Giorgos Kontrafouris was born in Athens, Greece in 1967. He studied classical piano at the National Conservatory in Athens. At the age of 16, he turned his interest to jazz music and he followed up jazz improvised lessons with Markos Alexiou. He studied also with Jim Beard and Jarmo Savolainen. He holds a Bachelor’s degree and a Master’s degree in Jazz Performance from Sibelius Academy in Finland.
He has performed as piano or organ player with many famous and outstanding musicians such as: Mark Johnson, Arild Andersen, Marcus Stockhausen, Louisiana Red, Keith Copeland, Andy Sheppard, Ralph Peterson Jr., Bob Brozman, Carla Cook, Alvester Garnett, Stepko Gut, Olivier Gatto, David Liebman, Houston Pearson, Eric Alexander, David Sills, Lou Donaldson, Sam Newsome, Jamie Hadad, Deborah Davies, Benny Golson, Tim Hagans, Bob Shepard, Carmen Lundy, Sheila Jordan, Jukkis Uotila, Wade Mikkola, Takis Paterelis, Stratos Vougas, Dimos Dimitriadis, Lydia Fylipovic, T. Spasov, A. Pacatius.
He has been teaching jazz piano and organ for several years in Athenaeum Conservatory in Greece and in Sibelius Academy in Finland and he is currently belongs to the faculty of the Ionian University in Corfu.
He has already given Master Classes in various schools in Greece, Ireland, Indonesia, and Estonia so far.
He is also the artistic director of the Tinos Jazz Festival.
DISCOGRAPHY as a leader -
George kontrafouris Baby Trio – The Main Course (puzzlemusik 2009)
George kontrafouris Baby Trio – A New Snack (puzzlemusik 2008)
George Kontrafouris - Little Daddy’s Blues (Chicken Coup 2007)
George Kontrafouris Trio - The Storyteller (Puzzlemusic 2007)
George Kontrafouris - My only way (Europe Records 2002)
George Kontrafouris - Too Close (Legend 2000)
George Kontrafouris - Don't be shy (Lyra 1997)
