About Me
BIO
Born in the Greek island of Crete, Ioannis Anastassakis studied Music at the Greek National Conservatory and the Nakas Conservatory in Athens. He 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 instructor, after graduating at the top 1% of his class. He continued his graduate studies, specializing in Solo Flamenco Guitar, under the tutelage of Juan Serrano , at the California State University, completing an M.A. in Guitar Performance, graduating Magna cum Laude. Currently (2007), he is working towards a Doctorate in Education, with emphasis in Music.
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 teachers in Electric guitar are no less impressive: the list 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.
LIVE Performances
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.
Audio Recordings
Ioannis' first Solo 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.
Ioannis Anastassakis has JUST completed the Mixing/Mastering stage of his 1st Rock/Fusion instrumental guitar CD, titled "Suspension of Disbelief". The CD is scheduled to be released by Wild Rose Angel Productions on March 2007.
Instructional Products
All of Ioannis Anastassakis' instructional materials are published and distributed worldwide by Mel Bay Publications . Both his instructional books/DVDs Art of Rasgueado (2004) and Flamenco Journal (2006), achieved best-seller status within months of its initial publication date.
Ioannis is also a regular columnist in Mel Bay's Guitar Sessions magazine and is currently (2006) sponsored by La Bella Flamenco Guitar Strings.
TEACHING
Ioannis teaches at the American College of Greece and maintains a busy private teaching schedule. Furthermore, he divides his time between recording, writing instructional materials for Flamenco & Electric guitar and conducting clinics, seminars and presenting Flamenco guitar recitals around Europe. He is currently preparing an extensive series of instructional materials for Mel Bay Publications.
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).
IMPORTANT Relevant WWW Links
Official Ioannis
Anastassakis WWW site
Ioannis Anastassakis Flamenco Myspace Profile
Purchasing LinksInstructional BOOK - The Art of Rasgueado
The Art of Rasgueado - Mel Bay
The Art of Rasgueado - Amazon.com
Instructional BOOK & DVD - Flamenco Journal
Flamenco Journal - Mel Bay
Flamenco Journal - Amazon.com
Solo Flamenco Guitar CD - Flamenco Live at Ioannina
CD Baby
Guitar 9
Amazon - US
Amazon - UK
Flamenco Connection
Tower Records
LIVE performance Video Samples
