VILNIUS - The 20th annual Vilnius International Jazz festival promises a two-fold celebration this year - one, a breakthrough in Lithuania's jazz history, and two, fresh tunes from a new wave of young musicians.
"There is a common problem in all European jazz festivals, the audience is getting older and older, so I guarantee that there will be a new generation of jazz enthusiasts at this festival. I want to involve young generations in this movement," Vilnius Jazz Festival founder and director Antanas Gustys told The Baltic Times.
The Vilnius Inter-national Jazz festival program features nine bands and two soloists at the Russian Drama Theater from Oct. 11 - 14.
A competition on Oct. 13 will take place among four up-and-coming jazz bands, 1+1=1, Untitled, QU5, and Dmitrij Golovanov. Gustys said a panel of professional judges along with audience input will help select the winner.
At the opening night, well-known Lithuanian performer Arunas Slaustas combines his band's percussion instruments together with a string quintet, which was formed from the renowned Chordos Quartet. The line-up continues at the L'Amour club at 10 p.m., with the Monika Heidemann Band (USA) and Lithuania's Magic Mushrooms. The Neringa restaurant is hosting a jam session shortly afterward.
Jazz enthusiasts can also look forward to more Lithuanians in two international band performances by the Rova Special Sextet and Ibrahim Electric.
Both bands are making chart-topping hits with their fresh style. Rova is known for improvising and creating a post-bop, avant-rock feel in their tunes. The group formed in the San Fransisco Bay area in 1977 and has worked with one of Lithuania's famous Ganelin trio members, Vladimir Tarasov, for a film documentary.
The popular Danish jazz group Ibrahim Electric has an afro-funk style. The band, proclaimed "New Name of the Year" at the Danish Music Awards Jazz in 2004, specializes in a more afro-funk and rock style in an upbeat tone.
Jazz culture in Vilnius emerged in the 1960s despite resentment from Soviet authorities. The "cafe-reading hall" on Vilnius street, as Lithuania's famous pianist Oleg Molokoyedov observed in his critiques, was "a cradle for music advocates that was to open the window to Europe and consolidate their positions."
Lithuania broke barriers in world jazz when three self-taught musicians, Vyacheslav Ganelin, Vladimir Chekasi and Tarasov formed the Ganelin trio. The trio's successful performance at the Warsaw Jazz Jamboree in 1967 took their musical talent soaring throughout eastern and western European countries. Soon afterward, they formed the Vilnius Jazz School.
The first Vilnius Jazz festival took place in 1987 and has attracted an audience of 7,000 or more people each year.
Other international bands include Andy Elmer Trio from France, Ronin from Switzerland, Fritz Hauser from Switzerland, Farmyard Animals Trio from the United Kingdom, and sixth-time festival visitor Nomad from Austria.
"Every year we have different bands, the only exception is the unique vocalist, Nomad, because she's one of our symbols of the Vilnius Jazz festival," he said.
Vilnius Jazz Festival
Oct. 11-14: Various venues, Vilnius
www.vilniusjazz.lt
