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Irini Konstantinidi

With her lyrical, expressive, and impressively clear sound, vocalist Irini Konstantinidi has achieved a very personal and refined interpretation of jazz and has been established as one of the most prominent Greek jazz singers. She is dedicated to exploring the voice as an improvising instrument and as the means of instant creativity in jazz music. Her playful and creative approach to vocal improvisation and jazz phrasing makes her music performance unique. Scat singing is like an extension of her storytelling and imagination. Reviews about Irini have highlighted her vocal brilliance, impressive tonal range, and flexibility. The audience and the press refer to her as the jazz voice of pure crystal that’s very exciting when she's improvising!

Irini’s inquisitive character and growth mindset led her to take a break from her well-established career as a jazz vocalist in her home country and start traveling. So in 2016, she decided to move to Holland, to pursue her dreams of expanding her horizon, network, and academic credentials. During her stay in The Netherlands Irini completed her Master's in Jazz Vocals at the Royal Conservatoire of The Hague, in 2018. Collaborating as a lyricist and vocalist in collective jazz projects and discography with The Wonderfall Quartet (2010-2015) in Greece and with Nomadic Treasures (2017-2018) in Holland, she performed in numerous jazz festivals and prestigious jazz venues in both her country and The Netherlands. In the meantime, she started writing her own songs, that would showcase her elegant musical identity.

Returning to Greece in the summer of 2020, Irini formed her new Greek jazz quartet and recorded the songs for her personal studio album "Nothing to lose", at Sierra Studios (Athens), in November 2020. Having the intimate feel of a personal diary, this album contains original songs and unfolds Irini's joyful personality and jazz finesse. "Nothing to lose" which was released on April 2, 2021, comes as the reintroduction of Konstantinidi’s jazz voice to the audience, under her own name this time and with her artistic signature as a songwriter, producer, and arranger.

Awards

Irini Konstantinidi's first group The Wonderfall Quartet was voted as the Best Greek Jazz Group of 2014 at the Critic’s Poll of JazzOnLine.gr portal. The group's second album entitled HORIZON (April 2014) had received excellent reviews and was voted as the Best Greek Jazz Album of 2014, at the Critic’s Poll of JazzOnLine.

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“Irini's new album "Nothing to lose" is really good - tunes are nice, the band sounds great, Irini is very relaxed. This music deserves to be heard!” — DAVID LIEBMAN

“It is wonderful, very interesting and Irini's singing is so beautiful and heartfelt!” — SHEILA JORDAN

“Irini Konstantinidi is an excellent performer and a fantastic improviser.” — ERIC INEKE - jazz drummer (NL)

“the vocal brilliance of Irini Konstantinidi is unquestionable.” — JOS DEMOL - JAZZHALO.BE - JULY 20, 2018

“Irini’s voice is pristine; she sings with honesty. Her lyrics speak directly to the listeners. She sings about longing, introspection, healing, reaching out and faith. Her songs are candid and we can all relate to them as part of our life’s experiences at one time or other.” — NATHALIE FRESON - UK VIBE - APRIL 29, 2018