George Klountzos-Chrysidis

George Klountzos-Chrysidis is a drummer and composer from Thessaloniki, Greece, whose work explores the intersection of jazz and electronic music. He began playing drums at an early age, quickly developing a deep fascination with rhythm, texture, and sonic exploration. Over time, his artistic voice has been shaped by a wide spectrum of influences—ranging from traditional jazz to the raw energy of house and broken beat, as well as the improvisational spirit of contemporary experimental music.

After relocating to France, George became an active presence on the local jazz scene, performing at major festivals such as Nice Jazz Festival, Nuits du Sud, and Jazz à Vienne. His collaborations have taken him across Europe and the United States, including performances in Detroit and New York, where he worked with saxophonist Diego Rivera and pianist Xavier Davis. Along the way, he has shared the stage and studio with artists such as Ricky Ford, Nicolas Masson, Craig Bailey, Baptiste Herbin, Robert Lucaciu, Marc Abrams, Ziad Rajab, Ivo Papasov, and Pantelis Stoikos, among others. He is also a founding member of Yako Trio, a group known for blending Mediterranean influences with a modern jazz aesthetic.

In his latest project and debut album, Semazen, George delves deeper into rhythm as a meditative and transformative force. The work fuses grooves and textures that blur the boundaries between acoustic and electronic sound. Inspired by the Sufi practice of spinning meditation, Semazen reflects a spiritual journey through listening, movement, and repetition — a sonic ritual where genre distinctions dissolve. Each live performance by the Semazen Ensemble has been described by Resident Advisor as a liberating experience, “where music serves as a common ground for connection and authentic expression.” Born out of the needs of the community it engages, the ensemble creates a vibrant space for communication, participation, and coexistence, bringing audiences together through shared sonic exploration.

Following the release of Semazen, George collaborated with internationally renowned artist Byron The Aquarius, who created a remix of “Whirling,” a track from the album.

Photo:John D. Carnessiotis