Spiral Trio

Spiral Trio: Spyros Manesis piano Arionas Gyftakis double bass Anastasis Gouliaris drums

The three Greek jazz musicians met in 2012. From the very first moment a unique chemistry between them was shown, which, ever since has been developed with their live performances in jazz clubs and jazz festivals throughout Greece and the rest of Europe. On 2017 they released their debut album "Spiral Trio" by ANKh Music Productions, which was almost consisting of jazz standards and, recently, on 2022, they have released their second album, “Broken Blue”, consisting mostly of original compositions of the members of the trio, by Odradek Records.

For more information about “Broken Blue” please visit https://www.odradek-records.com/album/spiral-trio-broken-blue/

Today the trio is considered one of the most important Greek jazz formations. It is a modern jazz piano trio with many influences by the dominant figures of modern piano trio formation, still though with clear references to the tradition of jazz playing. The constant interplay as well as the high level of their musical and improvisation skills bring to the music elements of surprise, variety in the creation of musical images and imagination in the narration.

Festival participations and notable club performances: 2017 - Gmlstn Jazz festival / Gothenburg, Sweden - Athens Technopolis Jazz Festival / Greece / Collaboration with Symphonic Orchestra of Municipality of Athens. 2018 - Tour in Spain and Portugal, (Hot Club de Portugal, Lisbon/ Sala Clamores, Madrid / Rubicon Jazz Bar, Santander / Clarence Jazz Club, Malaga/ Jimmy Glass Jazz Bar, Valencia) 2019 - Half Note Jazz Club, Athens, Greece - Cultural Center Linto, Larissa - “The spring of the Keys” Festival, Kalamata, Greece - Aegina International Music Festival, Aegina, Greece - Naxos Festival – Bazaios Tower, Naxos, Greece 2020 - ”Jazz Chronicles” Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Center, Athens, Greece - Tour in Spain and Portugal (Lux, Granada / Espacio Turina, Sevilla / Clarence Jazz Club, Malaga / Rubicon Jazz Bar, Santander / Jimmy Glass Jazz Bar, Valencia/ Hot Club de Portugal, Lisbon) 2021 - Series of online concerts at the Half Note Jazz Club, Athens, Greece. - Kalamata International Music Days, Kalamata, Greece 2022 - Half Note Jazz Club, Athens, Greece, collaboration with the acclaimed saxophonist Dimitris Tsakas

Awards

2015: Apollon Jazz Competition Greece. First Prize. (Then as Manesis/Gyftakis/Gouliaris Trio)

Spiral Trio: Broken Blue

Read "Broken Blue" reviewed by Ian Patterson

by Ian Patterson
October 8, 2022

Pianist Spyros Manesis, bassist Arionas Gyftakis and drummer Anastasios Gouliaris came together as Spiral Trio in 2011 at the Athenaeum Conservatory in Athens. Manesis was teaching there, Gyftakis and Goulapis were studying. But there is no hint of hierarchy on Broken Blue where a genuine sense of egalitarian adventure defines the music. The trio has come some way since its standards-dominated debut, Spiral Trio (ANKh Music Productions, 2017), its sophomore recording featuring only one non-original—the surest sign of growing collective ...