Dimitris Kakavoulis

Dimitris Kakavoulis Drummer/Composer/Pianist

Contact Tel: +30 6979 265906 Email: [email protected] Address: Avlidos 27 Ampelokipi Athens GR11527 Greece

Timeline-Musical Bio

• 1995-1998: Studies drums at the ‘Philippos Nakas’ music school (modern department) and successfully concludes the syllabus and graduates • 1997-1998: Establishes and plays drums for the psychedelic-progressive rock band ‘Voyage Limpid Sound’ • 1998: Basic piano studies at the Nakas music school for a 3-month period • 2001-2004: Studies drums at the ‘Birmingham Conservatoire’ with the renowned drummer Gene Calderazzo and earns a diploma of study. At the same time attends seminars and master classes by universally acclaimed artists such as Jack Dejohnette, Bob Moses, Paul Motian, Barry Harris, Bobo Stenson, Lekan Babalola and Mike Gibbs • Engages in collaborations with artists of the local (Birmingham) music scene such as Soweto Kinch, Andy Derrick, Saxophone Sam, Aidan O’Donnell, Lupa etc and participates in concerts and live events in the jazz-improvised idiom in and out of the Birmingham area (Glastonbury festival, London, Northampton, Cornwall) • 2003: Studies at the ‘Brussels Conservatoire’ for a brief period, in the context of the Erasmus exchange program and is briefly involved in local collaborations playing major venues (The Sounds, Music Village) which were to be short lived sadly due to previous engagements • 2004- : Returns to Athens. Participates in and creates several small groups of improvised music with influences mainly from the jazz, funk and experimental scenes and plays in live venues, events and functions, both as a drummer and pianist • 2005-2010: Plays piano in major Athenian hotel lobbies (King George III, Athens Plaza, Sofitel, President etc.) • 2005: is hired as musical director and conductor in an independent production of Andrew Lloyd Weber’s ‘Jesus Christ Superstar’ which yields very promising reviews such as “…young wizards at work…splendid…” (Eleftherotypia) • 2006- : Begins a collaboration with the 15-piece jazz orchestra ‘Love Affair Big Band’ as a drummer and participates in several major events in Athens as well as other major Greek cities • 2007- : Joins forces with the ‘Duok’ project, a duo up to that point of saxophone and violin, to which he added piano initially and subsequently drums as well, performing original music and avant-garde concepts on standard repertoire in various Athenian venues. Subsequently, the band became a sextet with the addition of vocals, bass and drums. • 2008- : Plays Hammond organ for the ‘Say What Jazz Trio’ in gigs and recordings in Athens • 2008- : Finally manages to put together a project with a band performing almost exclusively his own compositions. This was to happen in Cyprus under the name DKQ (Dimitris Kakavoulis Quartet/Quintet) for the first time in 8/2008 and a few more times since • This event also marked the beginning of several other collaborations with Cypriot artists, notably Lefteris Moumjis, in some of his projects such as ‘The Outer Soul Ensemble’, a funk-soul-afro-rock band �" with which he performed at the 2009 Aglantzia jazz festival - and the newly released ‘J.Kriste Master Of Disguise: Girls, Ghosts and Gods’ album • 2009- : Foundation of the psychedelic-progressive-jazz-rock band ‘Rite Of Passage’ again with Cypriot musicians which has only been active in Cyprus so far. Currently in the process of recording their first album (2011). • 2010- : Formation of the band ‘Sun electric dopperman’ along with three other musicians in the style of funk-jazz-psychedelia with which he has performed in major athenian venues (TAF, Thirio, Floral, Afaneis, Kerameio etc) and summer festivals (festival Ladona) and to which he contributes numerous original compositions. • 2010: Plays piano on an album released by the popular greek artist Thanassis Papakonstantinou in the following year. • 2011- : First DKQ gig on greek soil with his newly formed quartet at Orfeu Negro with much success. Records many of his original compositions with the band compiling what he hopes to become his first release material.

Further Qualifications

• One year of study in the Birmingham University at the BA Philosophy program • Cambridge proficiency in English • French diplomas Delf A1-A6 Show less