Dimitrios Vassilakis

**Dimitrios Vassilakis** is a talented Greek saxophonist, vocalist, composer, and educator who's made waves in the jazz scene with his soulful sound and innovative projects. Born in Athens in 1961, he studied chemical engineering before diving into music, playing bass and singing until 1985 when he switched to saxophone; he's dropped five acclaimed albums on Candid Records, including *Across the Universe*, *Parallel Lines*, *Labyrinth - Daedalus Project* (a BBC favorite with Greek-Balkan jazz vibes produced by David Liebman), and *Secret Path*, often blending standards, rock tunes, and swinging rhythms. After a tough fire in 2009 wiped out his home, he channeled that into fresh recordings, gigging everywhere from New York's Birdland and London's Ronnie Scott's to Yale and the South Bank Centre, while leading cool initiatives like "The Greek Gang!" to mentor young jazzers from tough backgrounds.

Splitting time between the buzzing NYC jazz world—where he jams with top players like Jeff “Tain” Watts and Essiet Essiet—and the serene Greek mountains of Karitsa for some nature-fueled recharge, Dimitrios keeps pushing boundaries with his broad repertoire and global tours.