KĘSTUTIS VAIGINIS QUARTET

(Lithuania – Finland – USA)

Kęstutis Vaiginis – saxes, compositions

Joonas Haavisto – p

Boris Kozlov – db

Jonathan Blake – dr

Kęstutis Vaiginis, one of the most talented Lithuanian saxophonists and a regular participant of the Birštonas Jazz festival, performs on this stage with invited guests from the USA and renowned European jazz musicians. However, this time the quartet is very special, featuring two distinguished New Yorkers: a Grammy winner and a nominee. For the first time, Jonathan Blake, one of the world’s most sought-after drummers, joins Vaiginis’ group.

Equally significant is the fact that the elite musicians will perform compositions by the quartet’s Lithuanian leader. Most of them are from Vaiginis’ latest album recorded in New York. “For me, this is a very important event of my career,” said the saxophonist about the debut tour of the international quartet in Lithuania. The performance at Birštonas Jazz festival is the last stop of this tour.

Having mastered various wind instruments, Kęstutis Vaiginis, one of the most prolific jazz musicians in Lithuania, is the inspiration and leader of numerous international projects.

He has performed his music with various ensembles in Lithuania, the Netherlands, Spain, France, USA, Germany, Poland, Turkey, Brazil, India, South Korea, China, Azerbaijan, Georgia and other countries.

Vaiginis’ talent as a composer emerged during his studies at the Lithuanian Academy of Music and Theatre, the Prince Claus Conservatoire and the Amsterdam School of the Arts in the Netherlands, and during his further studies at the Manhattan School of Music in New York.

During his study years, he started composing for big bands. Later formed Independent Artists Ensemble, an independent youth big band in Lithuania; performed his own compositions with the German State Youth Jazz Orchestra. His compositions were included in several collections of Lithuanian music.

In 2013, the saxophonist received the European Cultural Foundation Europamusicale prize, which annually is given to one European musician. Previously, he earned awards in numerous national and international competitions, and was awarded the Grand Prix in Birštonas Jazz festival (2010).

Past and present collaborators include Alex Sipiagin, David Berkman, Dave Kikoski, Ed Howard, Donald Edwards, Donald Edwards, Mike Stern, Adam Cruz, Randal Corsen, Joonas Haavisto, Barbara Dennerlein, Hernan Romero, Denis Pashkevich, musicians from Indonesia, South Korea and Italy.

As a bandleader and guest artist, Kęstutis has appeared with various ensembles at the prestigious jazz festivals including Nord Sea Jazz, Rotterdam, London, Ottawa, Cape Town, Istanbul, Hong Kong, Tokyo and other, performed at the legendary Blue Note Club in New York, and has toured on four continents.

His discography amounts to more than ten albums, including five personal. “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 Kęstutis’ personal album Unexpected Choices, recorded with acclaimed New Yorkers.

Finnish pianist Joonas Haavisto is one of the most prominent representatives of the Nordic jazz scene, a Steinway artist and a member of international jazz formations. He has participated in Vaiginis’ projects in Birštonas on several occasions and is a regular partner of the Lithuanian musician on stage. Their duo album has just been released by a famous Japanese label.

Joonas became seriously interested in piano at the age of 16, hitherto he studied double bass. He studied jazz in the USA, where he collaborated with local jazz masters and soon gained recognition both at home and abroad.

In 2006, he won Jazz Improvisation international jazz piano competition held at the Lithuanian Academy of Music and Theatre, and later garnered prizes at the Young Nordic Jazz Comets (2007) and Jazz Hoeilaart (2010) competitions.  He has played solo with Finland’s top chamber orchestras and big bands, toured Europe, the USA, Canada and Japan with his jazz groups.

The pianist is particularly productive with his trio, which has appeared at major festivals in England, France, Germany, the legendary Tokyo Jazz Festival, and at important concert venues in Japan. Last year, the trio made its debut at the Blue Note Club in New York.  The trio’s albums have received great acclaim in Finland and abroad.

Haavisto is a prolific composer, writing music not only for his own chamber groups, but also for big bands, chamber orchestras, piano, pop artists and films. He composed and recorded the soundtrack for The Happiest Day in the Life of Olli Mäki, which was a prize-winner at the Cannes Film Festival and a contender for the Oscars in the foreign language film category.

His collaborators include renowned jazz musicians Jerry Bergonzi, Jonathan Kreisberg, Ron Mclure, Bill Watrous, Michael Formanek, Sinne Eeg, Peter Weniger, Bertil Strandberg, John Fedchock, Tivon Pennicott, Teemu Viinikainen, Jukka Perko, Verneri Pohjola and Jukki Uotila.

Bassist, composer and arranger Boris Kozlov moved from Moscow to New York in 1991. The gifted improviser was soon noticed by and invited to collaborate with such luminaries as 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 countless others.

The bassist has shared the stage with McCoy Tyner, Jimmy Cobb, Maceo Parker, Jimmy Smith, Henry Butler, Toots Thielemans, Clark Terry; has recorded over 160 albums. He has been nominated 9 times for a Grammy, winning twice.

Boris is a long-time bassist, arranger and artistic director of Mingus Big Band, Mingus Dynasty and Mingus Orchestra, a member of the Brian Lynch and Eddie Palmieri Quartet, the Michael Brecker Ensemble, and the bassist of Opus 5, Manhattan Transfers and many other ensembles. He tours and records extensively with his group, plays solo and gives masterclasses all over the world.

Drummer Johnathan Blake is known as an extremely flexible musician, talented composer and bandleader. He seems to have inherited his exceptional talents from his father, the influential jazz violinist and true chameleon of the instrument, John Blake.

Jonathan started playing the drums at the age of ten and began composing while playing in youth bands. While still a student at William Paterson University, he worked in the Oliver Lake Big Band, collaborated with Roy Hargrove and David Sanchez, and won the ASCAP Young Jazz Composers Award.

For almost 15 years, Blake has been a member of the Kenny Barron Trio. Without him, it would be hard to imagine Lonnie Smith’s albums of recent years. According to the influential jazz magazine DownBeat, Blake’s voice is discernible in any context.

The drummer has collaborated with Pharoah Sanders, Ravi Coltrane, Tom Harrell, Hans Glawischnig, Avishai Cohen, Donny McCaslin, Jaleel Shaw, Chris Potter, Maria Schneider, Alex Sipiagin, Kris Davis, and a host of other notable jazz personalities.