GROUP CASTOR STETSON (LEAD. DEIMANTAS BALYS)

GROUP CASTOR STETSON (LEAD. DEIMANTAS BALYS)

Deimantas Balys – g

Kazimieras Krulikovskis – keyb

Kazimieras Jušinskas – saxes

Vainius Indriūnas – bg

Domantas Razmus – dr

Formed by Deimantas Balys in 2016, today Castor Stetson is one of the most promising groups of young generation jazz musicians in Lithuania. For two years it was known as D. Jurevičius Group and during that time it has appeared in many music festivals including Vilnius Mama Jazz, Vilnius Jazz, Elektrėnai Jazz Festival and Freedom Jazz Festival (Poland).

In 2018, the group won the Grand Prix of the Vilnius Jazz Young Power (VJYP) competition. In 2019, Castor Stetson held a concert tour around the Baltics and released their first album, Captured Music, featuring Balys’ compositions.

The group’s first video clip, Illuminate, was released in the spring of 2020, and in October of the same year, Castor Stetson hit the international jazz channel Jazz³ + on the YouTube platform, which has more than 190,000 followers around the world. This is one of the Quintet’s biggest recognitions and contributions to the promotion of Lithuanian jazz.

This decade, Castor Stetson is continuing the album’s presentation tours in Lithuania and abroad, preparing for the vinyl release of the second album, Moksha.

The group performs only original compositions merging various styles and modern jazz vocabulary. The members of the Quintet are united by their creativity and atypical attitude towards music and the environment.

Deimantas Balys studied at the Vilnius Conservatoire, the Royal Academy of Music in Aalborg (Denmark), continued his education in the Department of Rhythmic Music at the University of Applied Sciences in Vilnius, and last year graduated from the Lithuanian Academy of Music and Theatre (LAMT), where he earned a master’s degree in Contemporary Music and Free Jazz.

The guitarist has played in a variety of bands including Soul Syrup, Such’a’Trip, TribalVibe, Diama, Maneuver and VR Quartet. But Castor Stetson is his most significant project.

Deimantas has participated in Kaunas Jazz, Vilnius Mama Jazz, PIN Days, Druskomanija, Ariogala Jazz festivals in Lithuania, Saeby Jazzfestival in Denmark and Freedom Jazz Festival in Poland, as well as in the concert series in the Baltic States.

Kazimieras Krulikovskis graduated from the Vilnius Conservatoire as an organist. Currently, he studies piano at the University of Applied Sciences, works for Sonoros Vilnius City Choir. In addition, the keyboardist is a member of Juzt and John’s Shower Band. Recently, both groups claimed first prizes in a competition for young Baltic groups; Juzt was awarded Grand Prix in Vilnius Jazz Young Power competition in 2020.

Kazimieras Jušinskas became infected with jazz while studying at the Vilnius Conservatoire. He furthered his education at the Jazz Department and Contemporary Music Department in the LAMT from which he graduated with master’s degree.

The saxophonist takes active part in Lithuanian jazz festivals with groups Brave Noises and Džiazlaif (has won Grand Prix at the VJYP with both of them), is a member of Improdimensija Orchestra. With DJ Extended (Kristupas Gikas) he made appearances in various festivals in Lithuania, performed in Holland, Belgium, Germany and Austria.

In addition, the saxophonist is a member of The Septet and Katarsis4 saxophone quartet, takes part in various interdisciplinary projects, engages in pedagogical work.  

Vainius Indriūnas, a winner of various music competitions, studies at the Faculty of Arts and Creative Technologies of the University of Applied Sciences. He was recognized as the best in the bass guitar category in Gitarų šėlsmas (Guitar Frenzy) competition and as the best instrumentalist in Vilnius Jazz Young Power competition in 2020, where he also triumphed with group Juzt.

The bassist is a founder of John’s Shower Band, collaborates with FreeFinga, Kotryna Juodzevičiūtė, Karolis Šarkus, Artūras Daunys, Tuomas J. Räsänen, Mindaugas Ancevičius, Jonas Filmanavičius and other young jazzmen.

Domantas Razmus a younger generation drummer, percussionist and composer active on jazz and improvised music scene, has studied jazz at the LAMT and the Prince Claus Conservatoire in the Netherlands. Since 2012, he has been performing in concerts, participating in open jazz sessions and experimental music projects.

The drummer is involved in a number of groups including Laivo Troupe, Castor Stetson, Honkin’ Dudes, Leonardas Pilkauskas Septet and Cinamon. With different ensembles (R.A.D.D., TDT, D. Jurevičius Group) he won three Grand Prix in Vilnius Jazz Young Power competition (2013, 2016 and 2018). In 2017, he was awarded the first prize at the Tamsta Drumday competition.