Pianist
Manolis Mikelis was a great personality in the music business, but nobody ever made the slightest tribute to him and its offer, not even a simple reference to his name. He was for many years one of the leading piano soloists in the world, with several distinctions and awards. He also had a special love for jazz.He played in the best jazz clubs in Europe (at Whiskey Jazz Club in Madrid, at the Blue Note in Paris, in Down Beat in London and at Jazz Club of Frankfurt.In the early 60s he came back to Athens and played in major orchestras in hotels and restaurants. Once again he created his own orchestra and remained for 12 years at the Hilton, making there a eight-member orchestra with violins and classical piano and giving unforgettable performances. In the same time he played in jazz clubs such as Act One and Half Note, where he met with prominent jazz musicians such as Ray Brown, Milt Jackson, Grady Tate, Mickey Rocker and Barney Kessel, who had visited our country with ella Fitzgerald.