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About George Cotsirilos

Album Review

George Cotsirilos Quartet: Refuge

by Jack Bowers
June 18, 2022

At a troubling and turbulent time, when many jazz albums seek to convey a “message," the only statement that Chicago-bred, San Francisco-based guitarist George Cotsirilos and his able quartet wish to make on Refuge is that swing remains king in their domain, wielding its magisterial influence over ten of Cotsirilos' sunny compositions and arrangements. Even when Cotsirilos eases back on the accelerator, as he does on “The Three Doves" and “Smoke Signal," an undercurrent of persuasive rhythms ...

Album Review

George Cotsirilos: George Cotsirilos Trio - Variations

Read "George Cotsirilos Trio - Variations" reviewed by C. Michael Bailey

by C. Michael Bailey
November 3, 2013

Variations, guitarist George Cotsirilos' sixth recording, is a well-behaved trio affair in keeping with his more recent recordings like Past Present (OA2 Records, 2010). Cotsirilos plays with an acoustically round electric tone that never gets in the way of his fluid lines and well- considered melodies. His seven original compositions all have standards handle to them, in particular, the opener, “A Walk for Ethel," which recalls “I Get a Kick Out of You" crossed with “Scrapple from the Apple." Cotsirilos ...

Album Review

George Cotsirilos: Past Present

by AAJ Italy Staff
January 31, 2011

George Cotsirilos è un chitarrista americano (nato a Chicago) che si è messo in luce sin dagli anni novanta in diversi contesti che lo hanno anche visto passare da Etta James a Pharoah Sanders, salto forse meno complicato di quello che sembra sulla carta. In questo album Cotsirilos esplora in trio un repertorio mainstream costituito da alcuni standard alternati a sue composizioni. Lo fa con eleganza e maturità, con un bel suono rotondo che parla di serate autunnali di fronte ...

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Album Review

George Cotsirilos: Past Present

Read "Past Present" reviewed by Raul d'Gama Rose

by Raul d'Gama Rose
August 23, 2010

George Cotsirilos' meticulous and tasteful guitar work is marked by remarkably subtle shifts in accents, and minute changes in expression and dynamics. On Past Present, he also displays an impeccable sense of timin,g especially in revealing the hidden rhythms of complex melodies. His approach to harmony is whimsical, but patently beautiful at all times. He is fleet-fingered across the fret board and equally expressive as he plucks the strings of his guitar, or simply rolls over them with fingertips, like ...

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Album Review

George Cotsirilos Trio: Past Present

Read "Past Present" reviewed by Woodrow Wilkins

by Woodrow Wilkins
June 27, 2010

This recording delivers vintage jazz guitar but nothing that sounds trite or old. The George Cotsirilos Trio delivers that with a mix of original tunes and standards on Past Present. Born in Chicago, Cotsirilos has been a fixture in the San Francisco area since the early 1990s. Trained with the violin, he switched to guitar after becoming frustrated that the violin could not produce pop and jazz sounds he had come to love. After studying at the University ...

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Album Review

George Cotsirilos: Past Present

Read "Past Present" reviewed by Bruce Lindsay

by Bruce Lindsay
June 3, 2010

Guitarist George Cotsirilos has nearly thirty years experience as a musician, working with acts as diverse as Etta James and Pharoah Sanders. He was also, with bassist Robb Fisher, a founding member of the San Francisco Nighthawks. Past Present is the second album from the Cotsirilos Trio, following On The Rebop (OA2 Records, 2005), and it's a graceful and sophisticated mix of standards and Cotsirilos originals. Cotsirilos' playing is characterized above all by its warmth. Coupled with ...

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Album Review

George Cotsirilos Trio: Past Present

Read "Past Present" reviewed by C. Michael Bailey

by C. Michael Bailey
April 9, 2010

Mainstream guitar trio jazz possesses a soundtrack quality that makes it perfect for sleek and sophisticated noir movies boasting sardonic shamuses and dangerous dames. George Cotsirilos typifies this type of jazz guitar playing. If jazz guitar had an aroma, Cotsirilos' brand would smell of Yardley Soap, single-malt scotch, and unfiltered cigarettes in close quarters: dark and slightly decadent, full-bodied, and warm. On his third OA2 release, Past Present Cotsirilos and his working trio mix up the standards ...