AGNĖ PASARAVIČIENĖ QUARTET
(Lithuania – Czechia – Belgium)
The quartet of graduates of the Royal Academy of Music in Aalborg, Denmark, formed by the young Lithuanian pianist Agnė Pasaravičienė, has been actively performing since 2020. The group has appeared at the Danish jazz festivals Aarhus Jazz, Supernova Jazz Blast, VinterJazz, and in 2021, performed in various Lithuanian cities as part of the Jazz Caravan project.
The quartet performs the leader’s original compositions, which blend classical, jazz and pop influences. The composer describes her works as everyday stories conveyed in sound, inviting listeners to wander down the path of personal memories.
Pianist and composer Agnė Pasaravičienė was born and grew up in Telšiai, surrounded by the sounds of music, as her mother is a piano teacher. Agnė started studying the piano at the Telšiai Music School, where she also learned the basics of the saxophone. The future pianist has been active on the music scene while still at school, and after graduating she took jazz lessons with Saulius Šiaučiulis in Klaipėda.
Agnė continued her jazz piano studies with Andrej Polevikov at the University of Applied Sciences in Vilnius, but after a year and a half she moved to Denmark to study at the Royal Academy of Music in Aalborg, where she completed her bachelor’s and master’s studies.
In Denmark, Pasaravičienė tried her hand at various musical projects, became a member of the international trio The JAR with which she performed in Denmark, Czechia, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania.
According to the musician, it was in Aalborg that she and her husband, fellow student Tadas Pasaravičius, discovered their true vocation and decided to follow the path of music. However, homesickness brought the couple back to Lithuania – a year ago they settled in a rural homestead in the Varėna district.
“Music is a universal language that can connect even the most distant countries,” said the spouses. They have maintained and even strengthened their previous creative ties since moving to their homeland.
Having conceived the project Jazz Caravan, the couple has organised 18 concerts in Lithuanian regions with ensembles from Lithuania and Denmark. According to them, Jazz Caravan has become a symbolic starting point from which they count the time since they returned home.
Moreover, Pasaravičienė formed the international septet, made up of Belgian, Czech and Lithuanian musicians. The ensemble will also play original compositions by the pianist.
Saxophonist Tadas Pasaravičius chose this instrument at the age of nine. During his career, he has played a wide range of music, from symphonic and folk to brass band and big band. He first emerged as a leader of a jazz group when he formed the modern jazz project TribalVibe at the University of Applied Sciences in Vilnius.
While studying in Aalborg, the saxophonist performed in various jazz clubs in Europe, appeared at The Jasmine Festival in Palestine, Classical Beat festival in Germany, and performed with his wife’s quartet at the festivals in Denmark. He has recorded albums with The Collective Abroad, BHAD Company, Mads Houe & The Quavers, Uummat Ensemble and Tadas Pasaravičius Group.
Pasaravičius is a member of the Board of the Lithuanian Jazz Federation, vice-president of the Danish NGO Jazz9tus, initiator and organiser of various international projects.
Jan Sedlák, a double bassist, composer and bandleader from Czechia, has been collaborating with Pasaravičienė since his studies in Aalborg: they are both members of the trio The JAR, and also work with Footprints project. Jan also plays with his own trio, is the leader of The Collective Abroad.
He finds inspiration in modern jazz, world and classical music. His music celebrates industrial landscapes, love and hope, and explores post-Soviet society. Jan also enjoys playing traditional jazz, partakes in literary readings and audio-visual performances.
In 2019, he earned a prize at the music video event Z! Musikvideofestival for his composition New Spaces written for The JAR Trio.
Sedlák collaborates with creative musicians across Europe. He has performed with Gilad Hekselman, Eyal Lovett, Yogev Shetrit, Kirill Yakovlev, and toured with The Collective Abroad and A. Pasaravičienė Quartet.
He also enjoys teaching double bass, electric bass and composition to young people.
Belgian drummer Yannick Ballmann was educated at Berklee College of Music in the USA and the Royal Academy of Music in Aalborg. He has lived in and appeared on jazz scene in Berlin as well as performed in many of Europe’s celebrated jazz clubs. In 2022, the drummer was a prize winner at the Riga Jazz Stage international competition.
