Chicago drummer George Fludas was born in Chicago on October 10, 1966. He
was inspired to play drums by his father, who was also a drummer, and who exposed him to great
jazz drummers such as Art Blakey, Max Roach, and "Philly" Joe Jones.
He attended Lane Tech High School where he majored in music and played percussion in their
concert band and orchestra. After briefly attending Roosevelt University's music school in
1985-86, he began freelancing with Chicago greats Von Freeman, Jodie Christian and Lin Halliday,
as well as playing in groups with guitarist Bobby Broom, and saxophonists Ron Blake and Eric
Alexander.
He has subsequently played with many stellar musicians such as Ira Sullivan, Buddy Montgomery,
Lou Donaldson, Frank Wess, Kenny Burrell, Betty Carter, Johnny Griffin, Benny Green, Roy
Hargrove, Tommy Flanagan, Hank Jones, Cedar Walton, Diana Krall, Benny Carter, Phil Woods,
Junior Cook, Slide Hampton, and Bobby Hutcherson.
George has performed at numerous jazz venues in the U.S. such as the Jazz Showcase in Chicago,
Yoshi's in Oakland, the Blue Note, Village Vanguard, Smoke and the Jazz Standard in New York and
Catalina's in Hollywood, as well as many international Jazz Festivals, including Montreal
Festival du Jazz, Bern Jazz Fest in Switzerland, Glasgow and Edinburgh Jazz Fests, Vitoria Jazz
Fest, San Sebastian Fest in Spain and the USS Norway Jazz Cruise.
He toured Europe and Japan extensively as a member of Ray Brown's Trio, and with groups led by
Hank Jones, Diana Krall, Monty Alexander, Cedar Walton and Joey Defrancesco.
George lives in Chicago with his wife and two sons and performs regularly with local artists and
visiting headliners at clubs and concert venues throughout the city.
He continues to tour often with many of the top names in jazz.
He can be heard on numerous CDs as a sideman with Ray Brown, Eric Alexander, Monty Alexander,
Kyle Asche, Geof Bradfield, Scott Burns, Bobby Broom, Lin Halliday and The Chicago Jazz
Orchestra.
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