.I knew I wanted to be a musician when... I started playing the piano at the age of six, but It didn't hit me until I got my first electric guitar ...

294
Album Review

Tassos Spiliotopoulos: Archipelagos

Read "Archipelagos" reviewed by Ian Patterson


Since moving to London in 2000 to study music, Greek guitarist Tassos Spiliotopoulos has built a solid reputation as a technically gifted musician, building an impressive résumé of collaborations in a relatively short time, working with drummer/keyboardist Gary Husband, saxophonist Tim Garland, singer/multi-instrumentalist Eileen Hunter and guitarists John Parricelli, Mike Outram and John Etheridge. His debut as leader, Wait for Dusk (Konnex Records, 2006), featuring bassist Yaron Stavi, drummer Asaf Sirkis, and tenor saxophonist Robin Fincker, garnered positive reviews for ...

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3

Recording

Guitarist Tassos Spiliotopoulos Releases 'Ballad For A New World'

Guitarist Tassos Spiliotopoulos Releases 'Ballad For A New World'

Source: Tassos Spiliotopoulos

Ballad for a New World is the fifth album by Greek guitarist and composer Tassos Spiliotopoulos. After establishing himself in the London Jazz scene for more than a decade, Tassos Spiliotopoulos, now based in Stockholm, has previously released an impressive body of original work including the critically acclaimed In the North (2016) and Solitude EP (2021). On Ballad for a New World Spiliotopoulos returns to the quartet format and continues to develop his blend of modern jazz with influences of ...

5

Recording

Greek Power Trio S.E.V. release debut album 'Far From Close'

Greek Power Trio S.E.V. release debut album 'Far From Close'

Source: Tassos Spiliotopoulos

Anelia Records is proud to present Far from Close, the debut album of a new collaboration between three of Greece’s most vibrant jazz musicians. Tassos Spiliotopoulos, Panos Vassilopoulos and Michael Evdemon. The music was composed by Evdemon and Spiliotopoulos and the goal was to achieve an elegant but emotionally powerful music through the electric sound of a modern jazz trio. Each one of the band members brought their own influences to the blend, ranging from electric jazz-rock and mainstream jazz ...

8

Website

All About Jazz Top 10 MP3 Downloads: June 2016

All About Jazz Top 10 MP3 Downloads: June 2016

Source: All About Jazz

All About Jazz features a free song every day spanning all genres of jazz, and of the 30 tracks featured in June, these ten represent our personal favorites. We also included the top ten reader favorites as indicated by total downloads. Musicians and record labels can submit full length MP3s for consideration here. Enjoy! EDITOR'S PICKS Ποιμενικόν (Shepherd's Minor) 05:23 Tassos Spiliotopoulos From: In the North Beginning of a Memory 03:29

4

Recording

Guitarist Tassos Spiliotopoulos Releases "In The North" - Out Now

Guitarist Tassos Spiliotopoulos Releases "In The North" - Out Now

Source: Tassos Spiliotopoulos

In the North is the third album by guitarist Tassos Spiliotopoulos and his first since his relocation from jny: London to jny: Stockholm. Originally from Athens, Greece, Tassos Spiliotopoulos spent the better part of twelve years living in London and establishing a solid reputation as one of the most exciting, up-and-coming guitarists in the UK Jazz scene. He worked with some of the country's most celebrated jazz musicians including Kenny Wheeler, Gary Husband, Asaf Sirkis, John Parricelli, John Etheridge and ...

186

Recording

Tassos Spiliotopoulos Releases "Archipelagos" on F-IRE Records

Tassos Spiliotopoulos Releases "Archipelagos" on F-IRE Records

Source: Michael Ricci

Originally from Greece, Tassos Spiliotopoulos moved to London in 2000 and has studied at the Guildhall School of Music & Drama (Mmus) and Trinity College of Music (Bmus, Hons). During that time Tassos also attended seminars at the School for Improvisational Music in New York City where he studied and performed with Ralph Alessi, Ravi Coltrane, Brad Shepik, Jim Black and Drew Gress. During the past few years Tassos has been touring with his own band as well as numerous ...

Primary Instrument

Guitar

Location

Stockholm

Willing to teach

Intermediate to advanced

Credentials/Background

Tassos is available for guitar lessons online (Skype, FaceTime etc)

Some of the areas of focus in the lessons are:

  • Guitar technique, exercises, practice routine
  • Chord voicings
  • Fretboard knowledge, scales, patterns 
  • Theory/Harmony
  • Approaches to improvisation
  • Composition - finding your voice in music

Photos

Music

Recordings: As Leader | As Sideperson

Alone Together

Anelia Records
2024

buy

Ballad for a new world

Anelia Records
2022

buy

Solitude

Anelia Records
2021

buy

Far from Close

Anelia Records
2021

buy

In the North

Anelia Records
2016

buy

Archipelagos

F-IRE Records
2010

buy

Out of Nowhere

From: Alone Together
By Tassos Spiliotopoulos

Corridor (Part 2)

From: Ballad for a new world
By Tassos Spiliotopoulos

Seven Wishes

From: Far from Close
By Tassos Spiliotopoulos

Solitude

From: Solitude
By Tassos Spiliotopoulos

Ποιμενικόν (Shepherd's Minor)

From: In the North
By Tassos Spiliotopoulos

The Quest

From: Archipelagos
By Tassos Spiliotopoulos

Videos

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