Bio

George Lernis

About

George Lernis is an award-winning, Grammy-nominated percussionist and composer whose artistry bridges distinct cultural worlds. Raised in the musical traditions of the Middle East and Eastern Mediterranean, and trained at the Berklee College of Music, Lernis possesses a rare "bi-musical" identity. Alongside the traditional drum set, he specializes in regional instruments like the darbuka, bendir, riq, and the hammered dulcimer (santur).

A premier collaborator, Lernis has performed and recorded with jazz and classical icons including John Patitucci, Danilo Pérez, and Anat Cohen. He was featured on A Far Cry String Orchestra’s album A Gentleman of Istanbul, which earned a nomination at the 66th Annual Grammy Awards.

As a bandleader, Lernis releases acclaimed projects like Between Two Worlds (featuring John Patitucci), a celebrated album that blends Middle Eastern influences with contemporary jazz to champion immigrant stories and multicultural heritage.

Press photos

Press / Reviews

"This experiment in Eastern modes-meet-and-embrace-Western jazz traditions is, in a word, charming. Listeners with even the slightest thirst for adventure will be quickly seduced by the swelling rhythms and high-spirited melodies created by Cyprus native George Lernis for a program of improvisation-grounded performances blended with traditional Middle Eastern and Mediterranean music influences." - Jazziz magazine (August 2nd, 2022)

“Rich percussion by George Lernis on sounds that are both danceable and dreamy” - Jazz Weekly (December, 2020)

"George Lernis is a composer with limitless imagination. His outstanding, well constructed compositions convey both the present and the past of Jazz."  Jazz Times (September, 2011)

"Lernis expands upon the restrictive role of timekeeper, playing a naturally flowing amalgamation of shifting rhythms that distinguishes his work from more typical mainstream jazz."  - Drumhead Magazine (September, 2011)