THE FESTIVAL 2021
On August 30th 9pm opening the festival in the Palace Courtyard are harpist, Maria Christina Harper with vocalist/trumpet player, Georgina Jackson in “Women in Jazz”.
Follows a virtual performance from Istanbul by the “Stanpolites Trio” featuring Evrim Demirel, Andreas Metzler and Riccardo Marenghi.
“Human Touch”, one of the top fusion jazz ensembles from Greece closes the 1st day.
On August 31st the Norwegian group, Espen Berg Trio will open the concert with special guest Dimitrios Vassilakis, presenting material from their ECM recordings and a preview of Dimitrios’s new upcoming album “Persephone”.
Follows “New Generation Jazz”, led by Nestor Vassilakis, a fresh group of young players from Rhodes and Guildhall School of Music & Drama in London that will present fusion jazz.
American legend saxophonist Jean Toussaint, a collaborator of Art Blakey, performs with three Greek “Jazz Masters”, Vassilis Podaras, Dinos Manos and Dimitris Verdinoglou to close the festival.
MC Harper & Georgina Jackson
“Women in Jazz (UK/Greece)”
Harp, trumpet, vocal classic and modern jazz with the rare and beautiful harp sounds
- August 30, 2021
- 09:00 pm
- Palace of The Grand master Rhodes
- Free event, Doors open at 8:30 pm
“MX Harper Group”, “Women in Jazz” project with Maria-Christina Harper and Georgina Jackson (UK/Greece)
(Jazz Singer, Trumpet player, Guest Soloist)


Evrim Demirel & Stanpolites
"Jazz Across The Water"
- August 30, 2021
- 10:00 pm
- Palace of The Grand master Rhodes
- Free event, Doors open at 8:30 pm
VIRTUAL PRESENTATION “Evrim Demirel & Stanpolites” (Turkey/Germany/Italy) with Evrim Demirel (Piano, Synthesizers, Melodica), Andreas Metzler (Double Bass) and Riccardo Marenghi (Drums)
Three musicians from different parts of the world met at the city where the continents meet, Istanbul. And just like the city, they immediately started building an eclectic sound: powerful, energetic, and yet touching. Evrim Demirel (TR), Andreas Metzler (DE) and Riccardo Marenghi (IT) are the “Stanpolites”.
Human Touch (Greece)
"Jazz Across The Water"
- August 30, 2021
- 10:30 pm
- Palace of The Grand master Rhodes
- Free event, Doors open at 8:30 pm
“Human Touch” with @David Lynch (Tenor & Soprano Saxophone, Flute, Voice, Percussion), @Giotis Kiourtsoglou (Electric bass unstrung & strung, Voice, Cajon) and @Stavros Lantsias (Acoustic piano, Drums, Melodica)
After 19 years of existence, Human Touch has its own personality and unique style. Their music, through the use of a variety of instruments, is direct and communicative and fills the listener with images and emotions. The artists travel through the spontaneity of the moment, and they know how to share it. Human Touch has indeed a “human touch”.


Espen Berg Trio
"Jazz Across The Water"
- August 31, 2021
- 09:00 pm
- Palace of The Grand master Rhodes
- Free event, Doors open at 8:30 pm
Espen Berg Trio (Norway/Greece)
with Espen Berg (Pianist, Composer), Bárður Reinert Poulsen (Bass), Simon Olderskog Albertsen (Drums) and Dimitrios Vassilakis (Saxophonist, Singer, Composer)
“Espen Berg Trio” is declared one of the most important jazz trios in the world in 2020 by Jazz Critique Magazine (Japan), and their album Free to Play (2019) was listed in Downbeat (US) as one of the best releases in 2019. They will be sharing the stage with special guest Dimitrios Vassilakis and will give us a preview of Dimitrios’s new upcoming album “Persephone”.
New Generation Jazz
“Nestor Vassilakis/Jakob Klimiuk/Aris Solomon/Dinos Manos/Dimitris Verdinoglou”
- August 31, 2021
- 10:00 pm
- Palace of The Grand master Rhodes
- Free event, Doors open at 8:30 pm
“New Jazz Generation” (Poland/UK/Rhodes) with Nestor Vassilakis (Saxophonist), Jakob Klimiuk (Guitar), Ntinos Manos (Bass), Dimitris Verdinoglou (Piano) and Aris Solomon (Drums)
A new generation of talented musicians from the Music School of the island of Rhodes, the Guildhall School of Music & Drama in London, University Of Athens Music Department and Ionian University. The band will employ saxophone, piano, electric guitar, electric bass and drums, offering the public a powerful jazz fusion experience.


Jean Toussaint with the Greek jazz masters
- August 31, 2021
- 10:30 pm
- Palace of The Grand master Rhodes
- Free event, Doors open at 8:30 pm
Jean Toussaint with the Greek jazz masters
Jean Toussaint (Saxophonist) with the Greek “jazz masters” trio Vassilios Podaras (Drums), Ntinos Manos (Double Bass), Dimitris Verdinoglou (Piano) (USA/Greece)
Jean Toussaint is an American jazz tenor and soprano saxophonist who has pushed forward and embraced challenging, and often high profile, musical collaborations in many different jazz styles. Today he works out of London England as a composer, tenor/soprano saxophonist, bandleader and highly regarded jazz educator. He will present, together with the 3 Greek Jazz Masters, a preview from his award winning discography.