"The presence of high art shapes and regenerates the social group in which it develops. The universal language of Jazz is High Art. I believe that life becomes meaningful when our daily life is filled with the pursuit of the maximum enjoyment of the five senses and the possibility of spiritual expression. All this within a framework of peace, love, culture and possibly with Music as a compass for those who choose it. Clearly there are many other options with the same goal."

Yiorgos Fakanas: A Topaz of Jazz Scene

In 1980 he participated in the historic recording of Manos Hadjidakis’ (composer of the Oscar- winning score for the famous film “Never on Sunday”) “Lilipoupolis”, and since then has  taken part in numerous recordings by other composers, totaling over 800 albums. He formed the group ISKRA, which was to become the first jazz-fusion group in the country, and he participated in the EUROJAZZ orchestra as the only Greek representative, touring all of Europe. He has 13 CDs as a leader: A New day, Parastasis, Horizon, Amorosa, Stand Art, Echoes, Domino, Interspirit, Maestro, Acrobat, Live in Athens, Secrets, Topaz with the contributions of many Greek and foreign musicians, including Dave Weckl, Anthony Jackson, Frank Gambale, Mike Stern, Horacio el Negro Hernandez, Guthrie Govan, Bireli Lagrene, Eric Marienthal, Alex Acuna, Mitch Forman, Scott Kinsey, Wallace Roney, Lenny White, Brett Garsed, Bob Franceschini and many others. Interspirit  contains music specially composed for the legendary bassist Anthony Jackson. The cd is released by “Abstract Logix” Record Company and is distributed in USA, Europe and Asia. It has also been in the Prenomination List for the 53^rd Grammy Award-Category: Best Contemporary Jazz Album. The music of the above mentioned cd has been presented in USA, Europe, Japan and Korea with big success. The Japanese Company “King Records” has re-released and distributed all over Asia, his previous cds “Echoes” and “Domino”.                 (Yiorgos Fakanas / Photos © Courtesy of Fakanas Archive)

In addition to composing and performing music for movies and theatre, Yiorgos founded the “Art Music School Y.V. Fakanas” where he is supervisor and Artistic Director of the Contemporary Music Department. He has continually taught the electric bass and contemporary theory, and over 1000 bass players have studied with him, some of whom have gone on to become outstanding professional musicians. As an author, he has no less than 24 books on electric bass performance and music theory to his credit, which are taught in all Greek conservatories and many abroad. He also founded  ATHINΑ΄ LIVE, a club situated in the Art Music School, where he organizes concerts that have featured many well known, world-class musicians. All these artists undertake seminars and private lessons for the students of the Art Music School, establishing it as a true centre for contemporary music studies in Europe. Yiorgos is also the publisher of the magazine JAZZ FUSION MOOD, which presents a modern vision for creative music in Greece. His 13th recording projects “TOPAZ” (2022) is a Jazz suite in 6 parts, distinguished by the continuous conversation of the two parts of the orchestra: strings and Jazz ensemble. It took 29 years for the composer to decide to record this score. The project was completed by 8 more musical images, created in the last two years. This is how the recording is produced today, which includes another testimony of Fakanas' soul.

Interview by Michael Limnios               Special Thanks: Yiorgos Fakanas & Sonia Hatzi

How has the Jazz music (and people of) influenced your views of the world and the journeys you’ve taken?

My relationship with this universal language has shown me the way to escape from the nets of ubiquitous mediocrity and to look ahead. It is constantly teaching me to take care of my life in order to finally succeed, not to be hurt by injustice.

Where does your creative drive come from? How do you want your music to affect people?

There is no meaning without drive and creation, even if there is no practical purpose. Everything I do in my art does not start with low goals. It begins to decorate my everyday life with open horizons and conscious little excitements that sometimes lead to the solution of my questions. If this work of mine can find a way to bridge my distance from the world, then all I ask is a utilitarian communication as everyone understands it. The gift will be opened at home in moments when our loneliness will be a reason for redemption and not loneliness.

"The moment I decided that I would become a faithful servant of the Musical Art without ever using it for other purposes, determined my choices and my path. Since then I can't single out special moments in my relationship. Every moment I act within the notes I seek to be the best until the next. And people always give me the best advice. It's about the affirmative renewal of our relationship, every time we manage to communicate through my music." (Photo: Yiorgos Fakanas has been teaching the electric bass and modern theory at various schools, whilst simultaneously writing books on the electric bass and modern theory.)

What characterize your music philosophy? What's the balance in music between technique skills and soul/emotions?

I research on a daily basis the ways of usability of my Art. In an era where the height of the bar deceives, turning "mediocre" into "excellent", there is a vital need to redefine values. This need is first individual for the artist and then collective. But since the power of any authority is uncivilized and as invincible as stupidity, I enclose my scale of values ​​in a personal oasis, open to those who will only come. In order to express my inner world through music, I must know its technique. Otherwise I am no different from anyone else, since everyone has an emotional world. But the musician is the owner of the technical means with which he will express his positions. Emotions and technique, an indivisible world.

How did the idea of the “Art Music School Y.V. Fakanas” and "ATHINΑ΄ LIVE" come about?

Our Conservatory and our multicultural place, arose from the need to fill a huge educational and concert gap that existed before their establishment. To this day, the authenticity and versatility of these places, completely justify us creating at the same time great responsibilities for the continuation of their action.

Why do you think that the Jazz music continues to generate such a devoted following in Greece?

Apparently the small number of Jazz fans, if there is really a reason to count them, projects as a whole devoted, but without being able to distinguish the characteristics that make up this devotion....

What are some of the most important lessons you have learned from your experience in the music paths?

Walking the musical path, I learned not to stand injustice, ugliness, messiness, adventurism, deification of mediocrity, lack of goals and utopia, laziness, excuse, deep lie, rampant submission, violence, toxic selfishness, envy… for all these have ventured without success to prevent me from being useful with my Art. Instead my journey with Music filtered my path with the opposites of what I hated. That is, I learned justice, beauty, order, purpose, worthiness, utopia, work, assuming my responsibilities, love and faith in the place I grew up, peace, enjoyment…

"Our Conservatory and our multicultural place, arose from the need to fill a huge educational and concert gap that existed before their establishment. To this day, the authenticity and versatility of these places, completely justify us creating at the same time great responsibilities for the continuation of their action." (Photos: Greek composer, bass player and educator, Yiorgos Fakanas Yiorgios Fakanas with Joe Zawinoul, Steve Gadd, Pat Martino, Lakis Zois, Anthony Jackson, and Greek jazz-fusion group of Iskra)

What moment changed your music life the most? What´s been the highlights in your life and career so far? What was the best advice anyone ever gave you?

The moment I decided that I would become a faithful servant of the Musical Art without ever using it for other purposes, determined my choices and my path. Since then I can't single out special moments in my relationship. Every moment I act within the notes I seek to be the best until the next. And people always give me the best advice. It's about the affirmative renewal of our relationship, every time we manage to communicate through my music.

What has been the hardest obstacle for you to overcome as a person and as artist and has this helped you become a better jazz musician?

The victory over doubt, the journey to the strengthening of general self-confidence, the decision that you do not need to prove anything to anyone, the understanding of creative abilities as a central theme of life. All these pursuits are the most difficult obstacles to solve. If they are conquered, one will become a better person. The best musician is next.

What is the impact of Jazz on the socio-cultural implications? John Coltrane said "My music is the spiritual expression of what I am...". How do you understand the spirit, music, and the meaning of life?

The presence of high art shapes and regenerates the social group in which it develops. The universal language of Jazz is High Art. I believe that life becomes meaningful when our daily life is filled with the pursuit of the maximum enjoyment of the five senses and the possibility of spiritual expression. All this within a framework of peace, love, culture and possibly with Music as a compass for those who choose it. Clearly there are many other options with the same goal.

Yiorgos Fakanas - Home

(Yiorgos Fakanas founded the “Art Music School Y.V. Fakanas” where he is supervisor and Artistic Director of the Contemporary Music Department. He also founded  ATHINΑ΄ LIVE, a club situated in the Art Music School, where he organizes concerts that have featured many well known, world-class musicians / Photos © Courtesy of Yiorgos Fakanas Archive)