Best selling jazz album in Greece for 2023-2024! French magazine PARIS MOVE calls the album “A real masterstroke!” (Un authentique coup de Maitre).
Acclaimed Cypriot pianist and composer, Stavros Lantsias, introduces the audience to the music universe of his beloved composer, Ennio Morricone, presenting some of the most unforgettable soundtracks of emblematic films such as Lolita, Cinema Paradiso, Once Upon a Time in the West, The Good, the Bad and the Ugly. Inventive arrangements and inspired orchestrations by charismatic soloists make up an evening passionately dedicated to the music of the Italian composer.
Experienced and sensitive, Lantsias approaches the work of Ennio Morricone at its very core, understanding its multiple dimensions and exploring every composition in detail. Through his own creative vision, and accompanied by his skilled fellow instrumentalists, he sets up a fascinating film that evokes a multitude of emotions. The musicians never abandon the spirit of composition: they set the tone to jazz, producing exquisite music that touches both musicians and listeners.
The album Stavros Lantsias Quartet “My Ennio Morricone” was completed in summer 2023, with the permission of the composer’s family.
Stavros Lantsias was born in Nicosia-Cyprus in 1966. He studied classical piano and music theory continuing his studies in Boston-United States at Berklee College Of Music where he graduated in 1990. He there received the “Count Basie Jazz Masters Award for pianists 1989” and the “Quincy Jones Jazz Masters Award for arrangers 1990”. After Berklee he continued his jazz piano studies with jazz “guru” Charlie Banacos.
Stavros Lantsias is in high demand as a pianist and arranger, always active performing with some of Greece’s most respected and acclaimed artists.
One of his most important projects is “Human Touch”, a group he has formed with long time collaborators David Lynch and Yiotis Kiourtsoglou. In their three studio recordings, “Human Touch” (1998), «Movin’» (2004) and “Colorblind” (2024) apart from composing and playing the piano Stavros expands his playing with Drums, Percussion and Acoustic Guitar. Together they have played in several international jazz and ethnic festivals in Europe, Turkey and the Balkans and their unique multi-instrumental approach has influenced whole generations of instrumentalists in Greece.
In 1999 Stavros Lantsias signed a recording contract with Warner Music Greece where he released two personal albums “Return” (1999) and “The Journey of a Note” (2002). In these albums he demonstrates his compositional and orchestration skills performing with both jazz and classical ensembles.
His 2011 album release “Diary Of Dreams” features the Athens Kamerata String Orchestra and world renowned musicians Peter Erskine on drums and Lars Danielsson on Bass. This compositional work was originally a commission by “Patra Cultural Capital of Europe 2006”.
In December of 2012 he formed the «Stavros Lantsias trio» with acclaimed Greek musicians Andreas Polyzogopoulos (Trumpet, Flugelhorn)
and Yiorgos Kaloudis (Cello, Percussion, Cretan Lyra). After extensive touring in Greece and Germany they released the album «Stavros Lantsias trio-Live at St. Paul’s Aglican Church”.
His latest recording release is Stavros Lantsias Quartet “My Ennio Morricone” a tribute to the late great Italian film composer.
Stavros has inspired countless musicians also as an educator through private lessons, seminars & master classes.
In December 2023 he was awarded the “Man of the year” award in Cyprus for his contribution to the arts.
More info:
https://www.stavroslantsias.gr/
https://www.facebook.com/slantsias
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCTXaI7Dz0Hfw3LFhbHweMlg
https://stavroslantsias.bandcamp.com/album/my-ennio-morricone
Stavros Lantsias: Acoustic Piano, Melodica, Vibraphone, Glockenspiel, Tambourine
Andreas Polyzogopoulos: Trumpet, Flugelhorn
Mihalis Kalkanis: Double Bass
Michael Kapilidis: Drums
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The current roster of Artists and Bands in Hellenic Jazz Society