Pavlo is a Greek-Canadian guitarist, composer and recording artist born in Toronto to Greek parents. He began playing guitar at the age of ten and later studied styles ranging from classical and flamenco to rock before developing the instrumental sound he calls Mediterranean music: a vibrant fusion of Greek melodies, flamenco guitar, Latin rhythms, Balkan influences and contemporary pop.
After finding inspiration during repeated visits to Greece, Pavlo introduced his signature mixture of guitar and bouzouki on his self-titled debut album in 1998. When established record companies considered the music too difficult to classify, he created his own independent label and built an audience through persistent touring. His second album, Fantasia, became a Gold record and earned a JUNO Award nomination, while the title composition later reached an even wider audience after being sampled in the R. Kelly and Jay-Z song Fiesta.
Pavlo’s extensive discography includes Irresistible, Six String Blvd, Santorini and the concert recordings Mediterranean Nights, Live in Kastoria and Live in Guadalajara. He also formed a guitar trio with Rik Emmett and Oscar Lopez for the album Trifecta, which received another JUNO nomination. Across fifteen albums and four PBS concert specials, he has collaborated or performed with artists including José Feliciano, Jon Secada, Olivia Newton-John, The Tenors and Giannis Ploutarchos, establishing an international career centred on melodic, guitar-led Mediterranean fusion.
