Vasilis Xenopoulos
Vasilis Xenopoulos was born in Athens and started playing clarinet and piano at the age of 9 and he continued with the saxophone at 13. He studied at the Philippos Nakas Conservatory. In 1999 he was awarded a jazz scholarship to the Berklee College of Music in Boston. There he studied under Billy Pierce, George Garzone and Andy McGhee.
By 2002 he moved to London and continued his studies under the guidance of Eddie Harvey, Stan Sulzmann, Jimmy Hastings and Pete Cook.
He formed his first quartet in 2005 and gradually established himself as one of London’s up and coming jazz saxophonists.
He has worked with some of the best musicians in the British jazz scene, such as Jim Mullen, Steve Waterman, Alan Barnes, Derek Nash, Bruce Adams, Martin Shaw, Nigel Price, Ray Gelato and many others.
On an international level, he has appeared with a variety of top performers such as sensational pianists Hiromi, and Jason Lindner.
In 2009 he formed The Xtet and their debut album "Loud City" was released in 2011. In 2017 along with Nigel Price he formed the XPQ (Xenopoulos/Price Quartet) and recorded their first album "Sidekicks" which celebrates some of the most successful guitar/sax pairings in the history of jazz.
His Dexter Gordon tribute album "Dexterity" was released in 2019.
Discography
As a leader
As a co-leader
As a sideman
In compilations
With Five Way Split:
All the way (Ubuntu music) 2023
Modus Operandi (5WS records) 2026
As a sideman:
Peter Jones: One way ticket to Palookaville (Howlin' Werewolf Records) 2013
Nigel Price Organ Trio & Vasilis Xenopoulos: Live ath the Crypt (self-released) 2019
Nigel Price: Was reimagined (Ubuntu music) 2021
