KĘSTUTIS VAIGINIS QUARTET  (Lithuania  – USA)

Kęstutis Vaiginis – saxes

Alex Sipiagin – tp

Boris Kozlov – db

Donald Edwards – dr

“Playing is like reading: the more books you read the more you get to know, the more different talents you meet in playing, the more you learn” says Kęstutis Vaiginis. According to him, Birštonas Jazz is a big celebration, for it helps to realise one’s dreams – to invite outstanding jazz personalities to Lithuania and make music together.

Each time Kęstutis brings intriguing international company to Birštonas. This time, in addition to New Yorker trumpeter Alex Sipiagin, whom the festival’s audience already met, the project features his colleagues from New York based Opus 5 jazz quintet. With the drummer Donald Edwards the Lithuanian saxophonist has collaborated in Latvia and the USA, while the bassist Boris Kozlov is his new acquaintance. 

Lithuanian concert tour is the Quartet’s debut. Its programme includes past and new compositions by Kęstutis Vaiginis.

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. Some years ago he formed Independent Artists Ensemble, a Lithuanian youth big band; performed his compositions with the German State Youth Jazz Orchestra.

The list of his former and current stage partners includes such jazz coryphées as David Berkman, David Kikoski, Heikko Remmel, Jelle Van Gie, Barbara Dennerlein, Hernan Romero, Ed Howard, Adam Cruz, Randal Corsen, Bilal Karmaran, Burak Bedikyan, Caner Kaptan, Herbie Kopf, Joon Haavisto and Deniss Pashkevich, as well as Indonesian, Korean and Italian musicians. The musician is a member of Lithuanian-Latvian-Estonian Tree Stones Quartet and Dainius Pulauskas Group.

Recently, the saxophonist has started a long-term project JazzLab with keyboardist Dmitrij Golovanov. This is a creative laboratory where the tandem collaborates with new partners.

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 four continents.

Three years ago 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).

He also takes part in projects of various other genres; appeared in Gaida contemporary music festival.

Vaiginis’ discography amounts to ten albums three 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. 

Trumpeter Alex Sipiagin took part in a number of Vaiginis’ projects in Lithuania, led workshops for Lithuanian youth. His trumpet is heard in Vaiginis’ Light of Darkness.

He was born in Russia where he studied classical trumpet at the Gnessin Conservatory in Moscow. It was in 1990, that he caught the attention of many, and was invited to participate in the International Louis Armstrong Competition sponsored by the Thelonius Monk Institute in Washington D.C. The trumpeter was placed fourth in the competition, and was presented a Bach trumpet by the legendary Clark Terry, the trumpet, which he plays to this day.

In 1991, Sipiagin moved to New York and before long established himself among jazz elite. He became a member of Gil Evans Band, later joined Gil Goldstein’s Zebra Coast Orchestra, and George Gruntz Concert Jazz Band while performing also with drummer Bob Moses’ band Mozamba. 

In 1995, the trumpeter became a member of Mingus Big Band as well as Mingus Dynasty and Mingus Orchestra. In 2000, he started collaborating with Dave Holland’s groups, spent several years touring with Michael Brecker’s collectives.

The trumpeter has sided Eric Clapton, Aaron Neville, Gonzalo Rubalcaba, Kenny Werner, Elvis Costello, Michael Franks, Dave Sanborn, Deborah Cox, Jeff “Tain” Watts, Conrad Hervig and other coryphées. Three of the recordings he has been involved in have won Grammys.

As a soloist, Sipiagin has 17 recordings out to his credit. He regularly tours with his group throughout Europe and Asia. The trumpeter is a guest Professor at the Prince Claus Conservatorium in Groningen, the Netherlands; also gives clinics at various music institutions around the world.

Bassist, composer and arranger Boris Kozlov moved from Moscow to New York after winning the first prize in Young Musician category in USSR Jazz Journal in 1991. Previously, he won the Grand Prix at the First USSR Competition of Jazz Soloists.

On the other side of the Atlantic he soon was spotted by and invited to play together with Bobby Watson, Benny Golson, James Moody, Ravi Coltrane, Phillip Harper, Michel Petrucciani, Michel Legrand, Joey Calderazzo, Bill Ware, Mark Whitfield, Jack Wilkins, Victor Lewis, Robin Eubanks and many others.

The bassist has shared the stage with McCoy Tyner, Jimmy Cobb, Maceo Parker, Jimmy Smith, Henry Butler, Toots Thielemans and Clark Terry. He recorded 160 albums among them 9 Grammy nominated ones and 2 Grammy winners.

Boris has been a long-time bassist, arranger and artistic director of Mingus Big Band, Mingus Dynasty and Mingus Orchestra. In addition, he tours and records with his group Malfunction Alibi, plays solo and gives master classes around the world.

Drummer and composer Donald Edwards also belongs to New York jazz elite. He grew up and received his music education in New Orleans, thus is truly at home in the rich and varied traditions of Louisiana. He also plays different kinds of music ranging from dixieland, hip-hop and pop to R&B, jazz, funk and gospel music.

After winning the Louisiana Arts Ambassador’s Award 1994 for Music Composition, Edwards became one of the most sought after drummers on the New Orleans music scene. Having settled in New York he is as in demand as ever. Edwards has performed with jazz greats such as Freddie Hubbard, Tom Harrell, Branford Marsalis, Wynton Marsalis, Joey Calderazzo, Charlie Hunter, Dave Holland, Dr. Lonnie Smith, David Kikoski, Russell Malone, George Colligan and Mark Whitfield.