…an unerring sense of swing and melody. His solos, while displaying accuracy and technique, are filled with soul. Vintage Guitar Magazine
Bay Area guitarist George Cotsirilos returns to the intimate language of solo nylon-string guitar on In the Wee Hours, illuminating beloved standards and two original compositions with patience and depth. Recorded largely in unedited first takes over several years, his seventh recording on OA2 unfolds with the quiet authority and refined lyricism that have defined Cotsirilos’s career—from his celebrated quartet release Refuge to earlier trio and solo recordings praised for their fluidity and swing. Here, classics such as “Come Sunday,” “Haunted Heart,” and the title ballad are rendered with a meticulous touch and subtle dynamic shadings that reveal the hidden architecture of each melody. Alternating between exquisite instruments by José Ram’rez and Alberto Morales, Cotsirilos draws out warm, singing tones that blur the line between jazz phrasing and classical resonance. “…an impeccable sense of timing especially in revealing the hidden rhythms of complex melodies. His approach to harmony is whimsical, but patently beautiful at all times.” All About Jazz
Production Info:
Produced by George Cotsirilos and David Luke Recorded by David Luke at Opus Studios, Berkeley, CA and George Cotsirilos at Merced Studios, Berkeley, CA Various dates between 2017 and 2025 Mixed by David Luke at Argyle Studios, El Sobrante, CA Mastered by David Luke at Opus Studios, Berkeley, CA Cover design & layout by John Bishop
Reviews of In the Wee Hours
Paris-Move (Thierry De Clemensat) There’s something about the middle of the night, the world quiets down, everything softens, and if you’re lucky, you can hear a guitar speaking with a voice all its own. That’s the space George Cotsirilos steps into with In the Wee Hours, his latest solo album. This isn’t a record that tries to impress with flash or volume. It feels private, almost …
Jazz Weekly (George W. Harris) Tender strings are touched by Bay Area guitarist George Cotsirilos, going solo with nylons on this gorgeous and intimate mix of standards and originals. From his own pen, “A Nameless Poet” oozes with gentle fragrances, and “Providence” looms with luminescence. He gives a classy take to Duke Ellington’s “Do Nothing Till You Hear From Me” while “Come …
Bman’s Blues Report (Editor) I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, In The Wee Hours, by George Cotsirilos, and it’s refreshingly beautiful. Opening with lush, A Nameless Poet, George Cotsirilos on nylon string, acoustic guitar flawlessly executes a super opener. Richie Beirach’s, Gale, is a nice ballad with a smart, call and response between his single …
