“I have been listening to ACT albums since my early youth – especially the music of Nils Landgren and e.s.t. Esbjörn Svensson Trio, which opened an entire new world of European jazz to me. And so I am happy and proud to now be a part of the ACT family of artists myself and real excited about all things to come.“
- Joel Lyssarides
 
“An essential part of our mission at ACT was and is the discovery of new and outstanding pianists. I see Joel Lyssarides in the strong tradition of his great compatriots Jan Johansson, Bobo Stenson, Esbjörn Svensson and Jan Lundgren. We are very happy now to welcome him into our 'family of artists'."
- Siggi Loch, ACT founder
 
 “Joel Lyssarides is an extraordinary young musician who will continue the tradition of outstanding pianists from Sweden on ACT. He belongs to the young generation of artists with whom we want to shape the future of this label. In very intense, personal and extraordinarily inspiring conversations and encounters, it has become clear that we and Joel speak the same language and share the same ideas about his future development. I am extremely pleased that Joel and his music have not only found a new home at ACT, but that we can also develop his live career internationally with Tambour Mgmt."
- Andreas Brandis, Managing Director ACT & Tambour Music Management
 
Berlin, June 30th, 2021 (ACT) Outside his home country, Sweden, the name Joel Lyssarides (b.1992) is mainly known to insiders of the jazz scene. However, his recordings are already among the most listened-to in current jazz: Joel Lyssarides' music has had more than 50 million plays on Spotify alone. The huge listener numbers that Lyssarides' music has reached are not the result of any calculation, audience targeting or 'crowd-pleasing' on the pianist's part. He explains: “As happy as I am, that a lot of people obviously enjoy my music so much that they want to hear it over and over again – the creative impulse always comes from within. Me and my piano, that's the center of my musical world.” And from this starting-point Joel Lyssarides‘ journey has already taken him in several interesting directions. To the stages of jazz clubs and festivals, into the studio as an arranger for ABBA's Benny Anderson and on tours with classical, blues and pop artists.
 
Regardless of Joel Lyssarides’ evident versatility and adaptability, jazz is at the very core of his work. The initial spark came from the records of Miles Davis, Charlie Parker and Thelonious Monk and many others which were played at his Swedish-Greek parents' home; and thereafter the music of Chick Corea, Keith Jarrett and Gonzalo Rubalcaba. Lyssarides studied music in Stockholm and Rome, and it was not long before recognition came in the form of numerous national and international jazz awards. For Joel Lyssarides jazz is not a stylistic straitjacket but a language, a tool for personal expression. The pianist lives in a remote house in the woods, some thirty minutes outside Stockholm. He prefers to compose at night in silence and without distraction. This environment is reflected in his music which always conveys a strong sense of sound, space and mood.
 
But right now, after a Covid-inflicted gap of more than a year, Joel Lyssarides and his trio are more eager than ever to reconnect with the outside world. Firstly by going into the studio to record their ACT debut album which will be released in early 2022. And then to club and concert platforms all over Europe where they will - finally! -  be able to share their music not only virtually but also with a live audience.