MICHAEL MESSIOS (double bassist, composer,educator)
MESSIOS attended the Berklee College of Music in Boston MA with a scholarship. He studied music composition, and jazz performance.
His return in Cyprus found him busy in the music industry as a member in various ensembles. The Petsteppers, Charis Ioannou Trio, Cyprus big band, Tassos Stylianou Trio, where he performs and composes.
He has participated in major Jazz Festivals like the Krakow Jazz Festival in Bologna, the Kuwait Jazz Festival, Mitrovica Jazz Festival in Serbia, the Crete Jazz Festival and played in prestigious jazz clubs like the VORTEX in London.
In 2013 he created his own band with the name “Michael Messios Symmetry Band” which performs his compositions only. His music is influenced by Contemporary and traditional Jazz and distinguished for its strong melody , harmony, complicated rhythms and motives.
MESSIOS is an endorsing artist of the ‘‘ASHDOWN AMPS''.
GREG MAKAMIAN (Double bassist)
Greg Makamian is a double bassist based in Cyprus. After graduating from the University of Nicosia in Cyprus, Greg moved to New York City to pursue a career in Jazz.
Greg has had the opportunity to perform next to legendary pianist, Freddie Redd at Smalls Jazz club in NYC. He has also performed with musicians such as: Chris Byars, Grant Stewart, Pasquale Grasso, Vahagn Hayrapetyan, Pete & Will Anderson, Zaid Nasser, Ofer Landsberg and others. In 2016, he performed with the Cyprus Symphony Orchestra and the Charis Ioannou group, presenting the music of Charlie Parker – Bird with Strings.
In the past 10 years, Greg has traveled across 3 continents, performing at clubs & festivals. Notable mentions are: Smalls Jazz Club (New York), Mezzrow (New York), The Rex (Toronto), Dusseldorf Jazz Rallye (Germany), Kypria (Cyprus), Technopolis Jazz Festival (Greece), Cafesjian Arts Centre (Armenia).
APOSTOLOS SIDERIS (professional musician, composer, educator)
Apostolos Sideris was born in Athens, Greece, where he had his first musical training, playing the classical flute. By the time he was 15 he had switched to the electric bass. It didn't take long for him to fall in love with the instrument ,and he was soon playing with various rock bands around Athens.
By the time he was 17, his focus was directed towards Jazz music and attended the Berklee College of Music. During his time at Berklee, he picked up the upright bass and since then it has been his main instrument. Following his stint in Boston, Apostolos moved to New York and earned his Master's degree in Performance, while being instructed by bass virtuoso, John Patitucci. Since then he has been freelancing around the States as well as abroad.
He has performed with a wide array of musicians ranging from jazz masters such as drummer Clarence Penn, guitarists Lionel Loueke and Rez Abbasi and pianist Leo Genovese, to world music sensations such as composer and oudist Ara Dinkjian, Greek ECM recording artist Savina Yannatou, Syrian vocal master Youssef Khasab and Lebanese composer Ziad Rahbani.
Sideris is also a devoted composer, writing in many different styles, ranging from Jazz to Middle Eastern and Latin influenced music. He currently resides in Istanbul Turkey and co-founded an Ethnic-Jazz group called MESEL. He is now preparing his own album called ‘South’ which will consist of his own compositions and improvisations, based on Greek and Middle Eastern themes .