LITHUANIAN TROMBONE PROJECT & GIRMANTĖ

Vytautas Pilibavičius – tb, composer
Jievaras Jasinskas – tb, arr.
Marius Balčytis – tb,
Valentas Marozas – tb
Albinas Gražulis – tb,

Girmantė Vaitkutė – voc

This kind of a project was never before seen or heard on the Lithuanian jazz scene, for fingers of one hand would be enough for one to count the Lithuanian trombonists improvising solo. Two of these – Vytautas Pilibavičius and Jievaras Jasinskas – authored this project with the help from the trombonists of the Lithuanian National Symphony Orchestra (LNSO).
The mission of the three invitees is to provide a base for the tandem’s improvisations. However, neither of the participants of the project feels stranger in jazz – the “classics” also know how to swing. “Jievaras and me are having great time making music with outstanding professionals” rejoiced Vytautas Pilibavičius, the generator of the project. He is going to reveal “all possibilities of the trombone”.

The ensemble brings to Birštonas Jazz the instrumental compositions by Vytautas fusing elements of jazz, funk, folklore and contemporary music, and several Lithuanian folksong arrangements by Jievaras Jasinskas featuring vocalist Girmantė Vaitkutė.

Vytautas Pilibavičius has graduated from the Lithuanian Academy of Music and Theatre (LAMT) where he studied the trombone, wind orchestra conducting and composition. In 1995–1997, he honed his skills abroad.

In 1982–1995, Pilibavičius played in and served as an assistant to Vladimir Chekasin in his collectives; before long he started performing and composing contemporary music himself.
Vytautas collaborated with Ex tempore contemporary music ensemble, London Bridge Ensemble and Moscow Composers Orchestra. In 2008–2011, he led Šiauliai City Wind Orchestra.
Osvaldas Balakauskas, Algirdas Martinaitis, Vytautas Laurušas and Šarūnas Nakas among many other Lithuanian composers have written opuses for Vytautas. In 1995, Leo Records, a British contemporary music record label, released Pilibavičius’ solo album Frontiers.

The trombonist teaches at Vilnius Conservatoire and Vilnius College, collaborates with various musicians in jazz, funk, contemporary and sacred music projects.

Marius Balčytis has studied trombone at the LAMT, in 1995–1997 continued his education at the Malmö Academy of Music (Sweden) and 1999 in the USA. He is a winner of national and international competitions.

In 1989–1993, he was a member of the Lithuanian State Symphony Orchestra, and since 1993 – the LNSO. In 1998, Marius formed Vilnius Brass Ensemble.
As a soloist he appeared with the LNSO, the Lithuanian and Klaipėda chamber orchestras, the Lithuanian State Wind Instrument Orchestra Trimitas, the Lithuanian Armed Forces Orchestra. In addition, he is actively involved in Gaida contemporary music ensemble, collaborates with and performs works by contemporary Lithuanian composers.
As a soloist and with various collectives Balčytis toured in Poland, the Netherlands, Sweden, appeared in a number of international festivals in Europe. Currently, he is on a staff at the LAMT and the National M.K. Čiurlionis School of Arts.

Valentas Marozas has studied trombone at the LAMT, in 2008–2010 honed his skills at the Malmö Academy of Music (Sweden).
In 2004–2006, he was a member of the Lithuanian State Wind Orchestra Trimitas, in 2006–2010 – the Lithuanian National Opera and Ballet Theatre (LNOBT) symphony orchestra. Since 2010, he has been working with the LNSO.

The trombonist collaborates with various ensembles including AERO (Sweden), the International Trombone Ensemble (Sweden, Germany), Brasspalvos Brass Quintet, Brass Trio contemporary music ensemble, takes part in projects in Lithuania and abroad.

Albinas Gražulis has studied trombone at the LAMT. In 2010–2012, he was a member of Kaunas Wind Instrument Orchestra Ąžuolynas and Kaunas Big Band, later – the LNOBT orchestra. In 2013, he joined the LNSO.

The trombonist was a prize winner in national and international competitions.

Vocalist Girmantė Vaitkutė has studied piano, violin and flute as a child. However, after she started singing in gospel choir Sounds in G she has realised that her biggest passion is singing. As a back vocalist she shared the stage with renowned Lithuanian performers including Jurga Šeduikytė, Česlovas Gabalis, Povilas Meškėla and Rosita Čivilytė.
In 2009, Girmantė decided to start her solo career and introduced a programme Good Songs from Good Films at the Tamsta music club in Vilnius. A successful debut encouraged her to go on. Girmantė turned to projects of covers Tribute to Whitney Houston, Meeting Adele, Beyonce unplugged, which brought her positive reception as well.
In 2014, she released her first solo album Mood. Since then she has been indulging her aficionados with her original music.