Born in Athens in 1964, John Balikos got involved with music at 18. He started playing the keyboards and studied advanced musical theory and composition at the “Appolonion” Conservatory (Marousi, Athens). It was around that time that he made his first discoveries in the world of rock music, and in 1984 he co-founded the group “Finding the name”, of which he was a member throughout its five year existence. In 1989 he start studying jazz harmony. Since 1991 he has been living on the island of Paros permanently, where he has been working as a music teacher. His composing output includes music for large ensembles and Symphony Orchestra, piano sonatas etc. His composition for violin and piano represented Greece at the International Motsarteum Festival in Salzburg (1993). He has written music for many stage plays including “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” (2003) and “The Knights of the French Fry” (which won first prize at the Greek Theatrical Competition in 2000), “Medea” (1998) etc. Even though he is focusing on classical and jazz music, he is also interested in innovation by combining a great range of musical idioms such as Rock, Latin, New Age even Greek traditional music. Yet one more field Balikos has been into music for the cinema. He has composed music for short films and documentaries, including “Door Τo Another Dimension” (BBC2), “Under Τhe Sea” (Ζeus TV), “Bristol Beau Fighter” (Mediterranean Dive Center).Despite a serious handicap that has deprived him of being able to perform, John has managed to overcome adversity by focusing on teaching and composing. In 2011 saw the establishment of John Balikos Trio made up of great musicians and friends. In the summer of 2012 he presented to the public of Paros his first album release under the title
John Balikos Trio. His compositions were an ideal combination of cinematic music and jazz. It was on the occasion of the album’s presentation that Balikos received a special prize for his cultural contribution to the island of Paros conferred by the Mayor himself. The album earned excellent reviews: “Jazz and Jazz” magazine referred to it as “an enchanting spell of Aegean jazz”, while “Music Heaven” portal praised it for its exquisite subtlety. Such was the album’s appeal that invitations to live concerts soon sprang up from various parts of Greece and Europe (Italy, France etc.)
“Rings Around the Moon”, the second album of John Balikos’ Trio has recently released. Takis Farazis on the piano, PetrosVarthakouris on the bass and ThanosHatzianagnostou on the drums are playing with great energy and natural flow, as music deserves.
John Balikos Interview
