MINDAUGAS STUMBRAS QUARTET

(Lithuania – Denmark – Argentina)

Mindaugas Stumbras – g

Line Kruse – vln

Minino Garay – perc

Gediminas Stepanavičius – db

Having made a spectacular debut with his Lithuanian quintet at the previous festival, Mindaugas Stumbras seems to be determined to surprise the audience even more. The guitarist returns to the Birštonas stage with his companions of international stature – the Argentine Minino Garay, one of the most vital and inventive percussionists of his generation, his stage partner Line Kruse, the Danish violinist and composer of exceptional flair, as well as the distinctive young Lithuanian double bassist Gediminas Stepanavičius.

The quartet is bringing a new original programme inspired by the flavour of the folklore of the world’s nations, pulsating with American and African rhythms, and enchanting with Middle Eastern intonations.

Mindaugas Stumbras is one of the most talented Lithuanian jazz musicians and composers of the younger generation. Born into a family of musicians, he began to search for his own path in music early on – first learning to play the piano, then playing classical guitar, and later admiring rock and heavy metal.

He became interested in jazz when he started studying at the Vilnius Conservatoire. There he acquired his first basics of jazz. At the time, he was involved in various music projects.

Mindaugas’ taste for jazz strengthened during his studies at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland in Glasgow, where he had the opportunity to play with some of the most promising young jazz musicians conquering the European jazz scene.

In 2015, the guitarist became a member of Brave Noises, one of the most prominent jazz bands of the new generation in Lithuania, and in the same year won the Vilnius Jazz Young Power competition with the band. In 2016, Mindaugas won first prize in the Lithuanian guitar competition Gitarų šėlsmas (Guitar Frenzy).

In 2018, Stumbras’ debut album Our Kingdom was released and was well received by both the music afficionados and critics. In the years before the pandemic, the guitarist toured Europe extensively, playing in jazz clubs and festivals. He has poured out his travel experiences in the sonic language in the album Inspirations.

Today, Mindaugas has already released three albums as a leader, formed several jazz bands and established himself on Lithuania’s music scene. The guitarist captivates his fans with his virtuosity and passion for improvisation, impressive arsenal of techniques, and his vibrant compositions, which combine jazz and the hints of world music.

Stumbras’ compositions are regularly included in the Jazz from Lithuania collections issued by the Lithuanian Jazz Federation. He enjoys invitations to appear at various European festivals and performs his music in renowned jazz clubs. Various projects have brought him together with Seamus Blake, Fergus McCreadie, Line Kruse, Kenny Wollesen, Kenneth Dahl Knudsen and many other virtuosos.

The paths of the Danish violinist, composer and arranger Line Kruse and Stumbras crossed when she was working on her original programme with the Kaunas Big Band, and Mindaugas was playing in it. The two musicians share a fascination with world music. The violinist was in close contact with the South American musicians’ community in Paris and was taken with combining South American and Scandinavian musical elements in her music.

Kruse was born and raised in Denmark. After graduating from the Royal Danish Conservatory in Copenhagen, she continued her violin studies in Paris with the virtuoso violinist and UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador from Israel, Ivry Giltis.

In Paris, she quickly became part of the local music community, working with M. Garay, Youn Sun Nah (vocal), Niels Lan Doky (piano), Khalil Chahine (sound engineer, producer) and other interesting creators. Her name is also associated with the Cuban Sabor A Son, the group Gotan Project (her music is featured in the films Let’s Dance, Ocean’s Twelve, The Truth About Charlie).

These experiences have facilitated development of her distinctive sound, that has prompted her international recognition. The flawless control of the instrument, the restrained theatricality and the sincerity of the music making bring new shades to each of Line’s compositions.

According to the violinist, she has always been attracted by the combination of different musical styles, rhythms and melodies. “My compositions reflect not only my musical experience, but also what is going on ‘under my skin’,” said Kruse.

She leads two large ensembles, as well as the septet Dansk7 and the 14-string ensemble BowLines, composes and arranges original music for orchestras and big bands.

An unclassifiable and eclectic percussionist with an abundant and curious mind, Minino Garay grew up in Argentina. In his music he draws on his origins, playing a wide range of South American instruments and boldly mixing different styles and genres.

Garay’s distinctive feature is a recitation of popular Argentine song lyrics combined with jazz improvisation and folklore. The virtuoso’s latest album Speaking Tango, recorded in this style with a select team, has received a great deal of international attention.

Constantly on the move between France and Argentina, he shares his music with audiences around the world. His calibre is testified by such illustrious stage partners as Richard Bona, Richard Galliano, Baptiste Trotignon, Mercedes Sosa, Jaime Torres, Chango Farias Gómez, Los Coplanacu, Kevin Johansen, Ibrahim Bridge Maalouf, Magic Malik, Julien Lourau, Jackie Terrason, and many more.

Gediminas Stepanavičius is a young multi-instrumentalist, composer and performer of contemporary and experimental music. He studied classical tuba, contemporary and improvised music at the Lithuanian Academy of Music and Theatre, jazz double bass and live electronics at the Amsterdam Conservatory in the Netherlands. In addition, he is an accomplished trumpet player.

Gediminas is an active participant in the Improdimensija movement, regularly performing in the Improdimensija Orchestra and the Improdimensija Concert Series, and also giving solo performances. His multifaceted skills make him at ease in classical, world, folk and popular music projects.