Stefanos Tsourelis — Guitarist, Oud Player and Composer
Stefanos Tsourelis is a Greek guitarist, oud player and composer based in London, whose music brings together Mediterranean traditions, contemporary jazz and improvisation.
Born in Larisa, Greece, Stefanos began studying music at the age of ten, initially learning the Greek lute with Yiorgos Deligiannis before going on to study the oud with Kyriakos Kalaitzides. By the age of seventeen, he was performing professionally at venues, theatres and festivals across Greece, developing a musical voice rooted in Greek and Mediterranean traditions.
In 2005, Stefanos moved to London to further his musical education. He studied at the London Guitar Institute and Guitar-X, and in 2008 was awarded Best Guitarist of the Year. His guitar playing draws inspiration from a wide range of artists, including Jimi Hendrix, Stevie Ray Vaughan, John McLaughlin, Pat Metheny, Jeff Beck and Wes Montgomery.
As a bandleader, Stefanos leads the Stefanos Tsourelis Trio, featuring bassist Dave Jones and drummer Eric Ford. The trio performs original compositions that weave together Mediterranean influences, jazz harmony and contemporary improvisation, with Stefanos’ guitar and oud creating a distinctive meeting point between musical traditions. The group has released two albums, Native Speaker (2017) and The Wanderer (2021).
The trio has performed at the EFG London Jazz Festival, Ealing Jazz Festival and Teignmouth Jazz Festival, as well as established venues including The Vortex Jazz Club, The Bull’s Head, Black Mountain Jazz, Jazz Cafe POSK and Green Note.
Alongside his own projects, Stefanos works with acclaimed British jazz and soul singer Polly Gibbons, performing at venues such as Ronnie Scott’s, PizzaExpress Soho and the 606 Club. He has also performed with Alex Charles, the former lead singer of the soul group Heatwave, at venues including Soul Mama and Boisdale.
His collaborative work extends into jazz and world music. Stefanos has worked with saxophonist Julian Costello and his ensemble Vertigo, whose appearance as live guests on BBC Radio 3’s In Tune, hosted by Sean Rafferty, brought the ensemble’s music to a national audience. As an oud player, Stefanos has also collaborated with Melange, whose album Via Maris was featured in a live session on BBC Radio 3’s World on 3.
Moving between guitar and oud, Stefanos Tsourelis continues to explore the connections between Mediterranean musical heritage and contemporary jazz, creating music shaped by tradition, collaboration and improvisation.
