GRUPĖ REINLESS
GRUPĖ REINLESS
(vadovas Jievaras Jasinskis)
Jievaras Jasinskis – tb
Liutauras Janušaitis – ts
Valerijus Ramoška – tp
Laurynas Lapė – tp
Vytis Smolskas – keyb
Tomas Dičiūnas – p
Pranas Kentra – g
Paulius Volkovas – g
Paulius Vaicekauskas –b
Jonas Gliaudelis –dr
Vytis Vainilaitis – perc
Reinless made its debut in Broma Jazz festival in Kėdainiai in 2014. Its fiery music had already staggered audiences of all main jazz festivals in Lithuania. Jievaras Jasinskis, a gifted trombonist and composer, gathered his favourite musicians in order to realise his most daring creative visions. He writes rhythmic and vibrant music – a blend of funk, soul, rock and jazz improvisations.
Last year the group released a debut album Sus Signal. However, on Birštonas Jazz stage the musicians will share their new program, which might even exceed the triumph garnered at the previous festival for this time the performing forces will include not eight but eleven musicians. Jievaras’ compositions require double rhythm group: keyboardist Giedrius Nakas, guitarist Pranas Kentra and percussionist Vytis Vainilaitis will join the regular members.
Jievaras Jasinskis studied trombone in Balys Dvarionas Music School and the Lithuanian Academy of Music and Theatre. For ten years he composed for and played in Bekešo vilkai, was a member of InCulto, Saulės kliošas and Skamp, and in 2014 he formed Reinless.
Jievaras has arranged over 400 songs for different collectives. Currently, he is the principal trombone of and arranger for Kaunas Big Band sometimes even gracing the Big Band’s podium. In addition, he plays in Vilnius Jazz Orchestra; partakes in various TV projects as an arranger and musician.
Saxophonist and composer Liutauras Janušaitis is the first Lithuanian to graduate (2011) from Berkelee College of Music in Boston, the American jazz smithy. Before that he has studied the jazz saxophone at the Lithuanian Academy of Music and Theatre.
Liutauras has appeared with many Lithuanian jazz, funk and pop music groups including Saulės kliošas, A.I.R., Skamp, InCulto, D’Orange; also arranged for them. In addition, the saxophonist collaborates with academic musicians. He was among the founders of the first salsa orchestra in Lithuania.
This year Janušaitis’ song Amžinai (Forever) was awarded second place in the Radio Lithuanian song contest. Yet another significant achievement is his personal jazz album Two Different Sides. Currently, he is also active as a leader of jazz quartet.
Since 2012, he has conducted Kaunas Big Band. In autumn 2013, he joined Dainius Pulauskas Group (DPG), with it participated in Ottawa, London and main jazz festivals of Africa, India, China, Japan and the Ukraine; appeared in other countries. The saxophonist regularly collaborates and tours with Japanese and Scandinavian musicians with whom he recorded several albums.
Trumpeter Valerijus Ramoška is a recipient of Birštonas Jazz’s Grand Prix 2014. He regularly participates in this festival with various collectives. He is a member of Kaunas Big Band and DPG. With the latter he performed in more than 120 festivals, toured 30 countries.
He also plays as a soloist with the leading Lithuanian big bands, performs in various chamber formations, takes part in the LRT group’s projects and contemporary academic music events. Valerijus devotes much time to pedagogical work.
Laurynas Lapė studied trumpet at the Stasys Šimkus Conservatoire in Klaipėda, the Lithuanian Academy of Music and Theatre, and Malmö Academy of Music (Sweden). While in Sweden, he played in Aero Brass, Helsingborg and Malmö symphony orchestras as well as Malmö Opera Theatre orchestra.
Since 2008, he has been a member of the Lithuanian National Symphony Orchestra, Vilnius Brass Quintet, Protoberus Brass and Gaida Ensemble. In 2009, he joined the staff of the Lithuanian Academy of Music and Theatre.
Pianist and composer Vytis Smolskas is one of the most daring electronic keyboard experimentalists. He was educated as an academic pianist at the M.K. Čiurlionis School of Arts and the Lithuanian Academy of Music and Theatre (LAMT, Bachelor Degree). He crowned his studies with jazz piano degree at the LAMT and the Royal Conservatory of The Hague.
Vytis was successful in many competitions including Jazz Improvisations in the LAMT (2007, 2011), Vilnius Jazz Young Power (2008) and Rostov on Don (Russia, 2014). Last year with Makchu Pikchu he was a nominee of the M.A.M.A. Metų proveržio (Breakthrough of the Year) award. The keyboardist worked with Pieno Lazeriai, Jing’a’Ling and Soul Moustache, collaborated with jazz vocalists.
Vytis Smolskas took part in Vilnius Jazz, Vilnius Mama Jazz, Birštonas and Kaunas jazz festivals, performed in Germany, the Netherlands, the UK, Iceland, Latvia, Estonia, Russia, the Ukraine, Belarus and Kazakhstan.
Jazz pianist Tomas Dičiūnas teaches at the LAMT, where he also leads the Big Band. He is a regular participant of Lithuanian festivals. In 2013, he garnered first prize at the Jazz Improvisation international piano competition organised by the LAMT.
Pranas Kentra has studied at the University of Applied Sciences, the Lithuanian Academy of Music and Theatre, and the Prince Claus Conservatoire in the Netherlands.
The guitarist has collaborated with a number of Vilnius jazz musicians, Dutch, Bulgarian and Chinese musicians, as well as St. Christopher and Klaipėda chamber orchestras, Kaunas and Vilnius big bands, and composers of contemporary academic music.
In 2013, Pranas Kentra Trio won the Gitarų šėlsmas (Guitar Rampage) competition in Vilnius; in 2014, his group released its debut album Vague Memoirs in the Netherlands. In addition, the guitarist is a member of Synaesthesis contemporary academic music ensemble, with which he recorded an album. With various formations he appeared in the Netherlands, Germany, Luxembourg, Switzerland, Bulgaria, Slovenia and Baltic States. In addition to performing activities Kentra has been on staff at the Kaunas Vytautas Magnus University Music Academy and Juozas Gruodis Conservatoire.
Paulius Volkovas studied in the Fine Art Faculty at the University of Applied Sciences. While still a student he began participating in festivals and competitions as a performer and composer. In 2006, his trio claimed first prize at the Džiazo fontanas (Jazz Fountain) festival in Panevėžys. The same year his group’s arrangement was voted the best at the Vilnius Jazz Young Power competition where he also claimed second prize together with Magic Mushrooms.
The guitarist has worked with Jing’a Ling, Saulės Kliošas, Migloko, The Ditties, The Schwings, Baisios Stygos and Mad Harmonix. With various collectives he toured in Germany, Poland, Turkey, France, Belarus, Estonia and Latvia.
Paulius Vaicekauskas studies at the Lithuanian Academy of Music and Theatre, performs with jazz and pop music groups. With various collectives he took part in Vilnius Mama Jazz and Broma Jazz festivals, Vilnius Jazz Young Power and Džiazo fontanas (Jazz Fountain) competitions.
Jonas Gliaudelis is a winner of national and international (Saulkrasti Jazz 2013, Latvia) drum competitions, a finalist of Vilnius Jazz Young Power. He partakes in various music projects with professionals and students alike, is a member of Vilnius Vibe Trio and Woop Trio; made a stage message as a gifted composer.
Vytis Vainilaitis has graduated from the Vilnius Conservatoire, studied at the University of Music and Performing Arts in Mannheim (Germany), and in the Jazz Department at the LAMT. The drummer has appeared in more than 60 different projects in Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Russia, Poland, Germany, France, Spain, Hungary, Slovenia and the USA, collaborated with majority of Lithuanian jazz and pop music adepts.
