Vasilis has been performing the traditional music of Greece and the Balkans since he was 12 years old. Adding to that, he has played recorded and toured extensively with many groups and artists of many different genres, such as: Stafford James, Oghene Kologbo, Ionian Brass Ensemble, Orchestra Sonora, Mora sti Fotia(a historic Greek punk-rock band) Koza Mostra,(with whom they got the 6th place in 2013 Eurovision). In 2010 he graduated from the Jazz Dept. of the Ionian Uni and moved to Thessaloniki to pursue a musical career. In 2016, one year after he moved to Graz, Austria, he formed the Ellipsis Quintet playing concerts locally and internationally. In 2018 he Graduated from the Jazz department of the Kunst Uni Graz The same year he Joined the World - Fusion Band ''HaydeTanz'' as a trumpet player, composer and arranger. He also mixed and mastered their first full album, as well as their two singles. He continues living, teaching and working in Graz, Austria.
Established in 2016, Ellipsis Quintet is an ambitious "east meets west" musical project of Vasilis Nalbantis. Traditional Balkan, Greek and East Mediterranean music influences coincide with jazz, rock and fusion, to form a ''prog-world-jazz" amalgam that respects the history of all the different musical influences as well as celebrates an open, uninhibited and uncomplicated artistic expression. The main driving forces being honest emotion and love for exploration.
''...a quintet that has found it’s path. The efforts of Vasilis and all the musicians came to fruition. After a lot of work they
reached a genuine musical result of
special character and quality identity. High level of musicianship, sensitivity and ethos''
- Vasilis Rakopoulos
''...european poetic music - rough and gentle Pictures fly through my head while listening to this fabulous young bunch
of music colleges.Trumpet and guitar telling stories, argue with each other, suddenly the piano finds peace with the
trumpet, drums and bass pushing them to an outer limit
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''...a quintet that has found it’s path. The efforts of Vasilis and all the musicians came to fruition. After a lot of work they
reached a genuine musical result of
special character and quality identity. High level of musicianship, sensitivity and ethos''
- Vasilis Rakopoulos
''...european poetic music - rough and gentle Pictures fly through my head while listening to this fabulous young bunch
of music colleges.Trumpet and guitar telling stories, argue with each other, suddenly the piano finds peace with the
trumpet, drums and bass pushing them to an outer limit. A nice unisono line does if nothing ever happened! Keep an eye
on this virtuous new music from Ellipsis Quintet. I will.'
-Lorenz Raab
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