One of Europe's most consistent and versatile musicians, Georges Arvanitas has been active since the early '50s. He's worked with traditional, swing, and bebop musicans, accommodating the demands of the many expatriate Americans who've come to Paris. Though far from being an innovator or daring soloist, Arvanitas is a capable pianist, knowledgeable of bebop fundamentals and able to work effectively in many situations, from recordings to concerts to jam sessions. Arvanitas worked with traditional jazz groups in Marseilles in the '40s, then moved to Paris in the early '50s. He played with Jimmy Archey, Bill Coleman, Dexter Gordon, Sonny Stitt, Donald Byrd and several others in the '50s and '60s.

He was later resident pianist at the Blue Note and formed his own group. Arvanitas played with Buck Clayton, Don Byas and Sonny Criss in the early '60s. He visited New York in 1964 and 1965, working with Ted Curson and Yusef Lateef. He paid a return visit in 1966. Arvanitas's trio with Jacky Sampson and Charles Saudrais worked with several major musicians in the late '60s and early '70s, among them Art Farmer and Dexter Gordon, Buddy Tate and Bill Coleman, Slide Hampton, Anita O' Day, and Curson. Arvanitas played with Robin Kenyatta in 1972, toured Japan with Michel Legrand and worked in Italy with Criss and Stitt.

He later worked with Pepper Adams, Curson, Dizzy Gillespie and James Moody in the '80s. He's recorded for Columbia and Saravah among others as a leader, and for Spotlite, Futura and Impro as a session musician.