Born in the Greek island of Crete, Ioannis Anastassakis completed his Bachelor's Degree at the American College of Greece, and subsequently studied at the distinguished Musicians Institute (GIT), where he was hired as an guitar instructor, after graduating at the top 1% of his class. He continued his graduate studies at the California State University, completing an M.A. in Guitar Performance, graduating Magna cum Laude.
Ioannis' teachers in Electric guitarmake a list that reads like a "Who is Who" of Contemporary electric guitar: He has taken lessons from Steve Vai (Whitesnake), Vinnie Moore(UFO), Marty Friedman (Megadeth) , John Petrucci(Dream Theater), Frank Gambale (Chick Corea), Paul Gilbert (Mr.Big), Richie Kotzen, Brett Garsed, Joey Tafolla, Scott Henderson, Mike Stern, Jean Marc Belkadi, Darren Householder, Tommy Tedesco, Ted Greene, Ron Eschete, Sid Jacobs & Joe Diorio.
Ioannis studied Flamenco guitar for several years with Juan Serrano. In addition, he has studied with Flamenco guitar legends Manolo Sanlucar, Juan Martin, Paco Serrano, Paco Pena, Jose Antonio Rodriguez and Manolo Franco.
Ioannis has also performed and/or recorded in various settings with band members of Whitesnake, Dio, Deep Purple, Ozzy Osbourne, Elton John, Santana, Celine Dion, Sara Vaughan, Tito Puente, Julio Iglesias, Tower of Power, Chick Corea Electric Band, Jeff Beck, Steve Vai Band, Badlands, Santana, Tribal Tech, Natalie Cole, Joe Cocker, Cher, Blood Sweat & Tears and more.
Ioannis has presented over 400 solo recitals in Europe and the United States and has been a guest lecturer at several American Colleges and Universities (University of Southern California, California State University Northridge, California State University Fresno, California State University Fullerton, Musicians Institute, Fresno City College, American College of Greece). In addition, he has won Classical and Flamenco guitar competitions and has been featured 12 times on American, Spanish & Greek TV.
ORBITAL ATTEMPT
2009-Wild Rose Productions
"Orbital Attempt" is Ioannis' latest (2009) outing and the follow-up to "Suspension of Disbelief"! This CD features guest solso by Kiko Loureiro of ANgra and Brett Garsed, as well as the amazing keyboard wizardry of Bob Katsionis!
The CD also includes 2 BONUS tracks (including the Backing Track to the “Greek Guitar Power Jam”) and is beautifully packaged in a see-through CD package, complete with 8-page full-color insert, including detailed track info and detailed performance notes!
Guest Solos by Kiko Loureiro (Angra) and Brett Garsed
Produced by
Ioannis Anastassakis and Bob Katsioni
// BEHIND THE VEIL WEBZINE (...) A Greek instrumental release that has much to give to the listener and nothing to envy from other such releases that come from abroad. Nothing more to say or write about this superb work...
// CHRONICLES OF CHAOS (...) Ioannis Anastassakis has done well, and made a record filled to the brim with excellent material. Check him out...
// METAL REVOLUTION (...) This album is a best example of some amusing instrumental guitar playing one can possibly imagine. It does not only deserve to be played in your stereo for many years to come, but it also deserves a place at the top shell of every musical story out there.
Simply amazing if you’re into this particular artistic form...
Suspension of Disbelief
2007-Wild Rose Productions
"Suspension of Disbelief", Ioannis' 1st Rock/Fusion Instrumental CD was released by Wild Rose Angel Productions on March 2007 and became a Top-seller within months, receiving rave reviews around the world, from hundreds of rock/metal magazines and Fanzines!
Flamenco Live at Ioannina
2000-MP3.COM
2002-Wild Rose Productions
Ioannis latest Flamenco guitar CD, Flamenco Live at Ioannina, was released by MP3.com on August 2000 and immediately entered the company's Flamenco category Top 10 charts, eventually reaching the 1 place worldwide on October 2002. The CD was re-mastered and re-released by Wild Rose Angel Productions on 2004.
WWW.GREEKGUITARPOWER.COM
Greek Guitar Power, is an instrumental band project organized and managed by master guitar teacher/atuhor Ioannis Anastassakis and a team of higly talented & motivated young Greek guitarists!
The Greek Guitar Power
team tours all over Greece, organizing Electric Guitar Festivals, teaching seminars, performing live and promotion contemporary instrumental guitar music!
All members of Greek Guitar Power are actively collaborating with London College of Music, participating at the RGT Electric Guitar examinations!
Current members:
- Ioannis Anastassakis
- Theodore Kalantzakos
(link)
- Jim Nassios
(link)
- SinniK (link)
Ioannis Anastassakis is a very prolific author, creating high quality instructional Books, DVDs and CDs that are published and distributed worldwide by Mel Bay Publications. Here's the latest list of his instructional publications.
Ioannis is also a regular columnist in Mel Bay's Guitarsessions magazine, as well as the Rock Hard Greece magazine.
Rock/Metal Guitar (2008)
Mel Bay Publications Book
60 Tapping Licks for contemporary
Rock & Metal Guitar (2008)
Book-DVD-CD
Ioannis has also performed and/or recorded in various settings with band members of Whitesnake, Dio, Deep Purple, Ozzy Osbourne, Elton John, Santana, Celine Dion, Sara Vaughan, Tito Puente, Julio Iglesias, Tower of Power, Chick Corea Electric Band, Jeff Beck, Steve Vai Band, Badlands, Santana, Tribal Tech, Natalie Cole, Joe Cocker, Cher, Blood Sweat & Tears and more.
Ioannis has presented over 300 solo recitals in Europe and the United States and has been a guest lecturer at several American Colleges and Universities (University of Southern California, California State University Northridge, California State University Fresno, California State University Fullerton, Musicians Institute, Fresno City College, American College of Greece). In addition, he has won Classical and Flamenco guitar competitions and has been featured 12 times on American, Spanish & Greek TV.
In December 2000, he was the 1st guitarist ever to present a Solo guitar recital at the Greek National Opera House.
Ioannis teaches University level Music classes at the American College of Greece, specializing in History of Pop, Rock, Jazz & Blues Music, Improvisation Techniques and Music Business classes.
Ioannis has served as principal guitar instructor at the most prominent International Guitar Festivals(International guitar festival of Hermoupolis, International Winter guitar festival of Volos, International guitar festival of Patras, International guitar festival of Paros, International guitar festival of Porto Heli).
Ioannis also maintains a very busy private teaching schedule and conducts clinics, seminars and presenting Flamenco guitar recitals around Europe and the US.
Ευχαριστώ για την άμεση ανταπόκριση και αποδοχή! Εκπληκτικές συνθέσεις... με υπέροχες αποχρώσεις! Εύχομαι πάντα επιτυχίες και τα καλύτερα σε όλους τους τομείς! Σοφία Κ.
thanx for add mr Anastasakis!I hope to meet you in Larissa for seminar or anywhere else (for example in Volos).I think that "Flamenco in Ioannina" is excellent!!!thanx a lot!!
