To Our Land (October 9)

Originally from Wellington, New Zealand, James Wylie is a saxophonist, multi-instrumentalist, and composer currently based in Greece. Introduced to music at a young age through classical repertoire, he gravitated toward the saxophone in his teenage years, an instrument that opened a gateway into the world of jazz and improvised music.

His distinctive voice bridges diverse musical worlds, and he is active as a bandleader and sideman recognised for his versatility, depth, and ability to move fluidly between contemporary jazz, free improvisation, and modal traditions from the Eastern Mediterranean and the Middle East. He brings this expansive experience and enthusiasm into his work as an educator, having spent many years sharing his knowledge and passion for music through a teaching ethos that emphasises deep listening, cross-cultural fluency, and creative exploration.

Thodoris Kotsifas, Vangelis Vrachnos, and Giorgos Klountzos—each a distinguished composer and bandleader in his own right—stand among the most compelling voices in Greece’s vibrant and evolving music scene. Their long-standing collaborations with James Wylie, spanning over a decade and multiple projects, have yielded a rich body of recorded work. Though they come from diverse musical backgrounds, each artist brings a unique set of influences to the table, resulting in a sound that is both unexpected and deeply original. This synthesis of traditions, spontaneity, and innovation is emblematic of the forward-thinking spirit that defines contemporary jazz in Greece.