KLAIPĖDOS DŽIAZO ORKESTRAS

KLAIPĖDOS DŽIAZO ORKESTRAS

(vadovas Kęstutis Sova)

Established in 2013, the collective has already earned the reputation of a true jazz ambassador of western Lithuania. It represented Klaipėda in international festivals in Kaliningrad, Odessa, Šiauliai and Tauragė, presented impressive programs in Klaipėda, collaborated with renowned American musicians Jojo Mayer, Vern Spevak and David Katz, Spaniard Francesco Angel Latino,  Ukrainian Anastasia Bukina.

The orchestra involves the region’s best jazz musicians – professionals and students, current and former residents of Klaipėda gathered by the Big Band leader saxophonist Kęstutis Sova, a recipient of Klaipėda city scholarship. Last year the Klaipėda Castle Jazz Festival decorated Sova with Jazz Star Award for contributions to jazz in Klaipėda.

In Birštonas the orchestra will feature Dmitrijus Levencovas, Valdas Surdokas, Domas Grumbinas, Mindaugas Vadoklis, Vytautas Bložė, Jonas Katauskas, Sigitas Saukalas, Donatas Bukauskas, Mindaugas Apulskis, Dovydas Stalmokas, Nojus Jurkus, Danielius Pancerovas, Adomas Bitinas, Viačeslavas Krasnopiorovas, Aleksejus Morozovas, Karolis Žioltikovas, Arnoldas Jankūnas and Dario Zema (Italy).

To Birštonas Jazz audience the collective will offer program of works by Stanley Kenton (1911-1979), the legendary American jazz pianist, composer and leader of jazz orchestra. According to Sova, it perfectly reverberates with the artistic physiognomy of Klaipėda Big Band.

Kenton expanded the perception of the genre, enriched the big band sound with new colours and stylistic nuances. He coined a new term for his own music – progressive jazz.

“The traditional big band path is our past. Now we turn to music, which reflects the jazz ambitions of Klaipėda and kindles interest of the members of our collective. Indeed, the first famous big band was formed here as early as the 1970’s. His inspirer professor Pranciškus Narušis also liked Stan Kenton”, said the leader of Klaipėda Big Band.