Jef Giansily

French pianist and composer Jef Giansily, crafts a singular blend of modern jazz, where
intricate rhythmic structures and lyrical introspection converge.
A Paris native and long-time Istanbul resident, Giansily draws from the post-bop era while
forging a contemporary personal sound.

Over the years, he has been involved in numerous projects, collaborating with European,
Turkish, and American musicians. His album Sketches, released on the label Circle —
which he founded in 2009 to capture encounters between improvising musicians from varied
backgrounds — is a superb meeting with prominent figures from the Istanbul scene, such as
guitarist Sarp Maden, drummer Ferit Odman, and bassist Kağan Yıldız. Recent
collaborations include Imer Demirer, Darrell Green, Andre Williams, Ricky Ford, among
many others.
His 2025 quintet album Insight recorded in Paris and released on Fresh Sound Records
exemplifies his musical approach, weaving complex grooves, shifting meters, and emotive
melodies into a cohesive narrative.
The ensemble features rising stars American trumpeter
Hermon Mehari and drummer Gautier Garrigue, with tenor saxophonist Pierre Bernier,
bassist Apostolos Sideris and guest vocalist Charlotte Wassy.
Grounded in a deep sense of groove and hypnotic motifs, Giansily’s music offers an
experience that is both intellectually stimulating and emotionally resonant.
“A shifting, contrasting and expressive music, marked by great sensitivity and imbued with a spiritual
dimension”. —Lionel Eskenazi, Jazz Magazine
“An unusual freshness! By propelling into 2025 the modernity of writing and playing of the great
quintets of the 1960’s, Jef Giansily sketches a radiant future. With him, history doesn’t strutter, it
sparkles.” —Alex Dutilh, Open Jazz
“Jef Giansily has the art of composing quicksilver themes —elegant and spirited— blending fire and
melodic grace. You find those same qualities in his solos”. —Jean-François Mondot, Jazz Magazine