Dean Gionis

Award winning jazz and world music guitarist from Buffalo, NY

Bio

After many years in the rock scene, a chance encounter compelled me to unplug and study classical guitar. It was through that study that a love of Jazz & World Music began. In 2005 I formed the group Djambossa, playing a blend of Bossa Nova, Flamenco, and Gypsy Jazz. 8 years later I joined the award winning group, "The Hot Club of Buffalo". I love these styles of music and try to bring them to life during my performances, I currently perform about 80 shows per year at top venues including regional festivals such as the Lewiston and Rochester Jazz Festivals.

​I am pleased to announce that I will be recording my 8th record this spring featuring all original songs in the style of gypsy jazz. Stay tuned for news about my new release " Athens to Rio" expected in September. I was influenced by the music of the Mediterranean as far back as I can remember. I heard a ton of Greek music growing up as my parents were from Greece. The folk music of Spain, Italy, France and Greece are very like me (my style) in that they have a very emotional component to them. I started playing guitar as a teenager and started writing music immediately. In the last 10 years, I have been most influenced by guys like Ottmar Liebert, Oscar Lopez, and Armik on the Latin side and gypsy jazz greats like Bireli Lagrene and Stochelo Rosenberg. From 1998-2006, I wrote and recorded three records with the alternative rock band Nancyscandy. After many years on the rock music scene I formed the group Djambossa that ran from 2007-2013. That is when I started performing all the cool music that I always loved and continue today as a member of The Hot Club of Buffalo”.

Voted 2024 "Jazz Guitarist of the Year" - JazzBuffalo.org