The George Cotsirilos Quartet
with
Keith Saunders, piano
Robb Fisher, bass
Akira Tanna, percussion
The George Cotsirilos Quartet, August 15, 7-9PM
Location: Granlibakken Resort
Tahoe Music Alive proudly presents the George Cotsirilos Quartet, featuring one of the San Francisco Bay Area’s most respected and expressive jazz guitarists in a program of inventive, deeply swinging modern jazz.
Originally from Chicago, George Cotsirilos has been an integral part of the Bay Area jazz community for many years, earning a reputation for lyrical phrasing, harmonic sophistication, and a distinctive voice that blends straight-ahead jazz, blues, and classical influences. Over the course of his career, he has performed with a remarkable range of artists, from Bay Area jazz legends such as Eddie Marshall, Mel Martin, and Mark Levine to internationally renowned figures including Etta James, Pharaoh Sanders, and the soul-jazz vocal group The Whispers.
Cotsirilos’ most recent quartet recording, Refuge (OA2 Records), released in 2022, has been widely praised by critics and audiences alike. Named a DownBeat Editors’ Pick and reaching the Top 30 on the JazzWeek radio charts. The music on Refuge pushed into bluesier, more challenging territory than the quartet’s previous release, Mostly In Blue (named one of DownBeat’s best recordings of 2018).
This quartet’s sound is defined by intelligent interplay and a rare balance between structure and spontaneity. Guitar and piano often function as equal partners, trading ideas and supporting each other in imaginative ways, while Fisher’s bass lines provide both melodic counterpoint and rock-solid rhythmic grounding. Tanna’s drumming adds propulsion and subtlety, shaping the music’s dynamic arc. Cotsirilos’ compositions are deceptively complex. They are marked by unexpected intervals, rich harmonic movement, and rhythmic tension; yet they remain tuneful, memorable, and deeply engaging.
Cotsirilos’ earlier trio and solo recordings have also earned high praise. His trio albums Past Present and Variations were lauded for their fluidity and cohesion, while his solo classical-jazz guitar release Silenciosa was described by All About Jazz as “a superb solo guitar recital.” A graduate of the University of California, Berkeley, Cotsirilos studied jazz with Warren Nunes and classical guitar through the San Francisco Conservatory of Music.
This concert promises an evening of nuanced musicianship, soulful swing, and inspired collaboration. It is an ideal showcase for jazz lovers seeking depth, energy, and artistry.
SEE ALSO:
May 30: Dan Tepfer at the Piano
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