Γιώτης Κιουρτσόγλου

Greek electric bass player, and electric bass teacher. Born in 1965 in Kozani, Greece. He started practicing guitar in 1981. His first influences were traditional, rock and soul music. In 1983 he turned to electric bass and started listening to jazz. He also studied Jazz Harmony and Theory with Theo Kapilidis. Along with Theo Kapilidis and Nikos Kapilidis, they created Electric Jazz Trio. In 1988, he attended the Musicians Institute of Los Angeles where he was taught the electric bass technique by teachers such as Gary Willis, Bob Magnuson and Jeff Berlin. He also performed live in many clubs in L.A. While living in America he had the chance to watch great musicians and to appreciate their music, their technique and their philosophy of life and of the relationship between life and music. In 1989 he graduated from the M.I. and was awarded as "the most improved student of the year" while he was nominated as "the most outstanding player". When he returned to Greece, he performed with Electric Jazz Trio in the jazz club Mantato in Thessalonica with the saxophonist Manny Boyd and the trumpeter Danny Hayes. He recorded with them two albums, one with jazz standards and one with arrangements by Theo Kapilidis. In 1993, he recorded with the guitarist Lior Yekutieli from Israel and drummer Marc Halbheer from Switzerland. During that period, he performed live in various clubs in Greece and Europe along with Elly Paspala and David Lynch (3). In 1996, along with the guitarist Κώστας Μπαλταζάνης and the drummer Petros Kourtis, they created the Iasis trio and a same titled record. At the same period he co-operated with David Lynch (3) and Σταύρος Λάντσιας and all together formed Human Touch (4). The result of this collaboration was an album in 1998. This album was the result of their internal quest, a combination of modern technique, while sticking to tradition. He has also worked with many Greek and foreign artists in recording albums and in live performances. In 2003 he collaborated for one live show in Thessaloniki with the world known drummer Billy Cobham. After that, he appeared with Human Touch (4) in many live shows, in Greece and abroad, where they played in festivals and shows next to some of the greatest musicians of the world's scene. Their latest album "Movin'" was recorded in February 2004. Teacher of electric bass at Ωδείο Φίλιππος Νάκας since early 1990s.