KĘSTUTIS VAIGINIS QUARTET
KĘSTUTIS VAIGINIS QUARTET
(Lithuania – Turkey – Finland)
Kęstutis Vaiginis – saxes, compositions
Joonas Haavisto – p
Kagan Yildiz – db
Ferit Odman – dr
It is one of many Kęstutis Vaigins’ international quartets performing the leader’s music, in which he seamlessly blends elements of modern jazz and academic music.
With these Turkish musicians Kęstutis has shared the Birštonas Jazz 2014 stage, while Finnish pianist has partnered the saxophonist almost ten years ago, when they toured Lithuania.
Saxophonist and composer Kęstutis Vaiginis, one of the most productive jazz masters in Lithuania, is an initiator and leader of a number of international projects. With various formations he performed his compositions in Lithuania, the Netherlands, Spain, France, the USA, Germany, Poland, Turkey, Brazil, Azerbaijan, Georgia and other countries.
He revealed his compositional talent while still a student at the Lithuanian Academy of Music and Theatre, the Prince Claus Conservatorium and Amsterdam School of the Arts (the Netherlands), as well as Manhattan School of Music in New York.
During his study years Vaiginis started composing for big bands as well. He formed and led Independent Artists Ensemble, a Lithuanian youth big band; performed his compositions with the German State Youth Jazz Orchestra.
In 2013, the saxophonist received the European Culture Foundation’s Europamusicale Music Prize, which annually is given to one European musician.
Earlier he earned awards in many national and international competitions and garnered the Grand Prix in Birštonas Jazz 2010.
The list of his former and current stage partners includes such jazz coryphées as Alex Sipiagin, David Berkman, David Kikoski, Jelle Van Gie, Barbara Dennerlein, Hernan Romero, Ed Howard, Adam Cruz, Randal Corsen, Deniss Pashkevich, Dmitry Golovanov as well as Indonesian, Korean and Italian musicians. The musician is a member of Lithuanian-Latvian-Estonian Tree Stones quartet and Dainius Pulauskas Group.
As a leader and guest musician of various collectives he appeared in prestigious jazz festivals including Nord Sea Jazz, Rotterdam, London, Ottawa, Cape Town, Istanbul, Hong Kong and Tokyo to name but a few, toured in Europe, Asia, North America and Africa.
Vaiginis’ discography amounts to more than ten albums four of which are personal; several of his compositions were included in Lithuanian music collections. “His vision is wide-ranging from the subtle to the provocative, rooted in an appreciation of tradition and yet looking forward”, said Steve Wilson, an illustrious American saxophonist, about Vaiginis’ Unexpected Choices recorded with acclaimed New Yorkers.
Joonas Haavisto is a winner of Jazz Improvisation jazz piano competition (2006) organised by the Lithuanian Academy of Music and Theatre, Young Nordic Jazz Comets (2007) and Jazz Hoeilaart (2010) competitions, despite the fact that he studied the double bass and started playing piano only at the age 16.
Joonas completed jazz studies in the USA where he also collaborated with local jazz masters. Before soon he received recognition at home and abroad. As a soloist he appeared with Finland’s leading chamber orchestras and big bands, as a member of various jazz groups he toured in Europe, the USA, Canada and Japan.
As a leader of his piano jazz trio he has released three albums, which have received excellent reviews in both Finnish and international media.
In addition, Haavisto leads his quintet and plays in several Finnish jazz groups: Inga Söder, Martti Vesala’s Soundpost Quintet and Mikko Pellinen’s Mini Big Band. List of his stage partners includes such names as Jerry Bergonzi, Jonathan Kreisberg, Ron Mclure, Bill Watrous, Bertil Strandberg, John Fedchock, Tivon Pennicott, Teemu Viinikainen, Jukka Perko, Verneri Pohjola and Jukkis Uotila.
After graduating from Mimar Sinan University of Fine Arts Kagan Yildiz was a member of various symphony and chamber orchestras in Turkey including Istanbul State Symphony Orchestra, Istanbul Chamber Orchestra as well as Istanbul Philharmonics.
On jazz scene the double bassist collaborated with many a famous compatriot and recognised international master such as Önder Focan, Kerem Görsev, Allan Harris, Michel Borstlap, Freddie Cole, Mark Murpy, Dave Samuels, Dena De Rose, Lee Konitz, Imer Demirer, Sibel Köse, Sarp Maden, Ricky Ford, Giovanni Mazzarino, etc.
Ferit Odman studied music at the Bilgi University in Istanbul, honed his skills in New York. In 2006, he received the Fulbright scholarship for his studies at the William Paterson University in the USA.
American jazz pianist Mulgrew Miller described the drummer as one of the most gifted students he has ever met. “His playing would indeed delight the heart as he has fantastic time and great passion”, the late Mulgrew Miller said about Ferit.
Having established himself on Turkish jazz scene, the drummer collaborates with pianist Kerem Görsev, leads his own Quintet, and in addition works in different groups. He has recorded several personal CDs.
