“Infinite grace poetry and passion”
BBC Music Magazine
Dimitri Vassilakis is an internationally acclaimed, award winning Greek saxophonist/vocalist and composer”
http://www.dimitriosvassilakis.com
Born in Athens has recorded 4 albums for historic jazz label Candid Records based in London.
http://store.candidrecords.com/index.php?route=product/category&path=61_192
Debut album “Secret Path” 1998 a collector’s item.
https://www.amazon.com/Secret-Path-Dimitrios-Vassilakis-1999-06-15/dp/B01K8N2ZSI
Awarded album of the month from BBC Music magazine and 2nd jazz album of the year from the BBC for "Labyrinth" 2002. This album has become the subject of study at several universities and has been presented at Yale University and at musicological conferences.
https://web.archive.org/web/20191119211542/http://www.dimitriosvassilakis.com/en/discography.html
"Parallel Lines" album 2005 has received great critical acclaim, a trio suite with Jeff "Tain" Watts and Essiet Essiet dedicated to Sonny Rollins.
"Across The Universe" 2011 included songs from the Beatles, Nina Simone, Doors songbook, with an international line up from all continents, and has produced world touring including “Jazz at the Lincoln Center” New York.
Has played and recorded with jazz greats like: David Liebman, Jeff «Tain» Watts, Abdullah Ibrahim, Ralph Peterson, Marc Johnson, Essiet Essiet, Dave Kikoski, Dan Wall, Ron Affif, Andy Sheppard, Theodosii Spassov, Milcho Leviev, Adam Nussbaum, Benito Gonzalez, Jamie Cullum, Deborah Davis, Juliet Kelly, Mina Agossi, Espen Berg Trio, Emmet Cohen, Gilad Atzmon, Ed Schuller.
Has appeared at New York clubs Birdland, Lincoln Center Dizzy' s, Zinc, Smalls, Kitano, Jazz Showcase Chicago and major festivals worldwide such as London Jazz Festival, Ronnie Scott's, Smithsonian Festival DC at the American History Museum.
Has appeared for 2 Greek presidents and USA ex-president Bill Clinton during his official visit and dinner.
Branding with Bentley luxury cars for festivals worldwide, producing compilation: "Jazz for Bentley" to celebrate Candid Records 50th anniversary:
https://web.archive.org/web/20191220053523/http://www.dimitriosvassilakis.com/en/discography/56-jazz-for-bentley/98-jazz-for-bentley.html
Presenting “Jazz Democracy” at the United Nations New York April 30th 2018, invited by the Permanent mission of Greece to the UN for International Jazz Day
Playlist
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLfth9JxqdMQFOb32Pz6920eWWfMmRohsJ
Trailer
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x9dNloN6oGM
"Jazz democracy" @ TEDx Athens
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=udNJCRSABvw
Founder and artistic director of Rhodes & South Aegean Jazz Festival that has become a sister festival with Bodrum Jazz Festival strengthening the artistic bond between the two countries presenting the international jazz scene.
https://www.rhodes-international-jazz-festival.com/news.html
Has taught since 1991 at the Athens, Macedonia, Aristotle Universities, Ph. Nakas conservatory and has lectured and presented workshops, residencies and clinics at Yale, Columbia, Queens, Skidmore DePaul, Georgia Tech, Royal Academy, Guildhall School of Music & Drama, Paris Conservatoire.
Coordinator and adjunct lecturer at the Athens Kapodistrian University, Master Course in “Jazz and new Technologies” since fall 2017.
https://mastermusictech-en.music.uoa.gr/staff/adjunct_faculty/
“Jazz improvisation and AI interaction” performance examples at the Athens Kapodistrian University LabMat studio.
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLfth9JxqdMQFsg1od5icAtsqsWH6Pdflv
Singularity Summit Greece 2018
"jazz mapping AI & Robotics", on the syntax and semantics of language.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MyEXyn8T3Rs
Democritus research centre summer academy 2019 presentation in Greek
https://www.blod.gr/lectures/tzaz-aytoshediasmos-kai-tehniti-noimosyni/
Ankara Jazz Festival
https://youtu.be/K0jFcJeVrBs
Researchers Night European Commission National Technical University of Athens
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HSXs9Ir1FH0
Jazz AI & visuals
KASSIANI HYMN 2020
https://youtu.be/AkjmoiMLCLQ
Art Athina 2019
https://www.instagram.com/p/B2XmP7ZA6V5/
United Nations 2018
https://www.instagram.com/p/B2R_QVwgLVx/
Academia
https://dimitriosvassilakis.academia.edu
Jazz mapping paper SMC Malaga 2019
http://smc2019.uma.es/articles/P3/P3_10_SMC2019_paper.pdf
Paris Jazzy Colours Festival:
https://www.ficep.info/post/dimitri-vassilakis
Discography tribute at Downbeat:
http://www.downbeat.com/digitaledition/2012/DB201202/single_page_view/22.html
Jazz Times interview:
http://jazztimes.com/articles/54172-dimitri-vassilakis-saxophonist-vocalist-composer-educator
Has collaborated for many of his educational and concert projects with the Onassis Foundation, Niarchos Foundation, Lincoln Center, Yale, Harvard, The British Council, Norvegian Embassy, The American Embassy, Hellenic Foundation for Culture, Hellenic Ministry of Culture, Hellenic Ministry of Tourism, Hellenic Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Poetry and theatre:
A poet and a producer of projects and concepts combining jazz, poetry, prose, theatre and dance.
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLfth9JxqdMQHjgItB8Fka24DUDFronVrd
Reviews/press cuts:
“Infinite grace poetry and passion”
“Greek saxophone prodigy Dimitri Vassilakis is revered as the Hellenic god of post-modern expression. A rhapsodic stylist of immense power and authority.”
BBC Music Magazine (labyrinth – album of the month).
“Leader Vassilakis’ compositions offer a perfect platform for post-modern expression…whiz-kid tenor player from Greece…his style is the post-Coltrane, post-Rollins style…high-energy and immensely fluid.’’
New York Press (labyrinth Live at Birdland, June 2001).
MANAGEMENT:
Redwood Entertainment, Inc.
https://www.redwoodentertainment.com/dimitri-vassilakis
