Jazz views
through an insider's lens
A Photo Exhibition from Thrassos Irinis‘
experience in the Jazz World.
Inn of England
Medieval City
13-20
SEPTEMBER
2026
Opening 13 Σεπτεμβρίου at 19:00
Exhibition Hours
10:00-12:00 & 17:30-20:30
Free Admission
More on the exhibition
Rhodes Jazz Festival has invited Thrassos Irinis, a known promoter, artistic director of Half Note Jazz Club and passionate music photographer to exhibit part of his huge jazz photographic work. The exhibition will be held at the Inn of England in the old town of Rhodes and is entitled “Jazz views through an insider’s lens”.
The exhibition invites visitors as well as music lovers to experience jazz through the eyes and camera of an artist who has dedicated his career to presenting the finest artists while trying to preserve some of the memorable moments they always have to offer. The intimacy, the strong emotions, the unpredictability of the improviser, depicted here by someone who’s familiar with the genre and who’s usually next to the bandstand with the camera in his hands.
The photo exhibition will be the opening event for the 11th edition of the Rhodes Jazz Festival and is open to the public from 13th September until 20 September.
Program
11th Rhodes Jazz Festival
Three days full of music.
21 artists from Athens, Lisbon, London Madrid and Roterdam
at the stage of the 11th Rhodes Jazz Festival
Our Lady of the Burgh
Medieval City
18-20
September
2026
Starting at 20:30
Free ADmission
Day 1
18 SEPTEMBER 2026 at 20:30
Valia Calda
Line-up
Sam Warner: trumpet/flugelhorn
James Allsopp: tenor saxophone/bass clarinet
Nikos Ziarkas: guitar/electronics
Gaspar Sena: drums
Thodoris Ziarkas: double bass
Information
The experimental jazz group from London, Valia Calda, presents their latest album, Homeland, in Rhodes at the Rhodes Jazz Festival.
Valia Calda comprises guitarist Nikos Ziarkas and double bassist Theodoros Ziarkas, joined by three innovative and acclaimed musicians from the London jazz scene: James Allsopp on saxophone (Dr. John, Nostalgia 77, Polar Bear), Sam Warner on trumpet (Riot Jazz, Ariwo), and drummer Gaspar Sena (Alfa Mist, Maria Chiara Argirò).
Following a successful European and UK tour in support of Homeland, Valia Calda headlined the Athens Jazz Festival 2025 as the festival’s official Greek entry. As the ensemble works on its forthcoming recording, a vinyl reissue of Homeland is due to be released in autumn 2026 by the record label Fair Weather Friends. The reissue will mark the occasion for a series of performances in London and Greece throughout the autumn.
Valia Calda’s music draws inspiration from the traditions and social struggles of communities around the world.
The band emerged on the London jazz scene in 2013, led by guitarist Nikos Ziarkas and bassist Theodoros Ziarkas. Their music is rooted in the traditional music of Epirus and psychedelic jazz, while incorporating guitar riffs inspired by punk and elements of tropical improvisation.
Returning from the silence of the pandemic, the band explores a new sonic universe on their latest album, Homeland, released in May 2023 by Deep Mountain Records. The album was included among the best releases of the year by Jazz on Bandcamp in May 2023 and the acclaimed publication The Quietus, while receiving radio exposure from stations around the world, including KEXP, BBC, Worldwide FM, NTS, Soho Radio, ERT and others.
In 2018, the band released the album Methexis, which received widespread critical acclaim, following the successful release of their debut EP in 2013.
Valia Calda have collaborated with numerous artists from the British jazz scene, including Alabaster DePlume, Maddalena Ghezzi and Maria Chiara Argirò, among others. They have toured internationally, performing at established venues and festivals including the London Jazz Festival (2013–2023), Lancaster Jazz Festival (2024), BBC Late Proms (2014), Cambridge Jazz Festival (2014–2015), Royal Albert Hall (2014), Vortex Jazz Club (2015–present), Opus Jazz Club (2024), Bee Bop Café (2024), Anopolis Festival (2024), Vovousa Festival (2024), and many others.
Their music has received support from radio stations including BBC Radio 3, ERT3, NPR, Jazz FM and KEXP.
Harris Lambrakis Quartet
Line-up
Harris Lambrakis: ney
Nikos Sidirokastritis: drums
Dimitris Theocharis: piano
Dimitris Tsekouras: double bass
Information
Harris Lambrakis Quartet was formed in 2006 in Athens and since then has been performing exclusively original music composed by its members. The band, with Nikos Sidirokastritis (drums), Dimitris Theocharis (piano), Dimitris Tsekouras (double bass) and Harris Lambrakis (ney) as members, constantly delves deeper into the relationship among its musicians and their audience, while exploring the musical landscapes of the East and the West.
Modal jazz, Greek traditional music and modal music of the East Mediterranean blend in harmony with the jazz melodies of the ‘60s and improvisation music. The result is a musical journey from where the audience, together with the band, face the unexpected that cannot be defined but only followed. Harris Lambrakis Quartet has released two albums, Théa (2010) and Metéora (2013), while the third album entitled Lafina is soon to be released.
The Quartet has presented its work in prestigious concerts halls and festivals abroad (e.g., Denmark, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Cyprus) and all over Greece. Indicative halls and festivals in Greece are: Onassis Cultural Center (2011 & 2017) Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Center – Jazz Chronicles (2017) Athens Aqua Jazz Festival (2018) Athens and Epidaurus Festival (2017) Jazz + Praxis (Patras 2014) 12th Athens Jazz Festival (2012, 1st prize of the jury) 1st International Kalamata Festival (2010) Jazz Festival of Tinos (2009) Jazz Festival of Zakynthos (2009)
Day 2
19 SEPTEMBER 2026 at 20:30
Seeds (M. & C. Kalkanis) ft. Alcmini
Line-up
Mihalis Kalkanis: double bass, piano
Christos Kalkanis: clarinet, piano, electronics
Alcmini: vocals
Information
The sonic world of Seeds, the duo brothers, Michalis and Christos Kalkanis, brings together the acoustic colours of double bass, clarinet and piano with electronic sounds, creating soundscapes that at times recall film soundtracks and the neoclassical scene, while at others draw more strongly on Greece and its musical traditions, invites Alcmini to the stage, one of most promising voices of Greek traditional song, who brings timeless melodies into the present through her distinctive vocal approach.
Michalis Kalkanis is an artist who constantly experiments and often explores the interaction between music and other art forms, including photography, poetry and dance. As a solo artist, he has presented his work at venues such as Flux Laboratory, the National Museum of Contemporary Art Athens (EMST), the National Gallery and the Benaki Museum. With his ensemble, Mihalis Kalkanis Group, he has performed at major Greek festivals, including the Athens Epidaurus Festival, Summer Nostos Festival (SNFCC), Athens Jazz Festival and others.
Christos Kalkanis draws on a wide range of aesthetic and artistic influences, from Asia Minor and Thrace to classical, jazz and electronic music. As a multi-instrumentalist, he brings together different musical worlds, creating original musical setups, while also composing music for theatre and contemporary dance.
As duo Seeds, the two brothers have performed at numerous festivals, including jazzahead!, the Athens Epidaurus Festival, Athens City Festival and others.
Alcmini has participated in a wide range of projects, including productions of the Greek National Opera such as The Murderess by Giorgos Koumendakis, and has collaborated with artists including Savina Yannatou, Petros Klampanis and Ermis. She made her solo debut with an a cappella performance of the Thracian traditional song Na ’man pouli. Her aim is to honour the timeless melodies of Greece, enriching them with her distinctive vocal style and contemporary musical influences.
Spyros Manesis Trio
Line-up
Spyros Manesis: piano
Periklis Trivolis: double bass
Anastasis Gouliaris: drums
Information
Acclaimed in Greece and abroad, pianist and composer Spyros Manesis presents his new Spyros Manesis Trio, joined by two leading musicians of the Greek jazz scene: Periklis Trivolis on double bass and his long-standing collaborator Anastasios Gouliaris on drums.
The chemistry between the three musicians — built through years of collaboration, shared musical explorations and a deep understanding of the idiom — shapes a sound that combines maturity, versatility and creative boldness.
The trio’s repertoire features Manesis’ compositions from throughout his creative journey, including pieces from the albums Trioism, Undelivered and Broken Blue, alongside new, unreleased compositions that are soon to be recorded for an upcoming album.
The programme also features bold interpretations of works by Michel Legrand and Lena Platonos, two composers who have been enduring sources of inspiration for Manesis and whose music resonates organically with his own aesthetic.
The sound of the Spyros Manesis Trio moves between introspection and melodic lyricism on the one hand, and virtuosity and extroversion on the other — always, however, with freshness, a sense of adventure and a willingness to take risks.
References to post-mainstream and modern jazz, together with influences from Bill Evans, Keith Jarrett, Paul Bley and Brad Mehldau, are present yet fully assimilated into a deeply personal and recognisable sound. His musical dialogue with Trivolis and Gouliaris is characterised by intense interplay, functioning as a collective narrative that unfolds and evolves live on stage.
Day 3
20 SEPTEMBER 2026 at 20:30
Giorgos Bereris Quartet
Line-up
Yiorgos Bereris: piano
Yvonne Melissa: violin/viola
Lambros Papanikolaou: double bass
Ektoras Remsak: drums
Information
Giorgos Bereris – Sea in Common
Based in Rotterdam, Greek pianist and composer Yiorgos Bereris crafts a unique sound rooted in the folk traditions of Greece, the Balkans, and contemporary jazz. He has emerged as one of the upcoming voices in the European world and jazz music scene, presenting his music at venues and festivals across Greece, Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, Spain, Romania, and Serbia.
Recently he released his third personal album SEA IN COMMON which was written throughout his travels around the Mediterranean and the Balkans. This work was inspired by recurring common soundscapes: festive music, city noise, the sounds of nature, and of everyday life; as well as by encounters with people with whom no common language is spoken, yet connection and resonance emerge.
As composer Kyriakos Sfetsas noted: “Bereris’ style travels through and draws inspiration from the broader Mediterranean region, naturally extending into the established musical codes of the Western tradition.”
Sea in Common (2026) features Bereris’ longtime collaborators Yvonne Melissa (violin/viola), Lambros Papanikolaou (bass) and Ektoras Remsak (drums). It is the third personal album after his earlier releases Laros (2024), and Sigá y Silente (2025). He has performed across Europe and the U.S., both as a solo artist and sideman, appearing at major venues and festivals including Athens Jazz Festival, Breda Jazz Festival, the Greek National Opera, Vortex (London), Jamboree (Barcelona), Boston Conservatory Theater, among others. Alongside his own projects, he has collaborated with prominent artists from the European world music and jazz scene, including Kudsi Erguner, Kyriakos Sfetsas, Alba Careta, Tereza Catarov, Harris Lambrakis, Lucie Lelaurain, and Merem, further enriching his musical language through diverse cross-cultural collaborations.
Adam Ben Ezra Duo
Line-up
Adam Ben Ezra: double bass
Michael Olivera: drums
Information
Heavy Drops: Adam Ben Ezra’s New Duo Project
Get ready for a groundbreaking musical journey as Adam Ben Ezra, the virtuosic double bassist, presents his latest project—a powerful duo formation featuring drummer Michael Olivera.
This project showcases Adam’s unparalleled creativity and musical vision, bringing his 100% original compositions to life in a unique and captivating way.
Adam’s new 2025 album, Heavy Drops, elevates the bass and drums relationship to a new level. Featuring a fusion of genres and musical traditions, Adam’s compositions explore fresh and timeless sounds, creating a rich, dynamic experience for listeners. To celebrate the release of Heavy Drops, Adam will be touring alongside Michael Olivera, performing tracks from the new album and reimagined versions of his beloved earlier works.
This live duo performance highlights Adam’s masterful double bass playing while showcasing the rhythmic energy and synergy between the two musicians. With his signature sound and unparalleled musicality, Adam Ben Ezra continues to push the boundaries of melody, groove, and improvisation.
This duo project is yet another step forward in his artistic journey, delivering a mesmerizing experience that leaves audiences spellbound.
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