Live Jazz events & concerts in Greece

For many the “hotest band in the Greek Jazz scene” Next Step built their way up by performing live extensively and attracting audiences of varied ages, both jazz addicts and rock/alternative gig-goers.

The Next Step are: Thodoris Kotsifas (guitar), Yiannis Papadopoulos (piano) Dinos Manos (bass), Vassilis Podaras (drums) feat. Tivon Pennicott and Takis Paterelis on saxophones.

Released on cd and mp3 by: Puzzlemusik
Release Date: November 27, 2015

One of the three finalists of The Monk Competiton in 2010, Tivon Pennicott is a great player with distinctive sound and musical conception.
Tivon’s versatility as a sideman and his tenacity as a young leader on the scene have kept him busy: aside from regular appearances as a leader at New York mainstay Smalls, he has already enjoyed a measure of success as a sideman, having been invited by a wide variety of bandleaders to collaborate on their own touring and recording projects – from jazz songstress Nellie Mckay, Grammy nominee Gregory Porter, and RnB crooner Joe Thomas, to central figures in the contemporary jazz scene, like Ari Hoenig and E.J. Strickland. Most recently, Tivon toured with Grammy Winner Esperanza Spalding, going on to back her on her crossover success “Radio Music Society.”
Tivon Pennicott was born in Marietta, Georgia at the end of December in 1985. He began studying tenor saxophone while attending high school in Atlanta, garnering recognition as an outstanding soloist early on as a participant in Lincoln Center’s Essentially Ellington competition, as well as the Georgia All-state Jazz Band. In 2004, he relocated to Miami to study at the Frost School of Music, where he had the opportunity to perform alongside visiting artists like Dave Liebman, Randy Brecker, and Maria Schneider. While still in college, Tivon was tapped by guitar legend Kenny Burrell to join his quintet, appearing on his 2008 live release, “Be Yourself.” His continuing association with Kenny has led to opportunities to perform at many of America’s great jazz venues, alongside special guests like soul pioneer Stevie Wonder, among many others.